 |
BRENDAN SCHAREN
Guitar
Brendan Scharen was born and raised in Long Island, New York. Music was inescapable for him growing up; whether it was his mother or sisters singing, or his brother playing guitar, Brendan was utterly surrounded by it.
At the age of 13, he got his very first drum set. He played drums for a few years in local bands, until the age of 19 when Brendan got his first guitar. It was old, cracked, cheap, and the most beautiful thing he ever owned. After hearing and feeling its beauty, there were no qualms about his decision to pursue guitar.
Drums will always be his first love, but guitar will always be his passion.
With only his guitar and his drive, Brendan has performed in countless venues all over the Tri-State area and The U.K. Since merging with ZEISS, Brendan is very confident his touring days are just starting..
|
 |
VINNY VIGORITO
Bass
Vinny was origonaly born in Norwich, Connecticut but moved to Long Island at just a year old where he was raised in Coram, NY. Vigorito grew up listening to different genresand generations of music such as: Classic Rock, Rythm & Blues, 80′s Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop, 90′s Alternative, Grunge Rock and more. He was interested in the sound of the guitar but didn’t purchase his first until he was 14. Vinny learned the basic chords, power chords and tabulates with the help of a friend.
After a year, he gave up guitar and took a break from music for several years until he decided to purchase his second guitar and got back into the practicing stage and from Scratch & Self Taught, he started to improve as a rythm guitarist but didn’t really feel it as a primary instrument. In December of 2009, he purchased a bass guitar and was infatuated within the month. As a second intrusment being Self Taught, Vinny started getting into the old style of Funky Slap Bass, starting to create his own style of jamming with his good friend and lead guitarist for The Boys, Paul Ryan, as they formed their group “Save the Clock Tower”. The band plays weekly at a cool little spot called The Velvet Lounge. After just two years, Vigorito has developed a sound on the bass that is a combination of stone cold Rock & Roll and Funk. Vinny is really looking forward to being on The Boys and playing with great fellow musicians and artists such as Matthew Zeiss.
|
 |
PAUL RYAN
Guitar
Born and raised in Coram, Long Island, Paul started playing guitar at just 9 years old and before that, mastered the piano, both instruments being self taught.
Paul learned how to play blues by the book, but gained his real “chops” from studying and getting to play along with the Long Island legend, Sam “The Bluzman” Taylor.
Early influences for Paul include The Beatles and 90′s alternative, but the most influential musical style for Paul’s current work is 1970′s jazz and funk.
|
 |
WILLIAM KNIPPER
Drums
William Knipper, originally from Lindenhurst, New York, first began his musical career playing drums in school bands – it started when his class was told to choose a percussion instrument, and William selected drums.
Inspired to continue playing after discovering that he had a talent for it, William went on to join the marching band, drumline, symphonic band and a pit orchestra. As of late, William has played locally – Village Pub, Ollies point (formerly Molly Blooms II), MCcoys, the Knitting Factory, and Zebra Club, among others.
“I’ve played on stage enough that it doesn’t make me nervous at all, I love playing music to others,” Knipper says. His musical inspirations include Danney Carey, the drummer of Tool, and the drummer of Dream Theater. In his own way, Knipper hopes to become a drummer who will inspire other musicians.
|
 |
RAFE TANGORRA
Drums
Born March 13th, 1993, in the midst of a record setting blizzard, Rafe Tangorra was said to come out his mother’s womb with drum sticks in his hands. He began playing drums at the age of 4 when his grandmother, Patricia Marzigliano, bought him his first drum kit. “He never stopped playing and I thought my daughter was going to kill me!” she recalled. Rafe started out playing No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” over and over again saying how he dreamed of being a rock star like them. A few years later at a P!NK concert in Bryant Park, his father Ray Tangorra, who at the time was working as the residential body guard for all celebrities performing at the Good Morning America Concert Series, got him a chance to go one stage and play P!NK’s drummer’s kit during sound check.
At 11 years old, Tangorra had discovered the person who he considers to be the best teacher he’s ever had. Foncho Castellar was teaching music out of the back of a barber shop in Queens when he taught Rafe. “He taught me how to play with rhythm and feeling which i feel is something you can’t just learn by reading music”, Tangorra says, “I was able to pick up things and play by ear, and most importantly I knew what it was like to be on the road since we played almost every weekend all around Queens.”
At the age of 13, Tangorra moved to Long Island where he began studies with Drew Pantuliano, who brought him deeply into classic rock studies, and extremely sharpened his sight reading skills. From here Rafe started jamming with friends from school.
A few months ago Rafe was between bands and just finished working with great friend and guitarist, Adam Medford, and his band White Raiment, when he saw an advertisement put out on facebook group “Long Island Musician’s”. It was posted by Paging Grace bassist Phil Firetog explaining how the band was currently looking for a new drummer. Tangorra looked them up, fell in love with their music, and immediately set up and audition date.
Now Rafe is currently playing drums for the highly acclaimed band Paging Grace, and feels he’s only steps away from making his dream come true! “Don’t sit around and watch a day go by, there are too many people you can help and too many good things to be done! Don’t follow your dreams, CHASE them and make them a reality.” says Tangorra,”Ive never played with musicians like these before and I really feel at home when I’m with Chris, Phil, Dave, and Bryan. They are the brothers my parents forgot to have and I love them all!”
|
