SOLID GOLD
Band Contact: Bob Jacobs 707-374-2768
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About Our Band
Solid Gold is an experienced event band based in Rio Vista, CA. We perform Pop, Rock, Country, R&B, and Jazz hits from the 50’s through 90’s. The band has three vocalists (two female and one male). We have full instrumentation, which includes keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums.
The band has been performing in and around Rio Vista and the San Francisco Bay Area since 2011. Some of the music we cover was originally recorded by Juice Newton, Jim Croce, Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benatar, The Doobie Brothers, Jo Stafford, Spiral Starecase, The Fifth Dimension, Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Carpenters.
Solid Gold can be booked for dances, restaurants, clubs, corporate functions, and concerts. The band is also available for wedding receptions and other private celebratory events.
Nothing brings more atmosphere to an event than a live band. If you are considering live music for your event, please let us discuss your musical needs. Call Bob Jacobs at 707-374-2768.
The Players
Claire McKean, lead vocalist
Claire is a 2nd generation native Californian, born in Oakland. She began singing as soon as she could talk! Music has always been part of her life. She also plays guitar, steel guitar, and now ukulele!
At age 14, Claire was chosen to be part of a successful professional band in the Bay Area. They performed at parties, wedding receptions, USO shows, and other venues. She sang in junior and senior high school choruses, and later became a soloist (for 20 years) with the Douglas Morrison Theater Chorus in Hayward CA. The chorus was under the direction of Cesar Cancino, who had toured with Joan Baez and was a Director/Pianist for Teatro Zincanni in San Francisco.
Claire performed as a singer at various musical venues in the S.F. Bay Area, including several musical theater productions. She had a successful vocal trio called "Sisters in Song" who performed in the Bay Area for several years. She also toured with the California Women's Chorus, raising money for college scholarships for young women pursuing musical careers.
Claire is a retired Administrative Assistant to the principal of a high school in the Bay Area. She assisted in the production of many high school musical theater productions.
In addition to Solid Gold, Claire sings with four vocal/choral groups. She is the founder of the Ukulele Club in her home community of Trilogy Rio Vista, and is also the director of Trilogy's annual "Music of the Night" production.
Bonnie G, vocalist and "Cowbell Specialist"
Bonnie started singing when she was about two years old, encouraged by her musical parents. She began formal music/organ lessons with a private teacher at age five. Bonnie became involved in various musical groups during school years, including singing in glee clubs, playing clarinet in band, and piano in orchestra. She also performed in regional Honor Bands as well as school bands. while still in high school, Bonnie demonstrated manual organs for the Sherman & Clay sales department. She continued music lessons under a music coach.
Later in high school and early college, Bonnie performed with several rock bands and participated in the "Battle of the Bands" performances all around the San Francisco/Peninsula areas.
Bonnie began playing the 12-string guitar in the late '70s. She performed special music for wedding ceremonies, church services, dinner parties and events, and sang with a small vocal group. Bonnie has also directed praise and worship teams for various churches, as well as Christian women's and men's organizations.
Bonnie sings with a few small vocal groups and the Solid Gold band. The band gives her a chance to pursue her love of singing, and enables her to share her talent and create happiness for other people.
Bob Jacobs, bassist
Live music has been a part of Bob's life for over 60 years.
As a military dependent In 1960 Yokota, Japan, Bob first played the electric guitar in high school. He then switched to bass guitar, which better fitted his style. In 1961 he returned to the states, playing at various gigs in Northern California. Bob played with local rock n' roll teen boy bands: The Corvettes, The Sonics, and The Vi-Counts.
Bob studied music at Solano College and Berkeley Jazz School.
Bob performed for twenty years with the Dave Tysei Jazz Trio and Quintet throughout the Bay area. He also performed with Keith Stout's Live Music Orchestra for a decade. His further experiences include performing with Larry Knowles' 17-piece Dance Band for several years, the Michelle Michaels Blues Band, and the Ray Zak Trio for 8 years.
As for his "day job," Bob is a retired Maintenance Manager for Pacific Bell.
Bob is currently the bass player for the Trilogy Rio Vista Jazz Band and the annual Trilogy Music of the Night performances. He is also performing with his own jazz group, the Bob Jacobs Sextet, as well as with Ed Davis and the Notes of Choice.
Joe Pepper, drummer
Joe is originally from New Jersey. He started playing at age 12 with a drum and bugle corps, as well as with many local bands throughout the New Jersey area.
Joe later joined the Navy and became the drummer for the West Coast Show Band, performing out of Treasure Island in San Francisco.
Joe's musical training included private lessons from Tony Di Nicola, a legendary jazz drummer. During a six year tour, Joe attended music school while stationed at Little Creek, VA. studying percussion techniques, theory, harmony, and rhythmic styles including Rock, Jazz, Country, Blues, Swing and Latin music. Joe had weekly private drum lessons playing in many types of musical situations including Duo, Trio, Quartet, Concert, Marching, Jazz and Dance bands.
Joe has extensive experience recording and playing shows featuring legendary performers such as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Charley Pride, the Andrews Sisters and more. Joe continued to play locally throughout the San Francisco Bay Area as well as across the U.S. and Canada with the George Pickard, Silver Spur, Percolators, Thoroughbreds and Rich Rinaldi bands. Among the local venues in which Joe has played are the Oakland Coliseum and the former Candlestick Park. He has also been on TV and radio stations all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
As for his experience playing with Solid Gold, Joe says, "You will want to bring your dancing shoes.”
Harry Pluth, guitarist and vocalist
Harry was born in Oakland, California. At the age of 16, started to play guitar and sing in Fremont, California. Harry later moved to Boise, Idaho and, inspired by friends, joined a large successful rock band Strawberry Glen in the '70's. Harry eventually moved back to California, got married, and studied at Cal State, Hayward.
Harry helped start a blues band called Blue Lips, which performed in the Bay Area for five years. He also performed with his younger brothers in a band called Canyon for fun on the side.
Harry is currently retired from full-time work life, but does landscaping and general repair in Rio Vista and the Bay Area. He also gives guitar lessons to locals who want to expand their musical talents.
Harry has lived in Oakley, California for 35 years. He has three children, and is a vegetarian who loves animals.
Harry has been performing with Solid Gold for 11 fantastic years.
Perry Castelli ("Dr. C"), keyboardist
Perry is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, He performed professionally for over fifty years at venues from the White House to New York, Hawaii, Cuba, and all parts in-between. Perry was an RCA Mainline recording artist, and has performed in releases that made the Billboard charts.
Over the years, Perry performed with nationally recognized bands such as Selective Service, Zephania Cross, Baskerville Hounds and Fallen Angels. He has also opened for such notable acts as James Brown, Doors, Lovin Spoonful, Supremes, Young Rascals, Janis Joplin, Beach Boys, Kinks, Sly and the Family Stone, Van Morrison, Leslie Gore and more...
Perry is classically trained on piano and holds a Ph.D., M.Ed., and B.S. in Music Education (University of Maryland and Kent State University). He has taught music and trained teachers at all levels, from elementary school through college and university. Perry has also co-authored and published five books and over two hundred songs.
Perry and his wife, Vivian, have lived in the following six states: Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida and currently California. In addition to playing with Solid Gold, Perry is currently the pianist for The Trilogy Rio Vista Jazz Band, Delta Breeze Chorus, Trilogy Theater Group, and keyboardist for Trilogy’s annual “Music of the Night" production.
Lance Bye, keyboardist
Lance began formal training on drums and other percussion instruments through the school music program when he was in the fifth grade. Learning about music was a large part of his time in junior and senior high school, where he performed in the concert, marching, and jazz bands on and off campus. Lance was a student director and drum major in his senior year, which included leading his high school band when they performed as musical guests at Disneyland.
Several years after graduating high school, Lance began learning the piano and arranging music. He has been a musical director for school productions of Grease, Annie Get Your Gun, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This led to him being retained by his church to form and lead a contemporary worship band. He played piano weekly with the group for over 15 years. Lance and the band also performed at weddings and other special events for friends and family.
In addition to performing with Solid Gold, Lance is a keyboard and percussion player in the Trilogy Rio Vista Jazz Band. Through the diversity of electronic instruments, Lance can add anything from synths to strings, and congas to cowbells.
