Ryan Rafferty, Paul Cushing , Eddie Parise (Ex Baby Animals) and Frank Celenza (Ex Baby Animals)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Proud Mary are Ryan Rafferty, Paul Cushing , Eddie Parise (ex Baby Animals) and Frank Celenza (ex Baby Animals). RYAN RAFFERTY Lead Vocals / Guitar Ryan is a veteran of the Perth live scene who cut his teeth playing with members of internationally acclaimed band the Baby Animals. He has gigged regularly around Perth, including long term residencies at Metropolis Fremantle, The Shed and Black Betty's to name a few. Ryan has also gigged extensively through the South-west and the Goldfields with numerous covers acts, as well as providing backing vocals and guitar for 80s tribute act Rockstar. Ryan also provided bass and backing vocals for local singer/songwriter Manni on her live performances. No stranger to hard work, Ryan gets the job done with a level of professionalism matched only by his on-stage finesse. PAUL CUSHING Lead Guitar / Vocals Cush has been an active member of the Perth music scene since 2010, touring all over Australia with Proud Mary which features former members of The Baby Animals Eddie Parise and Frank Celenza. He is also a former member of Perth's Hailmary and 2015 saw the band complete a successful 15 date tour of the UK with USA rockers Ugly Kid Joe. He also appeared on Hailmary's 2016 EP release 'Evolve Dissolve' which was followed by a seven date Australian tour, another UK stint with Ugly Kid Joe and a performance at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales (UK). Cush also performs solo and with his acoustic duo 'In 2 Deep' with Perth songstress/guitar godess Sandra Calvezzi and The Lethals (Blues/Rock) with Leigh Miller (Vdelli) and drummer Steve Brooks. EDDIE PARISE Bass / Vocals Eddie Parise has been in the music industry since the late 70's. During the eighties, Eddie found himself working in Sydney as a session musician amongst the local burgeoning music scene from which emerged bands such as Noiseworks, Wa Wa Nee, QED to name a few. Session work landed Eddie gigs with Bo Diddley and Shauna Jensen. Later that decade, Eddie helped consolidate the line-up of a band which went on to become the Multi ARIA award winning BABY ANIMALS who went on to tour with Van Halen, Robert Plant and Bryan Adams. Eddie moved back to Perth to build his own recording studio to produce and nurture young talent - something he loves to do. After hearing Rafferty sing Fortunate Son seven years ago while playing in a band together, Eddie acted on a strong urge to form a new band, which would play only Creedence songs. 'Ever since I was a teenager listening to CCR and gazing at their album covers, I had always dreamed of playing CCR onstage. Hearing Ryan sing Fortunate Son that night I knew at that moment something had to be done as he was just incredible.' Handpicking his line-up, his friend and colleague Frank Celenza was an easy choice as they had a long professional association. Paul Cushing finalised the quartet. 'Right from our first jam session, it felt right. Everything sounded good. It was a magic moment for me.' FRANK CELENZA Drums Frank has been playing drums from the age of 7. He played his first gigs at age nine, and has been a professional drummer ever since. He was a founding member of the Perth band 'The Boys' having recorded 2 albums produced by Buzz Bidstrup (renown drummer for The Angels and Gangajang). The Boys toured Australia extensively playing support to bands like ACDC, Iron Maiden, The Kinks , Inxs, Cold Chisel, The Reels, The Angels, Dragon, Rose Tattoo, The Radiators, Jimmy and The Boys, Ian Gillian Band just to name a few. After moving to Sydney in the mid eighties Frank was involved in many different musical situations as a freelance drummer doing session and live work. He worked/ recorded and performed with artists, the likes of Matt Taylor (Chain), Ross Wilson (Mondo Rock), Don Walker (Cold Chisel) Richard Clapton, Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Eric Weideman (1927). Frank went on to become a member of the Multi ARIA award winning band the Baby Animals touring with Van Halen, Robert Plant and Bryan Adams. .