Bios

John "Johnny Moon" Pieruzzi
Athens , NY

Grew up in Athens , NY . Started playing alto saxophone at the age of 9 years under the watchful eye of Frank "Super" Apa (a well-known jazz and big band sax player from the 30's and 40's - also John's uncle). John's big inspiration came from his cousin Michael Apa, who was and still is a professional tenor sax player. These two influences started John off in the right direction and it's been non-stop ever since. The tradition is still continued today, as his grandson John Michael Dedrick will be starting saxophone lessons soon. With any luck, the tradition will continue well into the 21 st century. Some of the bands John has played with include White, Hot & Blue; B-Side Band; Johnny Rabb and the Jailhouse Rockers; Solid Ground; Jim Weider Band; Willy Pearce Blues Band; the Digits; Big Joe Fitz Blues Band; at the Catskill 2001 Jazz Festival with Trevor Lawrence (of Paul Butterfield and Rolling Stones fame); Tom Healey Band; the Dirt Boys; Avis Davis Band, to name a few.

Formed Johnny Moon & Starz in early 2005, playing blues, jazz, funk, classic and contemporary rock and roll.

Jefferson Kewley
Haines Falls, NY

Interests in life: Music, Skiing &
Cruising the Hudson.

Grew up in Northern California started playing drums in the 5th grade; picked up a guitar and surfboard in 1960 and never looked back.
Moved to LA joined “C.K. Strong”, an Epic/Columbia rhythm section providing the power behind a lot of their artists. Late 69 I hooked up with Neil Diamond and began touring for the next few years. In 1973 joined up with Mac Davis recording and touring until late 76, then toured with Yvonne Elliman and played with the Jerry Garcia Band until 78. Late 78 & 79 recorded and toured with Alice Cooper.

Moved to NYC in 1980; by 1995 I was burned out on NYC, closed down everything and moved up to my weekend getaway in the Northern Catskill Mountains.

Ran into Johnny Moon and Joe Boria started to jam around having a good time playing with good musicians again and joined the “Starz” to make music and enjoy life. What could be better?

Jacqueline Stoudemire
Medusa, NY

Jacque

A graduate of the High School of Music and Art, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, this is where she received not only classical training, but training in singing, acting and dance. Singing in the church at the age of four, she went on to become the musical director of the choir by the time she was in junior high school. During high school she got her first recording deal with Tap Records, which has now been re-released under Numero Uno Group called “Don’t Stop - Recording Tap”, which is proving to be a bit hit in Japan. Jacqueline has performed at many famous night clubs in Harlem such as Small’s Paradise and The Baby Grand, and has recorded in quite a few of the premiere studios in New York City.

After graduating college she went on to performing musical theater taking on roles in Ain’t Misbehavin, Little Shop of Horrors, Once On This Island, and Beehive to name a few. She recorded and had success with four Billboard dance hits that reached as high as number two on the charts. Larry Flick has dubbed her “a diva blessed with a limber range and an ample amount of raw soul.” These hits were performed at some famed clubs in New York including the Limelight, Sound Factory, The Tunnel and Club USA. Jacqueline has performed with several bands nationally; The Girls - an a capella group, Illegal Weapon, The Dick Allen Trio, Galaxy and J.A.Z.Z. While living in Florida for three years, she performed with a Motown sound band called On Que, where she began to flex her skills as a writer, arranger and producer. Jacqueline has performed around the world, including Argentina, Australia, and all over Europe with live bands, in musical theater, and as a solo artist.

After traveling upstate to her weekend getaway for quite a few years, she decided to leave NYC behind and is now a resident of Medusa, New York and is happy to make her debut in this area with Johnny Moon & Starz. Her vocal styling is sultry, soulful, powerful and versatile. Her performance is wonderfully attitudinal, energizing, and dynamic. She is looking forward to her future with Johnny Moon & Starz.

Rick Surrano
Athens, NY

Has performed with Nite Train and the Willie Pearce Blues Band, to name a few. Rick delivers his own brand of scathing harmonica as well as belting out the best blues vocals you’ll hear anywhere as well as adding percussion to the sound of Johnny Moon & Starz.

Craig Kiel
Claverack , NY Craig2009

When you take Accordion lessons starting at age 12 it’s only natural that you would move up to a Hammond B-3, Korg CX3 and a Kurzweil PC-88. Craig has held the chairman of the board position, keyboard that is, playing with Soul Sanction and Shades of Brass in the 70’s, backing blues singer Rory Block in the 80’s and pumping it out for Solid Ground throughout the 90’s. Now he’s laying it down a solidly soulful keyboard for Johnny Moon & Starz.

Mike Persico
Ravena, NY
Mike Mike has held down the bottom end for a number of bands around the New York area. He draws his influences from all types of rock, blues and country music. He keeps the bottom line in line with his solid 5 string bass guitar playing for Johnny Moon & Starz.

Frank Bertolucci
Cairo, NY

Frank In the beginning there was the beat, and Frank heard it and said "This is good, I can do that".Frank Bertolucci, Jr. has worked from Oklahoma City as the drummer for the house band of radio station KOMA, to recording credits at Songbird Studio in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Decca Records in NYC and Pams Studio in Dallas, Texas performing jingles for New York City's WABC. For decades Frank's professionalism and rock solid playing has credited him to play with some of the areas best and top groups such as Professor Whiskey's Medicine Show, Pyramid, Bunz Rock Show, Sounds Unlimited, Quinn Brothers Band, Ricochet, Way Out West, Swamie and the Hurricanes, Private Affair, Night Moves, Fingertips all working throughout the Hudson Valley and Catskills at local clubs an opening act for national headliners. Frank now resides in Cairo, New York.

Shaun Bazylewicz

Shawn Shaun is a freelancing professional low brass player/saxophonist in the upstate NY area. He has studied Music Performance at Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) with Brett Wery and Thomas Gerbino as a saxophone major, and also studied Music Education: K-12 at The College of Saint Rose (CSR), with a concentration in trombone/low brass, instructed by David Wampler.

Shaun’s gigs and performances have taken him all over eastern New York, as well as into out-lying states such as Massachusetts and New Jersey. He has played with a wide variety of groups, with a wide genre of musical styles.

Academically, he has performed with the CSR Wind and Jazz Ensembles, Brass Choir, Orchestra, Trombone Choir, and Campus Band, and still does to some extent. Also, he has played with the University at Albany’s Symphony Orchestra, the SCCC Jazz Ensemble on saxophone and trombone, along with various chamber groups, and currently plays in the SCCC Wind Ensemble on bass trombone.

Currently, he is the full-time trombonist for “Johnny Moon and Starz,” and trombonist/euphonium player in “The Silver and Gold Brass Quintet,” based out of Albany, NY. Formerly the full-time trombonist/saxophonist with “Nite Train and the High Voltage Horns,” he has also performed with The Capital Region Wind Ensemble, “Jonesy and the Jazz Cats,” The Erica Seguine Jazz Orchestra, “Tony’s Polka Band,” and “The Refrigerators,” as well as on-stage with famous jazz bassist Rufus Reid with the SCCC Jazz Ensemble, jazz saxophonist Dave Pietro, and “The Michael Wolfe Band” with the CSR Jazz Ensemble. He can be heard on “Best Man,” the latest album put out by “Nite Train,” as well as the US solo debut recording of English recording star John Garrison, entitled “Above The Cosmos.”

Shaun is looking forward to making some good music, with good people, for good people, with the “Moon and Starz!”

Joe Boria Joe “Who” Boria is back with the band. He looks and sounds great. He will be with us at upcoming gigs jamming on percussion and behind the set for a few as well. Welcome Back Joe Who!