Carl Douglas, best known by his preferred nickname “CD," graduated from San Francisco’s Mission High School. As Talk of da Town’s outstanding First Tenor soloist, CD also sings Second Tenor, Baritone and Bass, as well as being Lead Singer in all ranges. He is also known for his fine songwriting skills. His idol is Smokey Robinson...and if you close your eyes while listening to him, you may not be able to tell the difference. Music is CD’s life. He has performed internationally and with various groups and has opened for many of his favorite artists, including , Rod Stewart, James Brown, Ray Charles, Take 6 and Patti LaBelle. A song-&-dance man who gives his all to every performance, CD charms every audience with his engaging theatrics and infectious smile. ------

Rodney James, native San Franciscan, began performing with several Bay Area vocal groups in the mid-‘60s. In the ‘70s he joined Talk of da Town, and in 2002 became a member of Natural Four, performing with them at the Monterey Blues Festival, the Jimmy Hendrix Experience in Seattle, the City of Oakland’s 150th Birthday Celebration, and Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco. Recently Rodney co- founded the increasingly popular company, Ta’Lor Made Entertainment, in which he headlines a Motown Revue, “Hitsville USA,” performing songs made famous by the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Spinners, the Pips, and other stars of the era. An acknowledged playwright/actor/producer appearing in various Bay Area productions, in 2005 Rodney realized a lifelong dream by writing Diva On Tour, a musical about a family dealing with the success of the daughter’s career. Rodney and his wife, Kay Ellison-James, co- produced and premiered the show in May 2006. His second play, No! Not My Son, about a family dealing with the son’s drug addiction, premiered in November 2008, and his third, A Dream Interrupted, A Life Reborn, celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness, is a tribute to Kay, a survivor of breast cancer. ------

Stan Lockwood, native San Franciscan, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and attended San Francisco State. His many years of singing began at Providence Baptist Church. Early inspirations were and Otis Redding, then he was greatly influenced by Jerry Lawson and the Persuasions. Stan is most noted as one of the founding members of Talk of da Town, a world renowned group recently featured on NBC-TV’s hit show, Sing Off! He has also traveled and participated in the 'European Gospel Tour.' Stan's ear-to-ear smile lights up the stage and has the audience beaming right along with him. ------

Chase Ruffin, born in Saint Louis, MO, began playing musical instruments in elementary school and college and was a member of the local Drum & Bugle Corps. Making his professional début as a drummer, he then was asked to be lead singer/front man for the band, which led directly to his becoming lead vocalist in many acts over the years, including: We Friends; the Defiant; the Newborn Band; Zodiac 5; Solid Ice; Tongue “N” Chic; Ivory Monkey and the Jazz Vocal Group. Sonata Pi. Currently Chase is a member of Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town, and Hitsville: Legends Of Motown. Chase’s awards include Best Singer: Gold Artist Radio Indy Awards, and the USA Songwriting Competition Finalist Award. Comfortable in most any musical genre, and an accomplished all-around entertainer, singer/songwriter, vocal arranger, actor, published poet, Chase has recorded and toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe. ------

Douglas Stepney, San Francisco resident, began singing in church choir when he was 6 years old. During his teen years, he sang with various groups throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1978 he had the privilege and pleasure of recording with Patti LaBelle. He also sang bass with his own group, the Johnny Lance Singers, which was featured on the track, “Quiet Times,” from Patti LaBelle’s debut solo album, Tasty. Since then Douglas has recorded with several Bay Area artists and groups. In 1986, Douglas joined the Talk of da Town, bringing to it his soulful, smooth, “boom-boom” bass. TODT has opened for Ray Charles, James Brown, the Temptations, Jay Leno, Joan Baez, George Benson and many others stellar artists. Douglas’ voice and passion for singing has allowed him to travel throughout the and Europe, singing everything from gospel to rhythm & blues to pop. For the past 5 years Douglas has sung bass with Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town.