Steve Kocherhans
Steve Kocherhans played sax and keys from The New Presidents through the end of Love and War-era Shadows. He was older, of Native American heritage, and not from the same area as the other guys. Extremely talented, he loved all kinds of music, especially jazz, and brought something very unique to the music.
Joe Kocherhans (Steve’s brother): “Steve enjoyed playing with The Shadows, it gave him a chance to explore his rock roots, and he always had a good time, and established great friendships, with his fellow band members. That was one of the most active times in his life, musically. In addition to daily rehearsals with the band, he was also doing some theatre work. He performed in the bands for the retro-rock musical Suds at the Old Globe Theatre, and also performed in a jazz version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The San Diego Repertory Theatre, put together by the legendary jazz drummer Max Roach. Keith David was a member of the cast, who would later have (and still does) a successful acting career.”
As an accomplished tenor and soprano saxophone player as well as a master of the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), He was quickly heralded as a significant new force in the Southern California music scene. Kocherhans' cultural diversity also played a hand in his musical prowess. Being part Lakota Indian (his mother was born on the Rosebud reservation), Kocherhans was taught his native ancestry and studied his Lakota roots and the Plains Indian music.
Steve died tragically in 1999 at age 44, by which time he had already formed a quartet (Mango Reality in 1992) and recorded Hoka Hey!, an album of Native American-themed music. The Album "Hoka Hey!" roughly translates into Let's Go! and this album is a tribute to his energy and spirit as he embarked on a classic road trip to trace his ancestral roots. Tragically, Steve passed away just weeks before the album was to be released as he was preparing to hit the road on a national tour. (With Roger Friend (drums), John Nau (keyboards), and Glen Fisher (bass)). NEW LINK ADDED TO THE MANGO REALITY ALBUM ON DISCOGS: https://www.discogs.com/release/25339792-Steve-Kocherhans-Mango-Reality-Hoka-Hey
John Nau
A native of southern California, John grew up in a household that fostered his creativity and opened his mind to where his music career would eventually lead. This path moved from theatre, to jazz bands, to playing keys for Robert Vaughn and the Shadows, then Hootie and The Blowfish, and eventually composing for films and commercials. As a keyboardist, he has also played with Belinda Carlisle, RATT, Coolio and The Januaries as well as with his own band, The John Nau Quartet, featuring some of LA's top musicians.
Nau (and creative partner Andrew Feltenstein’s) film and TV credits also include ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, starring Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate, the IFC series SPOILS OF BABYLON (for which they earned their first EMMY nomination), BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY, starring Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell, THE BRONZE for director Bryan Buckley, SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE starring Jason Sudeikis and Allison Brie, the Lauren Greenfield film KIDS AND MONEY, the BIG LOVE Christmas Album, and BACHELORETTE for director Leslye Headland, and the upcoming films, DABKA for Bryan Buckley and THE HOUSE with Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.
Robert Vaughn
It's well after the time that I should have put up a profile for Rob. That's him in white just a few years back (in case you hadn't guessed). The trouble is, anything I write here will be second hand. I occasionally have a Messenger chat with him but not usually about his own life story. He is well out of the public eye and that seems to suit him. Maybe this will inspire me to dig a bit deeper...
Guitarist, vocalist, composer for bands like RV & The Hub Caps, The New Presidents, Gloryhouse, RV & The Shadows and the Dead River Angels. Producer/Engineer for many other artists from the 1980's through to the early 2000's. Videographer, surfer, father of two boys (RIP) and much more.
There, that's a start.
Leo Correia
I am waiting on more from Leo so that I can complete this section - he has had an amazing and varied musical career...and it's certainly not over!