THE BAND: 

John Schrader: (songwriter) Lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, drums,  beat creation
Sean North: Guitar and Backing vocals
Dennis Styles: Bass Backing Vocals
Ruperto Ifil: Drums and Backing Vocals


SEAN NORTH (Guitar, backing vocals) grew up in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. He sowed his musical oats in numerous bands through the years. He is the product of a musical family. His greatest influence and his best teacher to date was his mother who taught him to play guitar at a very early age. Sean’s mom gave him not only the tools but the love for music! Sean has played venues from Phoenix to Raleigh to NYC and Boston. He sites his influences that run the gamut from Randy Rhoads to Liona Boyd to Robert Fripp. He’s been described as a “utility player” that gets the job done with a strong emphasis on his rhythm skills and chord voicing’s. Sean also holds down the low end background vocals for JSB! Sean says his “Fan-Lucky Experiences” include him playing “more cow bell” for B.O.C at a show in NY and rubbing big elbows backstage while covering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies for ‘Guitar Online Magazine.” John and Sean go back to their teen years before finally playing together in the same band! 

RUPERTO IFIL (Drums) In his youth, Ruperto embarked on a path to pursue a professional career in music with legendary Avant Garde musician Arthur Rhames,. They were blessed with the opportunity to play with master Jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, who encouraged them to “keep playing” - - and that they did.

Ruperto served as Vice President and General manager at The Terrie Williams Agency in New York City, where he was privileged to work closely with high profile artists and community leaders including Eddie Murphy (during his music period), Miles Davis, Chris Rock, Mary J. Blige, Russell Simmons, Sean Combs (P-Diddy)…but the stage kept calling.
 
In 2001 Ruperto developed a concept for an arts and entertainment complex that would produce major cultural events.  Ruperto helped design, build, and develop what is now a 75,000 square foot facility housing an art gallery, a dance studio, lounge, rehearsal facilities and a performance space with a capacity for over 1,000 patrons. 

Ruperto has produced, promoted and/or played at events with Jack DeJohnette, David Sancious, the Duchess of Funk, Slam Allen, Bad Brains, Parliament/Funkadelic, NY Funk Alliance, The Heavy Weather Band, Flash Band, Electric Rubyfish, and now he’s psyched to be riding with The John Schrader Band!

DENNIS STYLES (Bass) has lived in the Hudson Valley his whole life. He attended elementary school with John and shared his band mates’ love of music since an early age. He recalls listening to Herb Albert, John Coltrane, Johnny Cash and other vintage vinyl on his dad’s hifi stereo, but enjoyed a particular appreciation for artists like James Brown, Parliament, and Sly. He bought his first guitar at age 8 at a garage sale for $10, and played it mercilessly until he could play along with songs on the radio. He played guitar and bass in a number of garage bands in high school while he continued to explore the 70’s funk scene and developed a real interest in euro funk/fusion. He fell in love with the bass guitar and developed an insatiable appetite for groove laden music. He was listening to Tower of Power, EWF, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Level 42 when everyone else was listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd. He picked up a vintage Fender Jazz bass and started to teach himself funk slap technique used by Larry Graham and Mark King. Over the years, he has been influenced by other great bass players, including Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Rocco Prestia, Marcus Miller, Bootsy Collins, and Verdine White. Fast forward to the present, and a chance encounter with John led to an audition, and he joined the band in 2010