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Meet the Band
Lead Guitar, vocals
Richard Manzanares
RICHARD MANZANARES - resides in the city of Long Beach. His remarkable and creative musicianship is expressed in his unique, dynamic, and explosive guitar style. Richard is a humble musician and a fanatic for the healing powers of music- be that rock, jazz, blues, or country. Influences and inspiration come from a wide range of artists like Hendrix, Clapton, Page, J Beck, George Benson, Mike Bloomfield, Derek Trucks, The Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Django and the young Mateo Mancuso - just to name a few!
Richard began playing at the age of 13. He played in several bands but early on joined "Bittersweet". This band performd at the famous Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, The Marina Palace in Seal Beach, and the Whiskey a Go-Go in Hollywood. Richard has played with other artists such as Spencer Davis and has opened for Clarence Clemons in the E St. band, Jennifer Batten from the Jeff Beck band, John Avila of Oingo Boingo, and Arthur Barrow bassist with Frank Zappa.
Richard also worked for Disney entertainment in funk and show bands. He performed for troops in USO Alaska, did many Las Vegas and Reno gigs, and played on Blues Cruises in So Cal. Locally, Richard performed at Harvelle's in Santa Monica and the House of Blues in Hollywood and Orange County.
Bass Guitar, Vocals
Rocco Presutti
ROCCO PRESUTTI - Composer, educator, guitarist, and bassist Rocco Presutti started his musical journey as a child, learning Venezuelan folk songs from his mother. He was heavily influenced by the burgeoning folk music scene that was flourishing in the 1960s and performed all across New England’s coffee house circuit.
After his discharge from the military in 1972, he studied music at Harbor College. He soon found himself back on the East Coast, where he performed with multiple groups, playing everything from rock to country and jazz. While in Nashville, he took a job with Doorknob Records and toured extensively with Betty Martin and Suns of the South, playing Blues across the Chitlin Circuit.
After returning to LA, he continued his musical education, studying privately with Herb Mickman, Alphonso Johnson, and Alex Al. Rocco is the founding member of Jazz on the Waterfront, and he toured and recorded with Sun Stone recording Artist One World, also co-writing tunes on the Spirits Beckon You and LA Mambo recordings. Rocco toured and recorded with Tim Moyer, Brenton Wood, Benny Mardones, and many others.
Rocco has shared the stage, opening for such notable acts as David Crosby, The Tubes, Poncho Sanchez, Ambrosia, and Todd Rundgren.
Keyboards, Vocals
Michael Parnell (Ike)
IKE PARNELL - is a multi-talented, deeply skilled musician. He earned his Bachelors degree in Music Theory and Composition from Mount St Mary’s College 1983. His instruments include guitar, sax, flute, drums and percussion.
Ike has been a session keyboardist and bassist since 1980 and has recorded for various artists including Graham Nash, Audrey Dardenne, Player, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Brian Setzer Orchestra( pianist on Run, Run, Rudolph), Chuck Negron, Michael Damian, Joe (Bean) Esposito, Steve Madeo, Mark Vogel, Sprung Monkey, Katrina Carleton, Steve Plunkett and Autograph, Jeff Silbar and many others.
As a studio engineer Ike has worked in Protools editor from the beginning of the technology with SoundTools, Digidesign 2 track digital editing system in early 1990’s. He has engineered various artists including the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Meredith Brooks, Chris Mostert, Chilly Chill, Dangerous Goodz, The Malibooz, Terraplane Sun, The Palms, Producer David Darling and others.
He was the arranger for Audrey Dardenne, The Carmelite Sisters, Nick Todd and others, and he provided string arrangements for The Temptations, Louden Swain, Katrina Carleton, LaFroy, and others.
Ike also performed with Laws Family (Playboy Jazz Festival and Toyohashi Music Festival), Michael Damian, and others.
As a composer Ike wrote for Dangerous Curves CBS, several documentaries for Discovery Channel, and The Very First Noel (Animated Christmas film).
Ike also worked with music supervisors John Houlihan, Paul DeFranco, Spenser Proffer, and Richard Feldman
Drums, Vocals
Chris Couchois
CHRIS COUCHOIS - started playing drums at 11 years of age in his hometown of Huntsville Alabama. By the age of 13 he was good enough to play in bands with much older, experienced players and mostly pursued his love of soul music. It was during this time he played with the 1st integrated band in north Alabama in the deeply racially divided south. It was an enriching experience, part of which is detailed in the Jane DeNeefe book, Rocket City Rock & Soul.
In 1970, at 17, Chris had already begun writing songs and went on his first national tour. At 18, he migrated to California to sign with Decca records. That band, Ratchell, performed original material on 2 LPs and toured as well with the likes of ELP and Bread.
In 1977, Chris formed a band with his brothers Pat and Mike called COUCHOIS and signed with Warner Brothers records. There they produced 2 albums which received very good regional airplay. They also toured in support of those albums. Additionally, Chris signed with publishers World Song Music, performed/wrote music for movies such as Shimmering Light with Beau and Lloyd Bridges, Going All the Way, and others.
In 1981 Chris left music as a full time job but ended that year performing with Eric Burdon, of The Animals fame, on his movie called COMEBACK which included some of brothers Pat and Chris' songs. Later Eric Burdon also recorded their original song HEART ATTACK with Rick Wakeman and Alvin Lee.
Post 1981, Chris earned both his AA and BSBA degrees in college while pursuing a career in computer systems and programming. He married his lovely wife Sharon (46 years together!) and had 3 beautiful children; Matthew, Dillon, and Sean.
But while working Chris has always actively kept his love of music performing live all this time in various bands mostly the South Bay, San Pedro, and Long Beach areas. Now retired, the Amerigumbo band is a way for Chris to play with phenomenal musicians and perform for audiences all those songs you’ve heard but might be ‘deeper’ cuts from artists you love.