Rudy Crichlow - Band Leader/Steel Pan Rudy was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but his roots are in the Caribbean since both his mother and father were born on the island of Tobago in the country of Trinidad and Tobago. He came to New York in 1995 and earned a master's degree in Music Education from New York University. Previous to that Rudy attended The University of Pittsburgh where he earned a bachelor's degree in Africana studies. His time at Pitt was highlighted by his performance with the university's African Drumming Ensemble and African Dance class. In addition, Rudy also acted danced and sang in three plays and two musicals. In 1994, he was the featured instrumentalist and actor in Kuntu Repertory Theatre's production of the Evolution of Jazz at the Edinburgh Scotland Fringe Festival. Another highlight of Rudy's undergraduate education was his opportunity to participate in a study abroad program called Semester at Sea. There he was blessed with the opportunity of visiting nine countries and gaining exposure to their music and culture first hand. At that time Rudy also performed in the Semester at Sea Gamelan Angklung ensemble. During his first two years at New York University he played percussion in the university's concert band and percussion ensemble. He has also made several appearances with those ensembles as the featured soloist. His N.Y.U. career has been highlighted by a performance at Carnegie Hall when the university's percussion ensemble performed with the New York Pops. Another highlight of his N.Y.U. career was when he was chosen during a concert band rehearsal to appear in the Whitney Houston video, "I Believe in You and Me" as the drumset player. Rudy's primary instrument is the steelpan. This instrument is the world's newest major acoustical instrument and was invented in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1940's. He has played the steelpan for the past 22 years beginning with the popular Pittsburgh based band, Caribbean Vibes Steelband. During that time Rudy has served as the music director of that band as well. He also produced the bands acclaimed eclectic C.D., Jammin' for 2000. Rudy's C.D. credits also include performances on a C.D. titled Men Nou Pa Pa. This C.D. was released by a popular New York based Haitian Kompa band called Lov'. Rudy was in Lov' during 1999; it was a unique musical marriage which brought two countries with different languages and distinct music styles into union. Rudy is both proud and humbled at the opportunity to fulfill his dream of leading Casplash. He would like to thank the members of Casplash!, Caribbean Vibes and all of his friends and family for the many years of support they've lent…without which of course this dream would never have been able to come to fruition.

Richard Dixon - Lead Vocals Richard hails from Queens, New York but his family’s roots are in New Orleans. The vibrant and rich jazz music heritage of New Orleans had a great influence on his family, thus making Richard part of the third generation of performing artists. Although he played piano and trombone as a child, Richard’s first love was singing. From the time he was three years old he would sing songs he heard on the radio or imitate singers at his church. As a teenager, Richard’s extraordinary singing ability was recognized time and time again. In junior high school he toured with a singing group modeled after The Jackson Five. In high school he appeared as The Wiz in the Musical “The Wiz”. In addition, Richard was even asked to audition for a major record label while still in high school but opted to attend college instead. Richard attended college both in the U.S. and in London. He was a soloist in the college gospel choir and sang as a part of a group called The College Singers. He also sang in several bands in the United States and abroad. During the 90s, Richard’s popularity grew tremendously in the U.S. and in Europe. He appeared on stage in Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain. Richard successfully toured throughout the U.S., appearing with notable gospel singers like Shirley Caesar, Sandra Crouch and Andre Crouch. His stage and film credits include two solos in a New York City production of the musical “The Gospel of Oedipus at Colonus” and an appearance in the film "Double Platinum" with Diana Ross and Brandy.

Chris Watson - Drum Set Chris Watson began playing the drums at the age of 15 for his local church. He was always surrounded by some of the top studio musicians in his area, thus he learned the importance of playing in time and with a good feel. After a few years of practice he started playing all over the city of Fort Lauderdale and touring on weekends. For 3 years he worked hard ,and for his final year of high school he was accepted into the Dillard School of the Performing Arts where he joined the jazz band. After his high school years he was accepted to Berklee College of Music, in Boston Massachusetts, on a music scholarship. There he showed his versatility playing jazz, gospel, latin, reggae, and rock. Additionally, he played for film scoring sessions, jam sessions at Wally's Cafe, Mass Ave. Baptist, and the Regatta Bar. He played with cats like Jeremy Pelt, Elan Trotman, and Goapele. Chris moved to New York City where he started teaching at a local school in Harlem. There he was promoted to the position of lead drum instructor. He has recorded/performed with Gavin Degraw, Heather Leigh West, Ben Jelen, Emily Brooke, Nicole Blanco, Bernard Woodside (who produced Timothy Wright’s God's In Control album), members of BT Express and Crown Heights Affair, Blade Thompson (bass player for Seal's band,) The Matt Sandy Band, and many more. He's done studio sessions at Meeks Studios, Supervibe, Electric Lady Studios, and SIR Studios. He recently was a winner of a Guitar Center drum off competition, and is continuing to play music that inspires him. Now he is playing with Casplash, which is so much fun. “This band is one of the best bands I've played in where everyone is talented and such fun to work with.”

Khuent Rose - Keyboard/Background Vocals “Next to water, music is the most essential element of our existence.” This is the kind of Philosophy that has molded the works of Khuent Rose. Born January 16, 1985 and raised in the Afro/ Latin- Caribbean haze of Brooklyn, New York, he was able to reconcile his Honduran, Costa Rican, European and Amerindian ancestries into a seamlessly unique music style. Heavily influenced by the music of the Church, the Steel band, and the plurality of the Caribbean, his works represent the colorful people and history that his Brooklyn home emanates. At an early age, Khuent was remarked to have a strong disposition to the art of music. Often staying home and listening to recordings of Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Luis Guerra, Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Tito Puente, Sparrow, Lord Relator, Lord Kitchener, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Art Tatum, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones and countless others that his father- a native Costa Rican- had at his disposal. Even at church with his Honduran mother he was known to make his way to the piano or organ whenever he could to faithfully reproduce something that had been sung or played earlier that day. This sparked enough of an interest that shortly after a modest keyboard was given to him around the age of 9 (that he still possesses) to practice with. Adamantly, refusing to attend lessons and determined to educate himself, Khuent did just that and soon became fluent at sight-reading elementary piano music and basic theory by the age of 10. It was also during this time that his love affair with the art of the steel pan was also fostered. After attending WIADCA pre-Labor Day Panorama Competition, he was completely imprisoned to the instrument and its powerful allure. He Joined the Casym Steel Orchestra where Dwight DaSilva was the band Captain and was an active member for over 10 years. While under the leadership of Executive Director William Jones and Musical Director Arddin Herbert, Khuent Rose went from being a player to an instructor and even partook the cap of arranging music for performances with the band. During his residence with the organization he performed at easily over 1000 venues with crowds at times in excess of 20,000. Such was the case of Khuent’s entries into the steel pan competitions of both New York and Trinidad. As a soloist he received mixed accolades ranging from the “peculiarity” of the performance to the “brilliance of the compositions” themselves. Though victory had never been his stated intention when partaking in these competitions, he did at least enjoy coaching others into improving themselves to perform better. Immediately after graduating Midwood High School with high accolades, Khuent traveled to Florida Memorial University (Steel pan performance/ jazz influenced) under the tutelage of one of the most dynamic forces in the steel band international community Dr. Dawn Batson-Borel. Of all his mentors she was by far the most iconoclastic. She fed him the sobering realities of his art and his personal shortcomings with a hand full of honey. He was also closely influenced by several members of the faculty namely, Melton Mustafa (Jazz), Dr. Richard Yaklich ,Feliz Spengler and students like Leon Foster Thomas,Freddie Harris III, Collins Peters, Joanna White, and Alea Nicholson. During his stay there he advanced so rapidly that the faculty eventually suggested that other venues would have probably been better suited for his studies; so said, so done. He returned to his Brooklyn home after two years of attendance at FMU. An illustrious sense of harmony and minimalist melodic structure became the corner stone of his composition style exiting the Florida school. He continued his studies at Brooklyn College (Music Composition), ironically across the street from the very high school that he had attended. It was also during this shift of collegiate venues that his spiritual venues also shifted. His desire to reconnect with his traditional African spirituality and culture nagged him insistently. He made several attempts to manifest this growing desire through songs in honor of his ancestors and local historical figures of West African Indigenous traditions. In the birth of the music of the drum came forth drumming and Orisha tradition music had a profound impact on Khuent Rose’s already eclectic pool of sonorities. The years of separation from Casym Steel Orchestra made Khuent realize that it was time to become something more. Khuent appointed himself as a consultant to various arrangers and drill sergeant to bands gearing up for competition. During this period he under went the sacred ordination of an Osun priest in the Orisha Tradition, while simultaneously securing a position as a music director of Premier Baptist Church in Brooklyn. It was a widely controversial move on his part but he reconciled the fact that he was born of two different spiritual lineages that made not only him but also more importantly his music a product of centuries of distillations. Khuent Rose expresses in his music the germination of a spiritual act takes place, whether the setting is secular or not. So the same attention to the flow of energy and body language seen at a party should be expressed at church shout or a circle drumming. We are all united by the drum and our blood. Between 1995 and 2009, Khuent has done over 70 major works including Piano, Steel Pan, Strings, Flute and Voice were penned. These works represent the varied styles and cultural influences that have shaped Khuent’s over-arching musical philosophy. Under the Executive Direction of Martin Douglas-40 year pan veteran – Khuent was commissioned as the Musical Director of Crossfire Steel Orchestra in April of 2008 and is the youngest arranger that the band has ever had. HIS CURRENT PROJECTS AND TITLES INCLUDE: • Brooklyn College music composition student (GPA 3.2) • Music Director of Premier Baptist Church • Music Director of Crossfire Steel Orchestra • Steel Pan Instructor at Grady High School • Arranger, Keyboardist CASPLASH entertainment Read more: http://www.myspace.com/KhuentRoseTunji#ixzz14hPF90yd

Randy Gaffney - Guitar Randy Gaffney a.k.a. Lefty has over 35 years of experience as a guitar player. In the early years Randy toured with recording artist Toby King for several years. Toby had such hits as "For the Good Times" and "Rock and Roll Will Stand". In the late 70's Randy played with a band called Road Way and recorded the hit song "Let’s Go For It". He toured with Road Way in and around the Carolinas and parts of Georgia. During the early 80's Randy toured throughout the southeastern and southwestern United States with Clarence Carter who had such hit songs as "Slip Away", "Patches", and many other popular songs. In 1984 Randy moved to New York City and formed a small local group which played at political conventions, rallies, gospel reviews, Jazz and Blues clubs. He also played for Joe Simon's retirement show and played back up for such recording artists as Guitar Crusher and Freddie Scott. In addition to being Casplash's guitarist, Randy is currently affiliated with Jimmy Hill and the All Starz Band Featuring "Black Velvet" a.k.a. James Brown Jr. He is also affiliated with Linwood Peel and The Sounds of the "Drifters" and various Caribbean and Gospel groups.

Marilyn Davis - Lead Vocals Marilyn Davis is a natural born singer. She started singing in her father’s church where she began learning the lessons that would shape her into the artist that she is today. Thus far, she has graced stages across the world performing with the critically acclaimed production of Mama, I Want To Sing. At the tender age of six, Miss Davis sang her first solo. Even then, singing came natural to her. “I wasn’t really nervous, it was just something I did”. Believe it or not, she did not realize that she could sing until she was sixteen years old. “When I sang in church people would tell me that I had a nice voice, but I didn’t believe it until I was a little older”. Singing was something she knew she had to do. Marilyn Davis attended Springfield Gardens High School. It was here where she received her first formal voice lessons. This was under the direction of H.B. Samuels. He trained Marilyn, and many other talented teens in tonality, ear training, and other vocal techniques. These were valuable lessons, which helped her to become lead vocalist in the school choir. Also, during high school Beth Goodrich, the theater arts teacher, introduced Marilyn to theater. It was through Goodrich that Marilyn learned how to perform Broadway and other popular materials. “Samuels taught me how to sing with feeling, and how to use gospel vocal techniques, while Ms. Goodrich taught me how to be a more diverse performer”. By the time she left Springfield, she had starred in several school productions including The Wiz, which gained positive local reviews. By the time Marilyn was sixteen she knew that she wanted to be a singer. “I remember standing in the kitchen and telling my father that I wanted to be a singer” Marilyn recalls. Her father’s response: “I want you to go to college, and then we’ll see what happens”. Marilyn attended LaGuardia Community College. While attending LaGuardia, Marilyn grabbed any opportunity she could to work at her craft. It was here that she took on the starring role of Dorothy in the college production of The Wiz. After this successful run she became a part of the school’s production of A Chorus Line. Although these school productions were a lot of fun, Marilyn longed to spread her wings and take a shot at the “big time“. Her break would come when she heard from a friend of auditions for an Off Broadway production. Marilyn auditioned for the part of a choir member in Mama, I Want to Sing. This production would take her across the world. While performing in the choir, her talents were noticed by the show’s producers as well as other cast members. She was soon offered the role of Lena Horne. In this leading role she dazzled audiences in Japan, Germany, and Switzerland. The Lena Horne role lead to other opportunities. Marilyn was featured in another Off Broadway musical as the Virgin Mary. Marilyn also began to sing with a popular gospel group, Soul Resurrection. The group was under the direction of Richard Hartley. The contemporary gospel group has toured extensively, and was featured in Double Platinum, starring Diana Ross and Brandy Norwood. Soul Resurrection has also been used as a backing group for an artist featured on The David Letterman Show (Trickey, a European artist), and they were featured in television appearances on NBC, FOX and Cooking Network as a guest of Donna Hanover. In addition to the theater and gospel, Marilyn also began to make her mark in the R&B and Pop music circuit. She has done background work for a host of artists. These included Mariah Carey (this gig included an appearance on television and a run of three weeks on MTV), R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and with rhythm and blues legend Mavis Staples, of the Staples Singers. Marilyn Davis is a well-rounded artist. She began singing as a child and developed her talents into her own unique style. While developing her style she has developed herself as a well-rounded artist who sings, acts and performs live. When asked what is next in her career, Marilyn simply says “I am now ready to record. I want to be as big as Whitney”. Marilyn Davis is truly a rare talent, and a woman who was born to sing.

Omar Little - Trumpet Bio coming soon...

Mark Nikirk - Saxophone Woodwind specialist Mark Nikirk has performed with The Four Tops, Ray Charles, Chico O’Farrill Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Mark has shared the stage with many of New York’s finest musicians including, Ralph Peterson, Joe Magnarelli, Sean Jones, Tony Reedus and Jerry Weldon. Mark Nikirk performs with his own groups at local jazz clubs in NYC and Long Island. Not one to be boxed into a certain category, Mark Nikirk performs classical and Latin flute repertoire with his own groups has played vocal chamber music with soprano and renowned Alexander Teacher Beret Arcaya, studied classical flute with world renowned flautist and educator Keith Underwood, freelance flutist Marie Keynote, and long time mentor Ralph Bowen. Mark Nikirk plays and endorses Mike Manning saxophones, mouthpieces, reeds, accessories and products. Please see Manningcustom.com for more details.