The Uncle EarlTHE CARETAKER OF HOUSE, SOUL & DANCE MUSIC

Wednesday 2/8/12 4pm (PST) on KCLA-FM & Thursday 2/9/12 9am (PST) / 9pm (PST) on KLED Live FM

The Underground Experience Presents “That Rogue Romeo” Performance Artist – Kevin Stea & “The Funk-It-Be-Army Master” – Mr Stevie Hawkins!

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Kevin Alexander Stea is an American dancer, choreographer, actor,  singer, director and model.

Stea was born in Hollywood, California, and is half-Caucasian and half-Chinese. He grew up in various places in the United States (Los Angeles, California; Marlette, Michigan; Eugene, Oregon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Santa Fe, New Mexico), then completed his high school education in Singapore on a scholarship at the United World College of South East Asia, where he received the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Following that, he went on to the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, which he left to pursue a dance career.

A gymnast while in his youth, Stea began dancing seriously while he was at college.

A year after his first dance job, he was hired by Madonna as a dance captain, dancer and assistant choreographer on her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour. Stea appeared several times in the documentary Truth or Dare, which was made about the tour. Subsequently, Stea danced and assisted with choreography for Michael Jackson. He has also worked with numerous other high-profile music acts including Prince, Ricky Martin, Janet Jackson, George Michael,David Bowie, Celine Dion, Macy Gray, Anastacia, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Tony Bennett, Will.i.am and the Pussycat Dolls.

Stea has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, mainly in dancer roles, including:

Newsies, Melrose Place, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Showgirls, The Birdcage, Charlie’s Angels, Friends, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Rent, Scrubs and Naked Boys Singing. He has appeared in over 50 commercials, most notably for Gap, Old Navy and Pepsi. Stea also spent several years in Italy, performing, singing and choreographing on a variety shows including Buona Domenica, Non Dimenticate Lo Spazzolino Da Denti and Carramba Che Sorpresa. He also sings and performs under the name That Rogue Romeo.

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Welcome to the Funk-It-Be Army!

Music is Stevie Hawkins’ passion. He grew up listening to and working to master a wide variety of music on drums and vocals. He plays and sings everything from jazz, to rock, to soul, pop, latin, blues, funk and R&B. Stevie is an extremely versatile player with an instinctive and distinctive style of drumming and singing. His inborn natural abilities combined with years of formal training cause him to play and sing with feel, style, finesse and technique. He has received numerous musical awards throughout his career.

Stevie has played drums for legendary artists:

John Lee Hooker, Percy Sledge, Brook Benton, Chuck Berry, Dee Clark, Chubby Checker, Ace Cannon, Johnny Rodrigeuz, Ed Bruce, Gregg Allman, and The Ink Spots. Others he’s shared the stage with include Johnny Winter, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, Alice Cooper, Bertie Higgins, Jeff Carson, Razzy Bailey, Daryle Singletary and Doug Stone.

Between 2001 and 2003 Stevie recorded The Georgia Jam CD tracks.

A Southern Rock fusion of Blues, Rock, Jazz, R&B, Folk, Soul and Country. The tracks were recorded on a portable stereo Digital Audio Tape recorder with a stereo microphone placed onstage with a direct line from the PA system for capturing the vocals and horns. The album of the same name was released in 2005 by Emphasis Records. None of the songs on Georgia Jam were rehearsed with the exception of “Honest Man”. The musicians were from the era of sensing, and things could happen on the spot.

In 2006 Stevie released “High Time” a Blues/Soul album with Johnny “Guitar” Brown, Spencer Kirkpatrick, Terrell “Cool” Robinson and Wally Tarado.

2011 brings us “What The Funk?”

The album containing 19 tracks spans the world of Funk music from the 60’s to the present. Featuring some of the best in their genres: Soul Diva Jocelyn Brown, Sista Monica Parker, Tony Lindsay, D’Layna, Funk Dogg, Cooley, Jaroslav Jakubovic, The Blues Brothers Horns, The Memphis Horns, Joe Vitale, Thiago Pinheiro, Butch Taylor, Tyrone Chase, Anthony Vitti, Sal Giorgiani, Jennifer Cosaro, Ralph Rosen, Delicious Allstars, Sanj Sen and Chuck Webb, the album’s style is a mix of several genres, such as Soul, Blues, Jazz, Latin and the many other influences that make Funk music what it is.

Revered as one of the all time greats and a groove monster by his peers, especially among African-American musicians, Stevie is highly respected, and in consistent demand for his original brand of “riding the feel” Blues – Soul drumming, and “in the pocket” R&B/Funk drumming/singing for both stage and studio.

What the Funk

 is a mix of funk, soul, jazz, latin, blues, with rock overtones blended throughout the tracks. Although this is me doin’ my thing, me being me, the album pays homage to some of my inspirations and influences as a vocalist and drummer such as Bootsy Collins and P-Funk, Clyde Stubblefield, Tower of Power, Al Green, Bobby Bland, George Clinton, Funkadelic, Sly Stone, James Brown, Thelonious Monk, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix and others. There is a little something here for everyone. You get the funk, and then some!

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Musical Artists Include: That Rogue Romeo & Stevie Hawkins!

Broadcast # 107

Wednesday 4pm – 5pm (PST) at www.KCLAFM.com  (Listen Line ) 323 461 6675

Thursday 9am – 10am (PST)/9pm – 10pm (PST) at www.KLEDLive.com

Direct Links also on website: www.UltimateUnderground.com

Podcast will be available on iTunes. Podomatic and website!

Kevin Stea aka That Rogue Romeo

Kevin Stea & Lady Gaga

Funk Master Stevie Hawkins

Stevie Hawkins & Friend

Marishka Workshop