One Foot In is a flexible collection which plays in trio, quartet and quintet configurations. Trio members Russ Lewark, Michael R. Gardner and Jeff Newell are joined by Kevin Gore to form the quartet, then by drummer T. J. Tarrance DeFriez for the larger unit.
One Foot In has been performing around Southern California for about seven years, emphasizing multi-part harmonies and original material. With its varied instrumentation—guitars (6 and 12-string), mandolin, bass, Dobro, keyboard and banjo (plus drums when a quintet)—the group delivers a palette ranging from folk to pop, rock, blues, country and more ("FoPoRoBluCo"). Roots and Roll.
Russ, whose performing history extends back to his time with the celebrated Buffalo Nickel Jug Band and beyond, brings with him the traditions of jug band, folk, old-time finger-pickin' blues and mountain music, plus his own songwriting style and more instruments than you can count.
Michael's background is more in the singer-songwriter tradition, and he works to bring blues, country, folk, rock and other material to the group. Having avoided live performance until the late 1990s, Michael found himself hooked right away on playing before live audiences.
Jeff's musical history has taken him through rock, country rock and folk rock bands, playing all around the United States in the process. Jeff has built a fine digital home recording studio, where he serves as engineer as well as musician. Jeff engineered One Foot In’s first CD entitled “Best Foot Forward” and One Foot In's latest CD of original material entitled “Songbook”, released in October of 2006.
Kevin Gore plays piano, banjo and mandolin for One Foot In. Kevin has been an in-demand musician on the west coast for many years. He has toured throughout the west playing music festivals and concerts in rock, country and bluegrass bands. He is also a successful studio musician, having credits playing on CD, video, TV and movie projects.
One Foot In has opened shows for B. J. Thomas, Katy Moffatt, Lowen and Navarro, Cecilio & Kapono, Rick Shay, and others, and has performed on stages such as The Coach House, Galaxy Concert Theater, Coffee Gallery Backstage, Martini Blues, The Marine Room, Fret House, McCabes Guitar Shop, Boulevard Music, Living Tradition Folk Series in Anaheim, along with a wide variety of Southern California festivals, bookstores, coffee houses and other assorted venues.•
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