The Essentials

• Neil Thurston - Vocals
• Mike Ragsdale - Trombone
• Jeremy Gibons - Electric Bass
• Myeshia Cleveland - Vocals
• Gabe Dickinson - Alto Sax
• Dana Heitman - Trumpet
• John Kalny - Drum set
• Ted Godbout - Keyboards
• Bill Marsh - Electric Guitar

Gigmasters #1 rated dance band on the west coast!

The Essentials, a large and loud soul band with fresh ideas and deep roots, is a collaboration of ten recent graduates of the University of Oregon School of Music. Covers of such artists as Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, and Chicago join originals written by the group to make up the band's sound, a mixture of tight rhythm, heavy brass and soulful vocals.

The band has performed at dozens of nightclubs on the west coast from San Francisco to Seattle, headlined festivals, played weddings and private parties, and appeared at numerous college events and football games. They have opened for such household names as Leon Russel and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. In the last four years the group has released three albums with solid reviews, and is recieving television licensure, spots on national compilation albums, and rotation radio play from Denver to Des Moines to New York.

We're wating to impress you. Hip yourself to The Essentials.

"Downright perspiring" - Shotgun Reviews "Make you weak-in-the-knees" - The Register Guard "Soulful, timeless" - Oregon Daily Emerald

"Musical masterminds" - Eugene Weekly

• Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
• September - Earth, Wind and Fire
• Hard to Handle - Otis Redding
• Brick House - The Commodores
• Rock With You - Michael Jackson
• Let’s Get it On - Marvin Gaye
• What Is Hip? - Tower of Power
• This Love - Maroon Five
• At Last - Etta James
• Musicology - Prince
• Let's Stay Together - Al Green
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye
• I Feel Good - James Brown
• What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
• Superstition - Stevie Wonder
• Down to the Nightclub - Tower of Power
• Make Me Smile - Chicago
• Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
• Does Anybody Really Know - Chicago
• Celebration - Kool and the Gang
• On Broadway - George Benson
• Hold on I'm Comin' - Sam & Dave
• Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
• Soul Vaccination - Tower of Power
• Shining Star - Earth, Wind, and Fire
• Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
• Simple Song - Sly and The Family Stone
• So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power
• For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
• Sing a Song - Earth, Wind and Fire
• Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
• What You Won't Do For Love - Bobby Caldwell
• Squib Cakes - Tower of Power
• Do I Do - Stevie Wonder
• Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
• The Chicken - Jaco Pastorius
• Diggin' On James Brown - Tower of Power
• What’s Goin’ On - Marvin Gaye
• Will it Go ‘Round In Circles - Billy Preston
• You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontange
• So I Got to Groove - Tower of Power
• This Masquerade - George Benson
• Ebony and Ivory - Stevie Wonder
• That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
• Got to Get You Into My Life - Earth Wind and Fire
• Work to Do - Isley Brothers
• I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
• Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
• You’re Still a Young Man - Tower of Power
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Lou Rawls
• You’ve Got to Funkafize - Tower of Power
• Get Down On It - Kool and the Gang
• God Bless the Child - Blood Sweat and Tears
• Ain’t Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations
• Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
• Back in Love - LTD
• What You Do to Me - The Essentials
• Greed - The Essentials
• If You Run to Me - The Essentials
• Unconditional - The Essentials
• In Your Corner - The Essentials
• The Clean Break - The Essentials
• A Song Together - The Essentials
• Bring Me Down Some - The Essentials
• Contemplation - The Essentials
• My Perfection - The Essentials
• Away - The Essentials
• Livin' The Way - The Essentials
• Spin - The Essentials
• + 20 jazz combo tunes

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Casinos, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fraternity Functions, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, Jingles, Movie Soundtracks, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Resorts, Restaurants, Reunions, Showers, Ski Lodges, Sorority Function, Studio Session, Temples, TV Soundtracks, Weddings

• These guys (and ladies) are AMAZINGLY talented, we absolutely loved them. They played at our wedding, seemed to have a great time, even ran an errand for us on their way up to the venue. They also ran our background music and our ceremony music off of our ipod so that no one in our wedding had to worry about it. I just wished they could have played longer. They were very professional, friendly and seemed to have a great time. Most important though was how incredibly talented they were. They all congrtulated us and gave us hugs at the end of the night, I wish they lived in our area so we could just go listen to them elsewhere!! Hire this band if you love music! -- Teresa E, Underwood, WA, 5/17/2008
• Absolutely fantastic band. Wonderful communication and highly professional. Very very talented and entertaining. Everyone (all 150 guests) loved the music! What a wonderful group of musical guys. I would highly highly recommend them to anyone. Perfect for a wedding or special event. They were the highlight of my dad's 70th birthday party. Thank you again to Gabe and the group...Kellee -- Kellee B, Medford, OR, 9/23/2007
• Great, Just Great. The show was phenominal. The best banquet we have ever had. Gabe was extreemly helpful and accomidating on the bussiness side. Thanks! -- Bill B, Albany, OR, 2/10/2007
• We hired The Essentials for our company holiday party and they really brought the house down. Everyone was up and dancing. The whole group commented on how much they liked the music. Most people especially enjoyed the horn section and the talent of the lead singer. Thanks for the music! -- Amy W, Eugene, OR, 12/9/2006
• I can't say enough about this group! They were the icing on the cake for my wedding! If you are looking for a great vibe and for all your guests to get down, The Essentials do not disappoint! Thanks again Gabe and Co. You guys are definitely a churnin' urn of burnin' funk! -- Rich M, Gaston, OR, 9/24/2006

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