That Motown Band

Tom Schizzano is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and vocalist.  He has written and produced music for worldwide release on television shows and advertising.  His credits include CBS/Paramount, Disney, PBS and NBC/Universal.  

He has performed live with artists such as Hall & Oates, Cindy Lauper, Lou Christie and Paul Shaffer.  He has also produced and arranged music for recording artists in the pop and oldies genre such as The Tokens and Jimmy Clanton.  

Tom has scored several independent films and continues to write, arrange, and produce from his production studio in Hauppauge New York.

Johnny Gale is a five-time Grammy Award nominee who has achieved success as a
producer, composer, vocalist, and guitarist. Johnny is also an industry-recognized
expert in the stylings of classic soul, doo wop, R&B, blues, rock, and 1950s and
1960s adult-oriented pop.

Johnny’s career has been as big and eclectic as the city he grew up in—New York
City, Queens to be precise. Over his long career he has performed and recorded with
Ringo Starr, Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Mick Jagger, and Keb’ Mo’, among others.
Johnny has written and produced five number one chart records that have become
standards in the Carolina Beach Music Scene. Gale Force, a CD released in 1994, was
awarded “Best Guitar Record of the Year” by Guitar Shop Magazine.
He also co-founded the group Little Isidore and the Inquisitors in 1994, producing
two cult classic albums.

For over twelve years, Johnny Gale has been the musical director for, and member
of, the internationally popular Kenny Vance and The Planotones, producing and
arranging six critically-acclaimed records and performing in over a thousand shows
in the U.S. and abroad. He also acts as arranger, musical director, and bandleader for
That Motown Band, a Long Island-based Motown cover band.

His musical impact has extended into film, stage, and television. His credits include:
 Music director, guitarist, and consultant for The Marvelous Mrs.
Maisel, Season 3.
 Musical director, and guitarist on seven songs, for Martin Scorsese’s
The Irishman. (He also appeared in the film with Steve Van Zandt.)
 Music director for the hit series Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl.
 Served as period music consultant and music arranger, collaborating
with music mogul Tommy Mottola and Chazz Palminteri, on the
Broadway hit, A Bronx Tale.

In 2019 the East Coast Music Hall of Fame recognized Johnny with two lifetime
achievement awards: the Legends Award as a Legend Musician, and for The Best
Music Maker, Vocal Group/Doo Wop for his work with The Planotones.
Whether on stage or in the studio, Johnny Gale is an unstoppable musical force that
always leaves a uniquely indelible imprint on the music and the listener.

Not many people can say that their voice became their ticket to travel the world.
Kevin’s soul-drenched sound has the emotive power that, if you close your eyes,
makes you feel like you’re sitting in Detroit’s Roostertail Restaurant listening to
Smokey Robinson himself.

Kevin’s musical career began in 1981 as a member of “Instant Love.” Discovered in
New York City by a South American promoter, the group took their act abroad and
played in nightclubs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the
next three years.

Kevin went on to start his own band, “Breaking Point.” “Breaking Point” built on his
international appeal, performing in Dubai, UAE, Monte Carlo, Vancouver, Canada,
Acapulco, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru.
He later founded Breaking Point Entertainment, an event planning company, which
has now been operating for over 25 years.

Kevin has also performed with several Long Island-based bands, including “Shining
Star” (an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band), “20 Highview” (a ‘70s dance band) and
“Entourage” (a sought-after wedding band).

Kevin joined “That Motown Band” in 2017 as one of its lead singers.
In addition to Breaking Point Entertainment Kevin also co-owns with his wife
Orange Skye Body and Beauty Bar, a day spa located in Valley Stream, NY.

Garfield Fleming was present at the birth of Philadelphia soul, a genre that includes
soul legends Patti LaBelle, the O’Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and the
Delfonics—a band he would later tour with. Developing his own sound as a solo
artist, Garfield released his signature song, “Please Don’t Send Me Away,” a nightclub
staple in the early ‘80s that also established for him a large and loyal following in the
U.K. and France. Testifying to the enduring sound of “Please Don’t Send Me Away” a
YouTube video of a 2018 street performance at a Paris flea market was a viral
sensation, driving Garfield’s 20 million views.

Garfield spent the remainder of the ‘80s putting together a successful solo career,
releasing another hit single, “Let’s Turn in Early” in 1984. As a solo artist, he has
opened for some of the biggest stars in the Soul firmament, including Harold Melvin
& the Blue Notes, The Isley Brothers, and the great Jerry Butler.
In the early 1990s, the Grammy Award-winning Delfonics asked Garfield to join
them to be their baritone and background singer. He would end up touring with
them for the next 25 years.

After the Delfonics stopped touring, Garfield resumed his solo career, releasing a
new album in 2017, issued in the U.S. under the title “Time to Know Me” and in the
U.K. under the title “Garfield Fleming.” A U.K. critic called his latest album “a shiny
‘80s soul gem with stacks of space for Garfield’s signature soaring vocals.”
Garfield is also a guest lead singer for That Motown Band, a Long Island-based
Motown cover band.

Garfield Fleming was born in Philadelphia and continues to live in The City of
Brotherly Love with Carissa Walker Fleming, his wife of 12 years and childhood
sweetheart. He has two sons, both of whom contributed to his latest album, and a
daughter.

Garfield’s singing is imbued with an unrelenting positivity, a deep passion for music,
and a love of the audience that make his performances an experience that you don’t
soon forget.

Tony brings a combination of subtle technique and propulsive rhythm on drums
that is the heart beat of “That Motown Band.” His is an effervescent sound that
reaches into the listener and immediately gets heads nodding and feet tapping.
Born into a musical family, Tony started playing professionally at the age of 16. After
a short stint at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Tony’s career took him far
and wide, playing jazz and rock and performing throughout the tri-state area,
including Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall.

He has performed and recorded with Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Little Isidore
and the Inquisitors, Pookie Hudson and the Spaniels, The Harptones, The Jive Five,
The Velours, The Jarmels, The Teenagers, The Orioles, The Eternals, The Coasters,
The Crystals, and The Chiffons, among others.

Tony has written and recorded music for TM Century and Bruton Music that has
been used in a variety of TV and radio spots.

Tony’s major musical influences include Philly Joe Jones and Panama Francis, whose
intuitive feel, impeccable taste, and behind-the-beat genius continue to inspire Tony
today. Audiences have been witness to his kinetic artistry since he joined “That
Motown Band” in 2017.

Sanford Marten is a versatile, highly-accomplished tenor, soprano, and alto
saxophonist who brings his signature sound to a wide range of music genres,
including Jazz, Latin, R&B, Soul, Funk, Rock, and, of course, Motown.
A graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music and William
Paterson University, Sanford studied classical and jazz performance under Grammy
Award-winners Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, Rufus Reid, and George Garzone. His
sound is influenced by Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Lenny Pickett, John
Coltrane, and Dexter Gordon.
He has toured extensively in Japan and the United States, including as the opening
act for Pitbull at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. He has been a
recording session artist for a number of commercial jingles and movie scores and is
an on-call player with several A-list NYC- and Long Island-based musicians.
Sanford recently joined “That Motown Band” as its tenor saxophonist, which
listeners will quickly realize is the perfect marriage of music and instrument to
showcase Sanford’s amazing talent.
When he’s not in the studio recording or performing with “That Motown Band” and
other popular Long Island bands, such as “The Projekt”, “UpperCut,” “Dave Diamond
& Friends,” “Sir Duke“, and “Latinology,” he is a private music instructor,
specializing in advanced improvisation, solo transcriptions, horn section
arrangement, music theory, and ear training.
Sanford also serves as an educational representative for Music and Arts, enhancing
relationships with educators in Nassau County schools, and is also VP of sales and
marketing for East End Weddings & Events and Long Island Wedding Event
Professionals.

Nathina is a classically-trained singer whose voice was described by one critic as
having “an effortless quality.” The truth is that Nathina’s voice needs to heard to
fully appreciate its beauty and soul.
Nathina, is a graduate of Stony Brook University’s Music program—ranked as one of
the top music schools in America. While a student at Stony Brook she was selected
to be a featured soloist for the school’s Big Band showcase for two consecutive years
and was presented the Bob Meyers Award in Music in recognition of her
outstanding achievement.
After graduation she spent five years as the lead singer for Café Noir, a Long Island-
based jazz quintet. Her musical background also includes teaching voice for seven
years and singing with Ray Anderson, a legendary jazz artist who was regularly
voted by DownBeat magazine’s Critics Poll as the best trombonist during the late
1980s and early 1990s.
Nathina later joined That Motown Band as a founding member, serving as one of its
lead singers.
With a background in opera, jazz, and soul, Nathina brings her passionate style of
singing to the Motown Sound, bringing a fresh and authentic energy to this classic
music genre.
Similar to her first love, jazz, Nathina finds resurrecting this unique chapter in
American music history empowering. Witnessing Nathina do justice to the legends
of the Motown Sound, like Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Tammi Terrell, listeners
will feel her power to lift their spirits and transport them back to an era of joyful,
truly original American music.

Natasha’s musical roots were found singing in church as a young girl. The love she
feels for, and inspiration she derives from, the energetic rhythms and uplifting
messages of gospel music contribute to the power of her performance on stage.
Natasha is proud to have joined That Motown Band as a lead singer in 2015,
humbled by the opportunity to share the music of Aretha Franklin, the Supremes,
and Carla Thomas with a new generation of music lovers.
Her sights are set firmly on growing her music career. Natasha believes in the power
of music to take the listener anywhere—into any memory or alternate universe.
With a desire to take her listeners on that journey, she plans on complementing her
work with That Motown Band with the pursuit of writing and performing her own
music grounded in her passion for neo-soul, jazz, and R&B. Natasha is living the
dream!

Finding inspiration from the sound of David Sanborn’s alto sax, Mikey has been a
lifelong student of the saxophone, with a passion for the instrument’s beautiful
tones and capacity to touch an audience in ways that only a saxophone can.
Mikey graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelors in Music
Education focusing on jazz study. During his years attending GMU, he performed
with eight ensembles of varying music genres, highlighted by being first chair in the
University’s jazz big band and a member of the GMU’s Green Machine PEP Band,
ranked among the finest in the nation.
During his college experience, Mikey toured with a Dave Matthews tribute band,
playing in venues throughout the East Coast, including the RFK Stadium Shamrock
Fest and opening up for the actual Dave Matthews Band at the National Stadium in
Washington, D.C.
He was subsequently invited to join Yellow Submarine, a Beatles-Reggae fusion
band, where he performed in 46 states before the band went on hiatus.
The Hit Man Blues Band, learning of Mikey’s availability, asked him to join the group
as its baritone saxophone player for a three-week tour of England that carried them
from London to Lincolnshire.
In 2014, he joined John Brown’s Body, a Reggae band from Ithaca, NY, spending the
next two years performing throughout the United States including Alaska and
Puerto Rico.
Mikey made his way to That Motown Band in the most unlikely of ways—a fender
bender. Waiting for the light to turn, he was tapped by the car behind him, Mikey
knew exactly who to call, his friend Bobby. Bobby, who has been in the guitar seat
for TMB since its inauguration, is a talented body work mechanic for cars. That was
when the idea sparked to get Mikey into That Motown Band.
He joined the band in 2019. Motown music is the perfect partner for the way Mickey
plays his sax—with fun, high energy, and a spirit possessed.

Mike honed his craft as drummer and percussionist under the tutelage of Carmine
Appice of Vanilla Fudge fame, Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Bernard (Pretty)
Purdie and three-time Grammy award winner Narada Michael Walden.
Mike began his career as a studio drummer at the Chapel Music Workshop and later
worked with some of the leading R&B musicians of the time. Signed by Brunswick
Records and the Norby Walters Agency in the early ‘70s, touring the US, he opened
up for acts such as: Gloria Gayner, The Tramps, Little Anthony and the Imperials
and many more. He is currently performing with “That Motown Band”.
Some of his Recorded Credits are:

 1973- “Making My Daydream Real”- Lion Records – We The
People – Chapel Music Work Shop producer Landy McNeal
 1975- “Never Gonna Leave You” – Brunswick Records –
Personally managed by Barry White/Tony Valor a Tom
Moulton mix
 1978 – Avco Records – Producer Landy McNeal – Artist: Marke
VI

When not performing, Mike spends his time running his family Kitchen & Bath,
Interior Design & Construction business.
Born and raised in New York City, Mike always brought his best to his hometown
performing in the Big Apple.