2010 YOU CAN…

Mandie Pinto

It can be said that Mandie Pinto has an endless song echoing in her soul. Falling in love with music at a very young age, Mandie considers her musical talents true gifts from God. Her passion for music is seen and heard in the lyrics she writes, the songs she sings, the music she plays, and in her desire to develop leaders and encourage gifted musicians. She has blessed audiences all over with her diverse music styles and great song repertoire. Truly, her joy comes from being a light wherever the Lord plants her.

Mandie was born and raised in Southern California, where she attended private Christian schools, and developed a personal relationship with the Lord early in life. At the age of eight, she began taking piano lessons and subsequently ventured into voice training. At the youthful age of 14, Mandie felt the call to minister through music, and set out to sing at churches throughout the San Fernando Valley. Mandie’s music ministry takes her to churches and other venues all over the United States.

Mandie has independently recorded and released seven solo albums in the last 17 years (Angel Eyes, Someday, Count All Your Blessings, Better Things, Where You Are, In The Garden – Hymns of Serenity and most recently, awaiting its release, Mandie Pinto Live-Let it Rain). Many of the songs on her albums were produced and arranged by Mandie, and she has taken great delight in producing the songs of other up and coming artists. In addition, Mandie recorded songs for projects released by Los Angeles Baptist High School, Azusa Pacific University, Shepherd of the Hills, and the Crystal Cathedral.

Mandie is an accomplished songwriter, with several of her songs winning notable awards in the Billboard Song Contest and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

A popular guest at Dr. Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Mandie appeared frequently on the Hour of Power from 1997 to 2003. From 1996 to 2000, she appeared continuously as a principal soloist in the Crystal Cathedral production of the Glory of Christmas, singing Mary, Did You Know?, and during one season of the Glory of Easter as Mary Magdalene. Other stage credits include The Passion Play at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, CA, and Christmas productions at Shepherd of the Hills and the Dream Center in Los Angeles.
In 2005, Mandie had the distinct pleasure and honor of both co-writing and recording with her friend, Blake Ewing, the ending credit song, Along the River for the major motion picture, End of the Spear distributed by 20th Century Fox. This film was released nationwide and portrayed the touching story of missionaries Jim Elliot and Nate Saint.
Mandie is currently the Worship Team Leader at Real Life Church in Santa Clarita, California. She has been blessed to work at Real Life Church since the day its doors opened on October 1st, 2000. Her job consists of music selection, organizing a community of musicians and singers (approximately 35 participants), transcribing charts, creating charts, team leading, playing keyboards, and vocal/song arranging.

Throughout the last 15 years, Mandie has had the privilege of singing the National Anthem and/or Canadian Anthem at major sporting events throughout Southern California, including the Staples Center (Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers), Anaheim Stadium (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Arrowhead Pond (Mighty Ducks), and Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers), World’s Women’s Tennis, U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and the U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastic Finals.

Mandie has recorded for Nintendo, NAMCO, Toyota, Disney and the theme song to Miss Spider on Nickelodeon, as well as many children albums.
Mandie resides in Southern California with her husband, Jeremy to whom she is happily married for over four years, and their one year-old daughter, Bridgette Claire..

You can read more information about Mandie at www.MandiePinto.com.

John Pinto

John Pinto (JP) is the eldest member of the band, and is Mandie Pinto’s father. John has been married to his wife, Cathie, for 36 years.  They reside in Canyon Country, CA and in addition to their daughter, Mandie, they have a son, John, Jr.   Their two grandchildren, Brayden and Bridgette, have completely captured their hearts, and they cherish these precious gifts from God.  John and Cathie are members of Real Life Church in Santa Clarita, CA, where John serves on the worship team and Cathie teaches Pre-Kindergarten. John has worked as a management member for Ralphs Grocery Company for 39 years.  In addition, he is the owner/operator of “John Pinto Music” a DJ/Emcee/ Live Band Entertainment business based in Santa Clarita, CA.

John has been playing music since age 8.  He began his musical journey learning to play the guitar.  His father played a multitude of instruments and was a master at the accordion.   John’s father thought the guitar would be the instrument he could easily adapt to in his early years.  John started taking lessons from his father and eventually from a professional instructor. Within a few months, he was accompanying his father at many family and social events.  Over the years John would also learn to play the piano, accordion, mandolin, drums and percussion.

At age 13, John was a part of a rock and roll band that eventually earned the status of the “House Band” at the San Fernando Valley Teen Center.  Known as “The Nobells” The band rocked the Valley Teen Center and many other locations for 5 years.  They appeared in concert with classic band “The Seeds”.  In fact, the band recorded a demo at Capitol Records in 1967 which ironically is the very same studio his daughter Mandie recorded her latest album “Let It Rain”.

A few years later, John was a part of the band for the popular surf music duo “Jan and Dean”.  “Jan and Dean & the “Bel Air Bandits” played all over Southern California at many venues and recorded with Jan Berry at Paramount Records in Hollywood.  The band worked closely with Jan in an effort to make a comeback from his almost life ending auto accident that left him partially paralyzed. The band enjoyed a two year journey as the original “Bel Air Bandits” Being a part of the band, initially helped Jan in his comeback which set the stage for the next 35 years of his career.

Monique Donnelly

Monique’s professional career began at age eight, with kid’s album recordings, national commercials, and projects for well-known companies such as Disney, Mattel and Kawasaki. She began touring with children’s artist Mary Rice Hopkins, and later joined the young Gospel recording group “All God’s Children” produced by Lou Adler and Maxi Anderson. She later sang on suh albums as Maranatha’s Grammy Award-winning “A Cappella Kids.”

Upon entering Azusa Pacific University to study Vocal Performance, Monique continued to sing professionally and was hired for national commercials and numerous film and television soundtracks, including Malcolm In The Middle, Anastasia and A Bug’s Life, among others. To date, Monique has recorded on over fifty major motion film scores, with such composers as John Williams, Danny Elfman, David Newman, Randy Newman and Trevor Rabin. A few of her recent projects include Ice Age 2, Enchanted and an up and coming movie called “Faster”.  She has also contributed vocals on recordings with such artists as “Weird Al”, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion.

A seasoned professional, Monique’s career continues to grow as more and more industry professionals are introduced to her vocal talents.

Dan Franklin

Dan Franklin is a Los Angeles based producer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. Originally from Ukiah California, Dan moved to L.A. to finish his bachelor’s degree in the heart of the music industry. Throughout the years, Dan has amassed a diverse list of clients and credits.

As a multi-instrumental performer, he’s spanned every genre, playing with everyone from Slash to Leann Rimes on every stage from Disneyland to the Grand ‘Ole Opry. In addition to playing well with others, Dan also has his own project, ‘Dan and Leland’. Featuring guitar monster Leland Jackness, the duo is currently recording their fourth album.
On the production side, Dan is a published song writer for Benair-Churchill, and has had scores featured on Fox, MTV, VH1, CBS, NBC, Comedy Central, as well as the big screen. Dan also produced Mandie Pinto’s 2007 record, ‘Where You Are’.

Walter Rodriguez

Walter is an openly creative multidirectional drummer/percussionist. His richly eclectic and unique gift encompasses a plurality of styles–from rock to latin to world music–in a way that is extremely rare in a realm dominated usually by “doing-one-thing” specialists. Combining powerful technique, uncanny sense of time, deep understanding of the essence of different cultural musical manifestations with a profound sense of stylistic appropriateness, Walter embodies -”The drummer/percussionist of the new century”- quoting his mentor Alex Acuña. There are drummers, and there are percussionists. Very, very few of his generation have an equally flawless command at the Drum set, Latin percussion (from congas, to bongos/timbales), other World Music percussion (African, Brazilian, Afro-Uruguayan, and Indian… among other), and Electronic percussion (both as a programmer/performer). All of these are brought together and nurtured by a profound sense of purpose and meaning, defined by him as his “calling”. Walter wants to dedicate his playing to JESUS CHRIST, “The One Whom every perfect gift comes from”.

Playing drums from a very early age, Walter Rodriguez, born in San Juan. P.R., played his first TV show at the age of seven. His father, top studio call on the island for over 20 years, was his first teacher and still his greatest inspiration. While playing side by side with his dad, he was surrounded by today’s musical greats Alex Acuna and Giovanni Hidalgo; simultaneously enhancing his musical knowledge by studying piano and working as a sound engineer. At the age of 22, Walter moved to Los Angeles to study at Musicians Institute of Technology, specifically the PIT (Percussion Institute of Technology) division. While getting involved in the local music scene, Walter and Alex Acuna connected, this time Alex taking Walter under his wing and becoming his spiritual and musical mentor. Where others would concentrate on fewer options/activities as time passes-by, Walter is heading to broader, more musically challenging directions. He is not only dealing with harmonic and other relevant music-theory elements, but also opening an even bigger sonic “palette” by studying -yet- other World-Music percussion traditions, including the Australian didgeridoo [the oldest woodwind instrument ever] and the Indian tabla, to mention a few. Walter’s excellent musicianship is only a part of his appeal as player and performer. His innate charisma, adding warmth and flare to any stage, and his smile frequently pointed out, as “lighting up the whole world”, are only surpassed by his sense of meaning and purpose. He defines the essence of his musical endeavor as two-fold: To shine for GOD Almighty in JESUS’ Name, and to affect people in a positive way in a world desperately needing so.

Ray Reynolds

Ray was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to parents who were no strangers to the entertainment industry. Ray’s father Jack Reynolds was an off Broadway actor and was a television pioneer in Las Vegas during the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. In 1978 he moved his family to California to work with Merv Griffin on the Merv Griffin show. In 1984 he worked closely with Merv Griffin to bring back the hit show Jeopardy. Ray’s mother Shirley was a brilliant singer/songwriter who had the pleasure of singing with some of the world’s greatest musicians and singers in Las Vegas. Ray still has fond memories of her incredible voice and piano playing abilities that filled the house.

Ray was no stranger to the showrooms in Las Vegas as a boy. He still remembers the great entertainers of that time. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond were huge influences. There was something about the performances and the performers that were truly magical. Ray got to watch and learn from the best in the business. Ray decided at a young age that he wanted to be a Las Vegas entertainer and he had no idea the road that God would take him on to get there.

Growing up in the 1980’s Ray’s influences changed as he toured with rock bands and learned the “art” of performing first hand. Writing music was now his passion along with singing and performing. Influences included, Steve Perry, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, Toto, and most of the 80’s “hair bands” Living the “crazy” life was taking a toll. That is when Ray’s whole life would change when his future wife Renee asked him to go to church one Sunday. The preacher spoke of walking in the light or walking in the darkness and there was no in between. It was at that moment that Ray knew he had been walking in the dark for too many years and gave his life to Jesus.

Ray wanted to use his talents in the local church and in 1994 he auditioned for “The Passion Play” at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch CA.  The play was the largest production of that kind in the Los Angeles area. Ray was cast as “Peter” and played that role for 12 years. He collaborated on “The Passion Play” CD and wrote several songs for the CD and for the production at that time. In the year 2000, Ray auditioned for “Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons” and sang with them for two years. It was at that point that Ray was able to do those Vegas shows he had always dreamed of. In 2003, Ray released his own worship CD titled “Everyday.”  Ray has a passion to lead worship and has lead at many churches across the country. He is been married for 15 years to his wife Renee and they have four kids, John, Kyle, Rylee and Ryan and live in Simi Valley.

Andrea Hammond

Hammond grew up in the Midwest where she and her father, Bob,  co-wrote many songs together.  It was through this that she grew a love for improvisation and collaboration.  Through her  high school years she played in many orchestras around the Midwest and sang at many churches. She also became involved in teaching and conducting youth orchestras. She adopted the motto and will still say, “I teach life, and the bi-product is music.”
As her love for performing and composing grew(alongside teaching) so did her curiosity for other forms and styles of music.  In 2004,  just after graduating from high school,  she was accepted into California Institute of the Arts on scholarship and attended for four years to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts.  During her time at Calarts, she studied many forms of music including Indian vocal Sargam with Rajeev Taranath,  African Song with Alfred Ladzekpo and jazz improvisation with Paul Novros,  David Roitstein, and Larry Koonse with whom she recorded at Capitol Records most years.  In 2005, “Spoken For” (one of her compositions) was released nation-wide in the Herbie Hancock issue of Jazz-iz magazine.

Now,  Andrea is a free-lance musical artist living in California. Her post-Calarts work has included: recording voice for IMAX films, arranging and recording strings for Comcast Television movies,  composing, arranging, producing and recording for Rukus Avenue Records and Nickalodeon short films.  Her most recent venture includes the formation of the Andrea Hammond Band who recently opened for David Sanborn playing all her original music.

John Peña

John began his musical journey in New York at the young age of 6, playing guitar under the guidance of his father (John Peña Sr.). By the age of 17 while residing in Puerto Rico he was sought after as a bassist which jump started his professional career. He’s well versed in all types of music and his versatility ranges anywhere from rock, jazz, r&b, blues,latin, gospel and everything in between.

He’s performed and or recorded with artists such as:
the late Celia Cruz(Queen of Salsa), Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Justo Almario, Sergio Mendez, Tania Maria,Natalie Cole, The Crusaders, Herb Alpert, Chaka Khan, Take 6, the late Jerry Garcia, Chick Correa, Steve Vai, Diana Ross, Tolu, Aretha Franklin, Ricky Martin, Barry Manilow, Larry Carlton, Michael McDonald, Joe Sample, Dave Koz, Arturo Sandoval, Los Lobotomys, Dionne Warwick, Katherine McPhee(American Idol), Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship), John Cafferty, Glen Hughes (Deep Purple), Don Felder (Eagles), Alex Acuña & the Unkowns, Oscar Castro-Neves, Ivan Lins, David Garfield & the Cats, the late Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Patti LaBelle, Vesta, Anne Nesby, Patti Austin, Kenny G, Tommy Walker, Andrae Crouch, Yolanda Adams, Oleta Adams, Walter Hawkins, Thelma Houston, Dionne Warwick, Keiko Matsui, Nina Simone, Engelbert Humperdinck, Juan Gabriel, Laura Pausini, Luis Enrique, Ednita Nazario, Marco Antonio Solis, Eros Ramazzotti, Diego Verdaguer,Mijares, Raphael, Marisela, and many more.

His TV and Movie Credits as a Musician, Composer, Programmer,and or Arranger include:
Rush Hour 3, Along Came Polly, Rush Hour, Men in Black 2, Proof of Life, Mo Money, A Million to Juan, Maximum Risk, Bringing Down the House, Original Sin, Access Hollywood, ET, Friends, Roundhouse, Oprah, Tyra Banks Show, Jerry Springer, Desperate HouseWives, and “What’s Eating You” to name a few.

He co-wrote the theme song to “Balko” TV hit drama series in Germany. He received the award for best music on “What’s Eating You”  (Sundance film festival). Latin Grammy nomination for best latin jazz interpretation “El Bongo de Vangogh” Band-(Tolu). Nominated for Cable Ace awards 3 years running in collaboration for best music, dance and variety for the Hit show (Roundhouse). The award was won in 93.Played on the Grammy winning record “Discovery” with artist Larry Carlton.

JP has been writing, arranging, programming, engineering and producing in association with Csmwordsandmusic in the areas of Pop, Dance, R&B, Jazz and Rock.
He also is doing the same work in the Gospel and Latin Gospel arena.
John is working with Ultimate Source Music, Music Supervisor & Audio Garden (Music for Tv and Film), and with M.G.P. Entertainment (Future development for Tv and Film).