Grooveyard

Bio

Grooveyard is a sizzling soulful band with an eclectic repertoire and a performance energy that make the group distinct in the Toronto area. Lead singer Lester McLean is a talented and versatile vocalist and saxophone player whose dynamic presentation and ability to get an audience having a good time is unmatched. Guitarist Michael Occhipinti and keyboardist Paul Neufeld are both Juno award winning musicians who co-lead NOJO, one of Canada’s most critically acclaimed jazz groups, and together with bassist Mike Pellarin and drummer Don Pham they bring a very high level of musicianship to Grooveyard.

Grooveyard’s repertoire draws on everything from classic funk and soul to reggae, disco, jazz, ‘80’s new wave, classic rock, and, when required for weddings, traditional music. The band puts its own distinct stamp on the music it performs and the group is definitely not just another cover band. Flexible in its size (the band performs dance music as everything from its core 5-piece to a 9-piece and usually adds a great female vocalist such as Laura Lynn to the band, along with 1-3 horns), Grooveyard is able to break into smaller groups for different functions (for example, a classical flute/guitar duo for wedding ceremonies, cocktail piano, a jazz trio for dinner music).

Grooveyard works closely with each of its clients to make sure every event goes smoothly. Our goal is to make sure that everyone in attendance leaves remembering that they had a great time with a great band, which is why Grooveyard benefits from so many positive word-of-mouth referrals. The band's clients include The The Toronto Raptors, The Park-Hyatt Toronto, The Chinese New Year Dragon Ball, TSN, Global Television, Unisource, Club Monaco, World Partnership Walk, Kids’ Help Phone, and hundreds of happy wedding and social event clients.

Songlist

Grooveyard puts is own funky stamp on a broad array of music. A partial repertoire list includes (also available in PDF format):
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye Kiss – Prince More Than A Woman - Bee Gees Love Roller Coaster - Ohio Players Could You Be Loved? - Bob Marley Sex Machine - James Brown Let's Stay Together - Al Green This Love – Maroon 5 D'Yer Maker - Led Zeppelin What's Going On-Marvin Gaye Hard To Handle - Otis Redding Alright - Jamiroquai Lovely Day - Bill Withers So Lonely – The Police Human Nature - Michael Jackson Underneath It All – No Doubt One – U2 Hey Ya – Outkast Dancing Machine – The Jacksons Little Red Corvette – Prince Why Didn't You Call Me? - Macy Gray Notorious – Duran Duran If I Ain’t Got You – Alisha Keys My Girl - The Temptations I Wish - Stevie Wonder In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel What U See Is What U Get– Dramatics Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack Miss You - Rolling Stones Englishman In New York – Sting How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees Until U Come Back To Me– S. Wonder Dock O' The Bay - Otis Redding Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Why Can't We Be Friends? – War Just The Two Of Us - Bill Withers People Gotta Move - Gino Vanelli Love & Happiness - Al Green By Your Side – Sade I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor Holiday – Madonna Rapture – Anita Baker Crash – Dave Mathews For Once in My Life – Stevie Wonder Roxanne – The Police In My Place – Coldplay Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder My Cheri Amour – Stevie Wonder Respect – Aretha Franklin I Shot The Sheriff – Bob Marley Miss You – The Rolling Stones Mustang Sally – Buddy Guy You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker Video – Indie Arie Crazy Love – Van Morrison I Can’t Go For That – Hall & Oates	It’s My Life – No Doubt/Talk Talk Get Down Tonight- KC & The Sunshine Band Signed Sealed Delivered - Stevie Wonder PYT – Michael Jackson Nothing Compares 2 U - Prince In My Life - The Beatles I Feel Good - James Brown Daughters – John Mayer Feel Like Making Love – D’Angelo Let’s Dance – David Bowie Money’s Too Tight to Mention – Simply Red Tears Of A Clown - The English Beat Do You Really Want to Hurt Me – Culture Club I Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder Shake Your Body - The Jacksons Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears Burning Down The House – Talking Heads We Can Work it Out - Beatles/Stevie Wonder Off The Wall - Michael Jackson Yellow Moon - Neville Brothers Don't Stop Til U Get Enough - Michael Jackson Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry Love Of My Life – Santana w. Dave Mathews Get Down On It – Kool and The Gang Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2 Upside Down - Diana Ross No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley Wait In Vain - Bob Marley Rock With You - Michael Jackson Crazy in Love – Beyonce Easy - Commodores Jungle Boogie – Kool and The Gang We Are Family - Sister Sledge Train In Vain – The Clash The Ocean – Led Zeppelin Holding Back The Years – Simply Red Boogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey Lady Marmalade – Labelle/Christina Aguilera Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad Hey Baby – No Doubt Good Boy – Bare Naked Ladies The Way U Do The Things U Do – UB40/Temptations Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix When I’m Kissing My Love – Bill Withers Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – The Police Thank You – Dido What I Like About You – The Romantics The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson I Shot The Sheriff – Bob Marley Fragile – Sting Blame It On The Boogie – The Jacksons Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder September – Earth Wind & Fire
Grooveyard also performs numerous jazz standards and lighter pop songs, including:
At Last - Etta James Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra Unforgettable - Nat King Cole Body & Soul - Billy Holiday Moondance – Van Morrison Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones Some Day My Prince Will Come - Miles Davis My One and Only Love - Johnny Hartman Jump 'N Jive - Louis Prima All The Things You Are - Ella Fitzgerald Tea In The Sahara – The Police Come Away With Me – Norah Jones Easy Living - Chet Baker Satin Doll - Duke Ellington But Not For Me - Harry Connick Jr. My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong Our Love Is Here To Stay - Harry Connick Jr. Corcovado - Diana Krall Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You - Tony Bennett Night And Day - Dinah Washington Girl From Impanema – Stan Getz/Astrid Gilberto My Funny Valentine – Chet Baker Georgia – Ray Charles L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole Fever – Peggy Lee Besame Mucho – Diana Krall Summertime – Ella Fitzgerald Take The A Train – Duke Ellington Just Friends – Charlie Parker Here There and Everywhere – The Beatles It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr. And Many Many More!