Joel C. Peskin aka iReedMan, started playing the clarinet at the age of nine in Brooklyn. After graduating from the High School Of Performing Arts, which was made famous in the movie and television series, “Fame”, Joel studied saxophone with legendary woodwind teacher, Joseph Allard, from the Juilliard School of Music. Joel also studied with saxophonist Frank Strozier and was a protégé and close friend of jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. As a teenager, Joel played gigs in the Catskills and performed in a New York jazz ensemble with Bob Moses (Drummer), Steve Blum (Guitarist) and Donald Hahn (Trumpeter). The group played all over NYC and, soon after, Joel found himself part of the avant garde jazz scene, playing with Perry Robinson, Randy Kaye and other notable free jazz players. In 1968, Joel landed a gig touring with the Beach Boys which lasted until 1972. On his first tour, Joel was recruited by Beach Boys sidemen Mike Kowalski (Drummer) and Ed Carter (Guitarist) to join their band, “The New Nadir”. The band was under contract with record producer Joe Boyd and it was at this time Joel moved to Hollywood and began his collaboration with Mike and Ed. As fate would have it, Canned Heat bassist, Henry Vestine, was putting together a band for blues guitar legend, Albert Collins. Joel toured with the Albert Collins Blues Band for one year and it had a lasting impact on him. After finishing his gig with Collins, Joel left for England to record a Latin Rock album with Kowalski, Carter, jazz trumpeter/conga player, Jerry Gonzalez, and timbale player, Freddie Munar. When the record was finished, Joel returned to the States and continued touring as Leader/Contractor of the horn section for the Beach Boys until 1972. After the birth of his daughter, Nicole, Joel stayed around Los Angeles doing R&B, funk and Latin gigs. He earned a reputation as a woodwind doubler and played authentic Cuban style flute with the Charanga band “Tipica Tropical”. His good friend, Mike Kowalski, once again sought him out for an Asian tour playing tenor sax with the Johnny Otis Blues Revue which featured alto sax/singer Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson, Shuggie Otis and drummer Kowalski. The early 70s were lean years for Joel and he found himself pursuing freelance and studio work. In 1975, he played on two Frank Zappa records (“Waka Jawaka” and “The Grand Wazoo”), as well as a few records produced by Beach Boys band member Bruce Johnston for singer Jack Jones. He toured with Edgar Winter’s band “White Trash”; The Doc Severinsen Quintet; and vocalist Shawn Phillips. During this time, Joel found he had a talent for music sight reading and for playing many different woodwind instruments, including saxes, flutes and clarinets. With these additional talents, Joel set his sights on doing recording sessions of all types in Los Angeles. In the early 1980’s, Joel was heavily involved in the LA studio scene. It was Joel’s torrid alto sax on the theme song for Entertainment Tonight which had everyone clamoring for his searing, soulful style. Joel did hundreds of TV film, motion pictures and recording sessions. He hooked up with legendary female singer, Merry Clayton, of Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” fame and together they created some high-powered dance and R&B recordings that, years later, would bring them together again. Torn between being a studio musician and a performance recording artist, Joel once again turned to his old friend, Mike Kowalski, and formed a duo called The Backsters. Together they produced a demo covering a 1957 Mercury hit by tenor saxophonist Red Prysock entitled “Hand Clappin’”. A&M President and Founder, Herb Alpert, heard the demo and immediately signed The Backsters to a record deal and their video for “Hand Clappin’” went into heavy rotation on MTV. In the mid 1980’s, Joel met Nyle Steiner, the inventor of the EVI and EWI Electronic Wind Instruments. Soon Joel was doing sessions with Nyle’s prototype instruments, introducing a new-found electronic rack of synths and samplers to the music industry. In the late 1980’s, Joel was responsible for bringing Nyle and the famed EWI, along with Andy Muson, to AKAI Electronics. Executives fell in love with the EWI and a licensing deal was struck with the EWI Group. Joel composed, wrote and produced a performance song called “Sweet For CP”, which today is a classic YouTube video featuring performances by Joel, Nyle and Michael Brecker all playing the AKAI Electronic Wind Instruments. Joel continued working as one of the top studio musicians in Los Angeles landing tour deals with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Barbra Streisand in 1994 on her “Timeless” tour in Las Vegas and on the West Coast; again in 2000, on her “Millenium” tour in Las Vegas and Australia; and in 2000 and 2001, with the Beach Boys on their United States tour. He also played the famous alto sax solo on the Beach Boys’ monster hit, “Kokomo”. From 2002-2004, Joel played in the band for the hit show, “American Idol”. Soon after, he became a member of the Harold Wheeler Band and, after sixteen seasons, remains one of the original members of the Band on ABC’s hit show “Dancing With The Stars”, for 8 Years. Born as Conesha Monét Owens, this California – Bay Area native, was touched with the gift that only God could provide, the gift to truly move people. Given the talents of all that performing arts can give, including improv and dramatic acting, dance/choreography, topped with a 5 octave vocal range in modern and classical music, it’s no wonder this “gifted” singer-songwriter, arranger, and thespian has been sought after by some of the industry’s best, most diverse and accomplished artists and producers. Some include producers Walter Afanasieff, Patrick Leonard, Steve Jordan and the great Phil Spector. Bio Pic FinalPerforming on numerous stages whether in theater productions or world-wide touring with some of today’s most-notable and respected artists such as Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald, Toto, Huey Lewis and the News, Patti Austin, Queen Latifah and Kenny Loggins, a featured vocalist for the “Dancing With The Stars” 2006 winter tour, a mesmerizing duet with music great, Johnny Mathis on his 2008 release, “A Night To Remember”, harmonizing with the late great man of soul, Soloman Burke, while keeping the soul-singer thing alive as a backing vocalist for the second ranked “top selling” tour of 2006-07, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s Soul 2 Soul tour, and most recent, Lenny Kravitz’ “Black and White America” 8 week European tour lending backing and featured lead vocals with the tours opener, Raphael Saadiq, Monét continues to develop her already “polished” skills thoroughly in the hands of the business. Whether she’s performing R&B and Rock or singing Jazz standards, and Gospel hymns, it’s in the performance where she’s most justifiable. Whether Monét is performing for Vice-President Joe Biden, and former President Bill Clinton at the Biden’s pre inaugural family party or for President Barack Obama at his historic Inaugural Ball, Monét continues to accomplish over 100 sold-out shows in Japan and New York at the famous “Blue Note” jazz clubs and Beacon Theater. She’s mesmerized the people “down under” while touring Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, as well as the world famous Blues Alley in Washington, DC, the Playboy Jazz Festival, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, the North Sea, Montreux and Montreal Jazz festivals in Europe and Canada, as well as a historic 8 show “sell-out” at the hip “Joe’s Pub”, in New York and embarking on her 8th year with standing room only shows at the popular “Bourbon Street” club in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And it doesn’t stop there, by gaining her first “Grammy” certification from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for her backing vocals on the 1998 “Song of the Year” “My Heart Will Go On”, recorded by Celine Dion. I am so excited about all that’s needed to be seen and heard by the world. I say WORLD because my vision is abundant yet personal. Being able to express this to masses of people is a feeling I just cannot wait to experience… REAL MUSIC IS IN TRANSITION and I am HEMISPHERIC!” And Monét is right, with a fan base that’s worldwide and continually growing; the world is definitely ready to experience the “magnificence” of Monét… Critics say, “Monét shines” when she performs, she “graceful” and “exciting” channeling the class and vocal “genius” of the greats before her… With the void of the ultimate female performer being a thorn in music’s side, Monét is here to finally ease the pain and she’s definitely worth the wait.. 1. Strawberry Letter 23 Written by Shuggie Otis Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Dustin Higgins Arrangement - Rich Ruttenberg Joel C. Peskin - Tenor Saxophone Ms. Monet Lead Vocals & Background Vocals Rich Ruttenberg - Keyboards, Drum & Synthesizer Programming Freddie Washington - Bass Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitar Greg Moore, Paul Jackson Jr., John Goux - Electric Guitar’s 2. Turn Around Written by Joseph Conlan & Deborah Davis Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Dustin Higgins Arranged by Rich Ruttenberg Joel C. Peskin - Tenor Saxophones Ms. Monet Lead Vocals & Background Vocals Rich Ruttenberg - Keyboards, Drum & Synthesizer Programming Freddie Washington - Bass Greg Moore, John Goux - Guitars Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 3. Where Ya Goin Music & Lyrics Joel C. Peskin & Tom Saviano Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Dan Higgins Arranged by Dan Higgins Monet Owens - Lead & Background Vocals Joel C. Peskin – Tenor Sax Byron “Talkbox Chambers” Talkbox John Robinson - Drums Ron Aston - Additional Drums & Percussion Programming John Goux - Guitar Dan Higgins – Keyboards, Synth Bass, Synth Programming & Digital editing Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 4. Funk A Fire Written & Produced by Dan Higgins Joel C. Peskin - Tenor Saxophone Dan Higgins - Alto Saxophone Greg “GeMo Moore - Guitar Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 5. Stay This Way Music Written by - Joseph Conlan & Joel C. Peskin Lyrics Written by - Merry Clayton Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Dan Higgins Joel C. Peskin – Tenor Saxophone Monet Owens - Lead Vocal Freddie Washington - Electric Bass John Goux - Electric Guitar Beverly Staunton & Darryl Phinnessee – Background Vocals Dan Higgins - Keyboards, Synth Bass, Dance Loop Programming & Digital Editing & Engineering Song & Vocal Arrangements b Dan Higgins Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 6. Don't Burn the Bridge Music by Joel C. Peskin & Gail Kantor Lyrics by Gail Kantor Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Jason T. Miller Monet Owens - Lead Vocal Joel C. Peskin - Tenor Sax & Synth Programming Jason Peskin aka Jack Jr. - Spoken Word & Rap Jason T. Miller - Guitars & Drum Programming Freddie Washington - Electric Bass Bruce Miller - Electric Piano Maxine, Julia & Oren Waters - Background Vocals Dan Higgins - Tenor & Baritone Saxes Gary Grant - Trumpet Horn Arrangement by Dan Higgins Horns Recorded by Gary Grant Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 7. Whiskey Nights Composed by Dan Higgins Produced by Dan Higgins & Joel Peskin Joel C. Peskin - Tenor Saxophone John Robinson JR - Drums Chuck Berghoffer - Acoustic Bass Jim Cox - Hammond B-3 Organ & Wurlitzer Electric Piano Dan Higgins - Tenor Sax & Baritone Sax Gary Grant - Trumpet Horn Arrangement Written and Produced by Dan Higgins Horns Recorded by Gary Grant Dustin Higgins & Dan Higgins, Joel C. Peskin Recording Engineers Mixed by Dustin Higgins & Dan Higgins 8. The Wells Run Dry Music by Joel C. Peskin & Mike Kowalski Lyrics by Gail Kantor Produced by Joel C. Peskin Monet Owens - Lead Vocals Joel C. Peskin - Alto Saxophone Rich Ruttenberg - Electric Piano & Hammond B3 Organ Jason T. Miller Electric Guitar Background Vocals by Maxine, Julia & Oren Waters Vocal Arrangement by Susan Marder String Arrangement by Dan Higgins Ron Aston - Drums and Digital Drum Programming & Synth Bass Vocal Editing Engineers - Ron Aston, Joel C. Peskin, Frank Wolf, Brian Taylor Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 9. Talk To Somebody Written by Susan Marder Produced by Joel C. Peskin & Dustin Higgins Arranged by Rich Ruttenberg & Joel C. Peskin Joel Peskin - Tenor Saxophone Monet Ownes - Lead & background Vocals Dean Parks - Guitar Rich Ruttenberg - Keyboards, Drum Programming & Synth Programming Dan Higgins Flugelhorn Arrangement Gary Grant - Flugelhorns Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins 10. Orange Sky Written by Andy Muson Produced by Joel C. Peskin Joel C. Peskin Tenor Sax Neil Stubenhaus - Bass Steve Schaeffer - Drums Bob Mann - Guitar Mixed & Mastered by Dustin Higgins