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Bob Stanhope (vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar) has performed as a singer-songwriter in many different settings since the 60s. Recently he has been a featured performer at The Putnam County 4-H Fair in Carmel, NY, Wintonbury Coffeehouse in Bloomfield, CT, First Night Danbury, and The One Heart Festival in Danbury, CT. He is a ten-time winner in the Billboard Magazine Songwriting Contest, a performing member of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild, and also an Artistic Member of Mosaic Ministries. Not long ago he was the musical guest on a live nationwide cable TV program on The Keystone Network out of Pennsylvania and years ago had the chance to record with Les Paul in his studio in NJ. Bob has completed many recordings in his home studio both solo and with his vocal group Cornerstone. Bob says, “Mike, Roy, and Tim are such good musicians it makes me wonder if I’m good enough to be in the band that I’m in.” Roy Ellingsen (lead guitar, vocals) first picked up a guitar soon after the Beatles arrived on the American music scene because "I had all this energy and I needed a release." He was a member of the recording group Jericho who released the single "Spend A Lifetime" on MCA Records. His interest in playing original music continued when he joined the well known band Garrison as their lead guitarist. Continuing with his guitar while working a day job and raising a family Roy's deep love of the blues as well as rock music has only deepened in the years since. He played in the group Jonah, based out of the Bedford Community Church, who recorded a local CD in 2000. As well as performing in Cross Purpose and at his church, Roy has been known to show up at some of the blues jams in the area just “to blow off a little steam” every once in a while. He regards Cross Purpose as “a rare opportunity where like-minded people get together and discover something very special. There's an energy here you don't find every day. We're very excited and hopeful.Obviously the key to success in this type of endeavor is good songwriting. Bob's catalogue, and I do mean catalog, is what makes Cross Purpose special. We're blessed with a wealth of material which Bob played mostly solo but now can be expressed in the context of a full band.” Mike Mayer (bass, vocals) picked up his first bass at the age 10 and by the age of 18 he had 8 years of classical training under his belt. During the 80’s he lent his talents as bassist/backing vocalist to bands such as Zephyr, The Hostages, and Gypsy’s Kiss. He’s performed at CBGBs, The Bitter End, The Philly Cookbook, and other venues along the East Coast. In the early 90’s Mike co founded the 3-piece progressive band Autumn Child performing as lead vocalist/bassist/songwriter and playing venues throughout the tri-state area. Before his retirement from the club circuit Mike was last seen performing with Autumn Child at The Chance in Poughkeepsie. Tim Kennedy (drums) has been playing in area bands since the early 1990s, including 4 years with The Jericho Jam Band who was last seen at The Community Coffeehouse in Danbury and First Baptist Church in Brewster, NY. In 2000 he took a 4-year hiatus from playing. Fortunately, last year Tim again picked up his sticks and has been very busy as a "journeyman" for various praise bands in the area. Tim says, “I've enjoyed Bob's acoustic stuff for years and am very excited about joining with Roy and Mike to give his songs a new twist.” |
