FOUNDATION OF FUNK with VALERIE BARRYMORE Foundation of Funk with Valerie Barrymore is a topnotch, vintage R & B Funk Band. Now, because of Valerie being often called the Queen of Funk, the Band now has an added dimension; thus, the name `Foundation of Funk’ was born. The Band has successfully entertained audiences from major festivals to private parties. The Band has the ability to perform for both listening and dancing audiences with the ability to tailor its performances to meet the demands of the crowd. Be it strictly blues, up-tempo R & B, Motown dance music or riveting funk and rap, this band is ready to put on a show! The band is very strongly involved with the promotion of all their appearances. Some of these promotional devices include an extensive mailing list, flyers, newspaper listings and word of mouth. The band has developed a strong following all over Michigan. Their first CD, FOUNDATION OF FUNK, received six 2001Detroit Music Award nominations. The band is extremely experienced. They have appeared in the `Ribs & Soul’ festival 1999-2001 and the Afro American festival 1999-2001. They have appeared with Motown’s Betty Lavette, Midnight Star, and The Contours. In 2000 they opened for The Ojays at the Michigan State Fair, in December 2000 they opened for Morris Day and The Time at the Royal Oak Theater, and one of their most rewarding appearances was opening for Gladys Knight at the 2001 Common Ground festival in Lansing, Michigan. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Valerie Barrymore born and raised in Detroit. She attended Michigan Christian College, where she was chosen as a lead vocalist for the school’s annual program `Celebration in Song’. After college she toured Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, the Eastern United States and the Southern United States. In Japan she appeared in Club PePelomoco and Club ViVi. In the early 1990’s Valerie came back to Detroit and did some recording with one of Detroit’s Techno Geniuses, Mr. Blake Baxter. In 1995 she started working with The Steve Somers Band, she fronts the band and impresses audiences with her dynamic stage presence and high-energy. Also a talented writer, she penned the tracks `Desire’, ‘Love Me Now’ and several others. In 1999 she formed Foundation of Funk and started Barrymore publishing and B. Rox Records. She has been nominated for Detroit Music Awards Best R&B vocalist 1999-2002. Steve Somers was born in New York City and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. He has lived in Michigan since 1980. During the seventies he formed his own band and toured the Pacific North-West several times. Upon moving to Michigan, he stopped touring to attend Eastern Michigan University, where he received a Master’s degree in 1986. He has been active as a composer as well as an arranger for the Steve Somers Band/Foundation of Funk with Valerie Barrymore. Mr. Somers has also performed solos in classical and jazz guitar concerts. He also taught music at Washtenaw Community College. After forming originally was also known as the Steve Somers Band in 1990 and adding a horn section in 1991, he has been very busy performing locally and touring throughout Michigan. Billy Wilson is from Ypsilanti, Michigan. He supplies the vital, forceful bass guitar and soulful lead and back up vocals for the Steve Somers Band. His career extends back some twenty-five years. He has worked with a variety of artists, including Joe Williams, James Cleveland and Martha Reeves. He also sang briefly with the Platters and the MCA recording group `Imagination.’ Billy is President and Founder of the Motown Alumni Association. Jesse Godfrey is from Detroit, Michigan. He has been playing drums professionally for more than twenty years. He was one of the original founders and the drummer for the Sins of Satan and Roundtrip. He is a member of the Perks Music Association. He has worked with some of the top names in show business including the Bar-Kays and Parliament. His energetic style and riveting solos take Foundation of Funk over the cutting edge. Chris Sutton, born in Manchester, Michigan, plays the saxophone and keyboards. He is known for his clever improvisations and stirring solos. He has studied music at Eastern Michigan University. He currently teaches music at Jefferson High School in Monroe, Michigan. Jeff Kumpula from Livonia, Michigan, completes the horn section like no other! His spicy trumpeting and hot solos keeps the Band’s sound tight. He is currently studying music and theory at Eastern Michigan University. Foundation of Funk is a dynamic, multifaceted, energetic group that will make Detroit rock!