Our Angels

Alesa - professional singer, song writer and guitarist who shares her smile and positive attitude with the residents that we serve.  Alesa enjoys performing folk, country, light rock music and more.

Jackie Allen – sings and plays the guitar and leads the residents in singing the old favorites, while including some of her favorite blue grass and gospel songs. She is a member of the Sweet Adelines, the Arizona Bluegrass Association and Pickers and Grinners.

Josip Baginac - young musician who plays the accordion, tamboritza, trumpet and piano.

Linda Bedore - got a new harmonica from her father as a Christmas gift when she was eight.  She played it a lot for the four years she spent in the Navy.  While raising her family she got everyone singing songs her parents used to sing. 
She became a professional musician at the age of 77! 

Rita & Dusty Beracy – Rita plays accordion and Dusty, her son, plays guitar and sings. This popular duo is only available on weekends. Dusty is also a composer and sings often at Fiddler's Dream.

Chip Berkman – his music interests tend to be from the 1920's through the early 1960's. Chip plays the guitar and baritone ukulele. Many of the songs from the 20's were written on a ukulele or for a ukulele. He likes big band, pop, easy rock and country, and Gospel music.

Karina and Bob Brodesser – Karina comes from a family of musicians and has sung all her life in church choirs. She has performed in local musicals as well as with various country western bands. Karina's husband Bob makes instruments and enjoys accompanying Karina on the Cuban drum.

Gene Burkhart

Chava Cannon – plays all the favorites on the guitar. Her lovely voice helps the residents to remember the old songs that they love. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Share Network.

Milan Chorkovich

Judith Rhodes & Bill Clem – are a brother and sister duo who have sung together since their youth. Bill plays the guitar and Judy accompanies with the tambourine and maracas as needed. Close harmony is one of their strong points. They play with their own band, "Up the Road and Around the Bend" and also with "Country Cousins." Bill also plays with "Sweet Strings" which does big band music.

Marlene and Virgil Cole –"The Honey Dews," play guitar and harmonica duets. Their repertoire includes big band, folk, country, gospel, cowboy, sing-a-longs, Irish and Hawaiian. Their programs are a mix of vocals and harmonica duets. Venues where they have performed include folk festivals in Phoenix, Prescott and Flagstaff. They also play at coffeehouses, libraries, square dances and private functions, mainly in the Phoenix area. Virgil has won contests judged by harmonica experts for his chromatic harmonica playing.

Vincent Coppola – stage name Vinny DiJohn, has performed the multi-platinum #1 hit, "More Today Than Yesterday" to enthusiastic audiences around the world. Vinny thrills audiences with his dynamic stage presence, polished moves, and phenomenal vocal talents. He has performed with artists such as the "Beach Boys" and Chuck Berry. Vinny toured major circuits here as well as overseas, including the Jerry Lewis telethon and USO tours.

Richard Cram - New in 2008.  Richard started playing on the ukulele and graduated to guitar.  He learned to play pop and country songs from his dad.  He enjoys singing and playing music that brings back memories for everyone.

Tim Cumiford -

Leigh Dechaine

Steve Decker – began playing the guitar when he was eight years old. He currently plays and sings all over the valley. He organized a singer/songwriter consortium that meets monthly. He plays all the old favorites, and a few of his original songs.

Emily Delster – wife and mother of two who grew up in a musical household. She plays the guitar, piano, and flute, and also loves to sing. She has led worship in her church for the past two years. She enjoys any song that is able to draw in a crowd and get them clapping their hands and singing along! Her favorite songs are gospel and popular music from the 50's and 60's.

Toni Dimond – is the accompanist for the "Tempe Looney Tooner's Kitchen Band." This group performs for schools and nursing homes. She plays the piano and leads the residents in sing-a-longs. She also plays the accordion.

Ken Doerfler

Pete Donatella – at the age of three was in a vaudeville act with his family. Vaudeville was replaced by television, and then Pete was busy studying  accordion in New York City. He also taught accordion during  his high school years. He still teaches accordion and plays all over the valley. While in New York City he played in his own band called "For Pete's Sake." His old time melodies on the accordion are soothing to the ear.

Gloria Fair – sings all the old songs that the residents love. She has been a part of the Sun City Players variety show and has performed in numerous variety shows. Gloria was a contestant in the Ms Senior Arizona pageant in 2004 and won two trophies, Ms Congeniality and Ms Motivation. For four years she has sung in the Tribute to Marty Robbins show in Glendale. She is an active member of Marjorie Lane's Theater arts group in Sun City as well as the Cameo Club. She is also in her church choir. She is a retired teacher whose music is her love.

Miguel Favaro – Miguel is a seasoned accordion player having played for 12 years and has gained the ability to communicate across generational lines from his time volunteering in nursing homes and day care centers.

Grant and Karen Freeland - Grant and Karen specialize in performing songs the residents will remember and get the residents involved in the sing-a-longs as Grant plays the guitar.

Sal Genco – plays accordion.

Gus George -

Dave Gilbert – plays the piano every Friday at Mayo Clinic. A retired physician from Payson, he still plays the organ there on Sundays.

Igor Glenn – entertains with the jazz he played with Benny Goodman and the vocals he sang world-wide with the New Christy Minstrels. His band, Igor's Jazz Cowboys, performs acoustic Western Swing and Dixieland music. They have taken their music all over the USA and to Holland, Germany, Israel and Australia. Igor and the Jazz Cowboys recently recorded their eleventh album.

Raphael Gomex

Ralph Grimes - plays guitar and performs old country, traditional, bluegrass and pop music.

Barbara and Jack Harrigan – talented married couple with backgrounds in journalism and music. They have been with the Prime Time Players of Mesa for 18 years. They like to do "retro shows" featuring songs of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney and others. Their shows come complete with costumes and props. Jack has appeared with the C.C. Jones Band. Barb has won awards  for her humorous monologues in public speaking contests. Together this couple delights our residents and brings back memories of their favorites.

Eric Laubach – has been performing music for over 40 years on guitar and piano with the occasional blues harmonica to support his vocals. His playlist is a mixture of blues, covers, traditional classics, holiday tunes and originals. Eric is also an accomplished song writer with over 60 sings to his credit.

Ted Lee - plays electronic accordion.

Naomi Leyva

Mary Loth – During her high school years, Mary played piano and sang in the choir. She had a musical interest, which was interrupted by raising a family. Upon retirement in 2004, Mary renewed her interest in music, picking up a guitar and starting to take lessons.  She's been pickin' and jamming at Nancy's Music Hall for over a year. Mary has been a volunteer for Hospice of the Valley, Hospice of Arizona and RTA Hospice at Lakeside for more than three years.  She discovered during this past year that God wanted her to play and sing for Audrey's Angels. Mary loves all kinds of music, especially pop and country music.

Teresa Lugo – plays all the old favorites on the piano. Her happy personality makes the residents want to join in and sing.

Loran Marshall - plays guitar and enjoys performing gospel and country tunes.

Guy Moretti

Janet Murphy - plays old pop standards on her Yamaha electric keyboard. Janet has taught piano and organ lessons and over the years she has played the pipe organ in her church and has also played for roller skating rinks.

O'Gara Gamily Trio - Filled with enthusiasm and great youth-filled energy, this trio of siblings will surely bring many smiles and happy faces when they perform.  They are thankful each day for the opportunity to perform and share their musical talents.  Mary Jane plays the accordion, guitar, and piano, and leads the singing.  Brady plays the accordion, piano, and guitar, along with singing.  Sean plays the accordion, piano, and sings. Their musical selections involve a variety of all types of songs; bringing back childhood memories and making you want to sing along.  They lived in the Midwest for several years of their lives and since moving to the Phoenix area have performed at nursing homes, care centers, hospice homes, resorts, and clubs all over the valley.

Ray Powell – Ray plays a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele, banjo and bass. He also plays a variety of music from western to folk, to pop songs and gospel. He has been writing songs since he was twelve years old. He is currently a member of The Desert City Ramblers, a country/folk group. He has played at folk festivals and venues all over the Valley. He wrote a song in honor of Lori Piestewa and has been made an honorary member of the Piestewa Memorial Committee. Ray has recorded a CD called "Heritage" and will be doing more recordings as time allows.

Wayne Ramm

Joy Ratterree – plays the piano and guitar and sings all styles of music. Joy has a BME in Music Therapy.

Red Rock Crossing – an extraordinary trio, that features Gary Tinstman on bass, Rochelle Tinstman on mandolin and Terri Sue Rossi on rhythm guitar and banjo. Red Rock Crossing is fast becoming known for their "off-the-hook" harmonies and unique song arrangements. While bluegrass is at their roots, you can catch them singing just about anything including standards like All Shook Up, Big Yellow Taxi, Folsom Prison Blues and Over the Rainbow. Red Rock Crossing is bluegrass with a twist please.

Frank Schweller – He loves to play the accordion for the residents as well as the button box. He enjoys telling the residents the difference as well as the history of the instruments. He has been a member of the Arizona Accordion Club for nine years. The residents love the mellow music and the music that brings back memories when they sang and danced to those tunes.

Rick Sletten

Gary Smith – is a thumbstyle guitarist in the style made popular by Chet Atkins  and Merle Travis. Gary began playing the guitar at age 8. While going to college he played 5 nights a week and cut a record in the local band in 1964. Gary currently has a CD for sale locally and several new CDs in the works. He is a senior engineer and performs as a band guitarist for vocal groups and performs as a solo guitarist at the Glendale Library, Peoria Library, Fiddler's Dream and the Glendale Arts Festival. Gary is a regular performer at the Encanto Park Festival, Flagstaff Folk Festival and the Prescott Folk Festival.

Wendy Stapley – began her singing career as a child. She began singing solos when she was a senior at McClintock High School in Tempe, Arizona. Wendy has enjoyed doing community theatre and has had the lead role of Maria in "West Side Story" and as Dolly in "The Grass Harp". She has also sung with the "Sonoran Desert Chorale" for thirteen years and frequently sings solos for them. Wendy teaches piano to children, and has recently started playing the guitar and the Native American flute. Currently she is pursuing a degree in music therapy at ASU.

Jay Stevens – accordion player

Kate Stewart – plays the guitar as well as the piano. Her musical interests traverse folk, bluegrass, rock and her favorite–jazz. A singer of jazz standards, she performed with a jazz guitarist for two years in Los Angeles. With three of her sisters, she branched out to sing bass in a Doo Wop group. She recently performed a jazz/gospel program accompanied by a Dixieland band. Her vibrant personality and love of music as well as her enthusiasm for the old favorites spills over to her audience attesting to the healing power of music. She is a retired nurse.

Ernie Storm – Has played in bands in San Diego, Yuma and Texas. He delights the residents with his guitar and mandolin. He enjoys playing bluegrass and gospel songs but also plays the old favorites. His mellow voice enhances his playing. He is employed with the Department of Agriculture so can play only on weekends.

Mike Stramaglio – Mike is retired from owning his own hair salon in Chicago with his wife, Madelyn. While he lived in Chicago he sang with some of the big bands and combos. He also has been involved in fund raising work for Heart of Mercy Village, a home for mentally challenged children and adults. Music has been his passion all his life. His rich, tenor voice brings joy to our residents.

Bob Swarm – Bob sings Classic Country, Bluegrass and Folk music and plays guitar, banjo, resonator, and harmonica. Bob received the Country Music Hall of Honor 2006 and NY Country Music Hall of Fame 2011.

Ron Tallman – Ron began playing guitar in high school and played many of the popular songs back then of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and others. As the years passed Ron turned to more folk and country and still plays a lot of the old favorite tunes from the 70's and 80's. He has been involved in many church choirs in California, Hawaii and New Mexico. His love of choir music is clearly expressed in the songs he chooses to play. Ron is also retired from the U.S. Navy and shares his stories of visiting other countries around the world.

Glenn Torrico – singer, entertainer, guitar player. Glenn moved to Arizona from Maine and enjoys playing music from the 20's through the 70's. Glenn's focus is on facilitating social connections and improving focus, attention and concentration through fun musical interaction.

Uke-A-Zonies

John Urzi – known as "Johnny Knight" to many radio listeners for 30 years at various radio stations from the St. Louis area to Phoenix. In addition to his professional career as a morning  radio personality, John also performed on stage with many of the entertainers from Branson, Missouri, the Grand Ole Opry, Disneyland and many state fairs. Now retired, "Johnny Knight" enjoys entertaining and playing music for special events and dances, interacting with the audiences. Our residents love to dance to the music he provides.

Gail Ward –

Jack Wells – a pharmacist and an accomplished pianist, performing every Monday night at Xtreme Bean in Tempe. He also plays the piano at Mayo Clinic. He loves to play ragtime and the songs of the 40's. He is a member of the Arizona Ragtime Society.

Diana Jean Wind – loves to sing the old hymns and brings back memories to our residents. Her melodic voice is pleasant and comforting to our residents. She also brings a variety of the old songs our residents love.

George Wootten – directs a banjo band. He plays banjo and guitar and leads sing-alongs. He is also an active member of an Irish band.

Lois Collins – enjoys bringing crafts to our residents. She is also involved in the Ragtyme/Jazztyme Society.

Naomi Levya – shares her musical talents with the residents along with her craft abilities.

Nancy Ramm

Michelle Toma – craft instructor. She is a young mother of three children. She relates well to all the residents as she gets them involved in the projects she makes with them each month.

Maggie Wilder – leads art parties at three adult day care centers. The responses she gets from the folks who look forward to her visits are evident on our new video tape. Maggie is a water colorist and has had her own art show. She works with the missions and youth at her church. She is also on the Board of Directors for Audrey's Angels and serves as the secretary.