The Sugar and Spice Band
January 21, 2012
The Sugar and Spice Band
by Alysia Stern
The Sugar and Spice Band is an incredible Motown and disco band with a lot of soul. The band is compiled of ten phenomenally talented artists and musicians from around Long Island. Each member has a story to tell and a history with music that ranged from Gladys Knight to Little Buster. The band has an unbelievable song list which includes a range of melodies. “You Can’t Hurry Love, “Le freak”, “Band of Gold” and” Chain of Fools” are just a few of the numerous songs they perform. This band gets the crowd singing and on the floor dancing from the minute that first melody is played.
Joyce Kendrick, the manager and lead vocalist, is a Brooklyn criminal defense attorney by day and a thoroughly known singer by night. Joyce comes from a very musically skilled family. Her mother sang with a renowned gospel group, and her uncle sings with and produces the iconic Dorothy Norwood.
Joyce was inspired as a youngster by Diana Ross. During college she toured with the Eastern Arizona Repertory Theatre Company for two years. She has enacted in a multitude of musicals. One year, during a summer break from school, she flew to New York for a vacation. Little did Joyce know she was going to meet her husband Darryl Kendrick and fall in love. Joyce followed her heart and relocated to Long Island, where she received her degree in law.
Darryl has been playing saxophone since the age of 10 and has performed in several bands including Love, Peace and Joy, Nemesis, and New Life Soul. Joyce and Darryl sang together with New Life Soul for about 5 years. When Darryl decided to start his own band, he introduced Joyce to a few musicians, and before they knew it, The Sugar and Spice Band was formed.
When asked how all the members came together, Joyce stated, “It was sort of fate. In the beginning, the original drummer, saxophone and trumpet player from our previous band came with us on our new venture. The drummer met a keyboard player, who had joined the band but eventually had to part from the group. That was when Roast beef Joe contacted us to join the group. When our drummer left, Tommy Randano (who played with Gladys Knight) joined the group as the drummer.” The Sugar and Spice Band have been together for almost two years. They practice weekly at Jamhouse Studios in Lindenhurst New York. http://jamhouserehearsalstudios.com/
Each member has an astounding talent worth sharing:
Michael Carpenter, the tenor saxophonist, has been playing the saxophone for more than 25 years. He holds a degree in music from Berklee College of Music. Currently Michael is a band director and a teacher at Westbury High School.
Rich Gordon plays the trumpet, flugelhorn and harmonica. He has played with several bands including “New Life Soul and Randy and the Rainbows- with whom he continues to perform.”
“Roast Beef Joe” Samuels is the keyboard player. He has played with the legendary Little Buster.
Timothy Maye, who plays the bass guitar, has performed for over 20 years. His talent will have you on your toes and dancing the entire evening.
Joey Donato plays the guitar and vocals. “He has been playing guitar by the age of 13. By the age of 15, he was studying with Con Estone and later, the great Carmen Mastren. After a tour of military duty and before joining The Royal Teens (Short Shorts), Joey resumed his playing experience by providing the guitar background for acts such as The Belmonts and later Gary US Bonds and the Paragons.”
Tommy Rendano plays the drums. “He holds a degree in Instrumental Performance and Music Education from Berklee College of Music and a degree in Music Education from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. For over five years, Tommy performed in Las Vegas showroom house orchestras at the MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Aladdin & Tropicana Hotels. He played behind top showroom headliners including Gladys Knight, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Lola Falana, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, Glen Campbell, Doc Serinson, Paul Williams, Bernadette Peters and many others. He spent ten years in New York as a personal drummer for the Holidays and Cathy Jean and the Roomates. Serving as House drummer for the Cavalier Lounge he played for oldies groups the Angels & Lenny Welch. “
Sheryl Myles is one of the background vocalists. “She is the choir director for her church choir and is very skilled at perfecting harmonies.”
Stephanie Ghulson is another background vocalist. Stephanie also has gained her singing experience while growing up in the church. Together these women will bring tears to your eyes as they help reproduce the oldies in a way never heard before.
The Sugar and Spice Band can be seen all over Long Island. They recently played at The Resorts World Casino New York City Aqueduct and at Old Westbury College for “The Jazz Under the Stars” show. You can find them at The Lizard Lounge, The High Note and numerous venues between Queens and the Hamptons. They plan on coming up with new videos and a new demo this year. Joyce stated that she would love for the band to be able to display their talents at Butterfields or The Crazy Donkey, for the experience. “I have always wanted to play there.”
As much as talent that is based in this band’s unity, the Kendrick family itself has just as much. Darryl and Joyce’s daughter Jazmine, won the 2004 LI Idol in her school. She also made it to the final cuts for Christina Aguilera’s show, “The Voice”. While their eldest son Vernell is a 27 year old music video productions artist.
The band’s website is http://www.sugarandspiceband.com/default.html . Here you will be able to find their next event, and any new information that they have to share. The next time you want to do something fun, and something that will keep you moving, go see The Sugar and Spice Band. Sugar and Spice really is everything nice.
