Biographies
Johnny O
Johnny began playing trumpet at age six, and with the urging of his grandmother, learned to play the accordion at age eight. Two years later, he was giving lessons to others. At 12, he took up playing the guitar and has been tearing it up ever since.
His wild playing techniques have made him a Twin Cities favorite with such bands as Transport, the Little Blues Dudes, and Twin Cities mainstay, the Soulmates.
Johnny says, "Touching people's souls with music is what it's all about. Making your audience feel things through music is why I play."
Michelle Aeon
Born to noted jazz musician Harley Dorramond, Michelle has played music Since she was old enough to hold an instrument. Playing professionally, first with her father and then in local jazz and blues Bands in the Kansas City area, through out the seventies and eighties,
Michelle has been well founded in the art of improvisation. Playing with such famous bands as Iggy Pop, the New York dolls, and Razortime, Michelle has had an illustrious career and is expected to do the same in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Michelle plays a variety of instruments, however bass guitar is her fortay. Come see her play with Johnny O and find out for yourself.
Tom Donnohue
Tom Donnohue was born in Duluth, Minnesota. His Irish father worked as a concrete truck driver and his Italian mother was a library assistant. He has one younger sister. As a 16-year-old student at Duluth high school, Tom began playing the drums with " Thrust Band " , performing throughout northern Minnesota.
In addition to being a University of Minnesota Duluth graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, he is also a skillful percussionist, playing the piano, tambourine, maracas, bells, chimes and tympani as well as drums.
Before joining the Soulmates, he performed in the Twin Cities with " Amy and the Topcats, Route 66 " , and the "Midwest Pop Experience " .
Tom has a great enthusiasm for life. "Get involved," he says. "Have compassion toward other, be responsible for yourself and go for it. If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you have always gotten."
Tom's life is diversified. In addition to being a musician, he is a competitive cross-country skier, a political and social activist and world traveler. He spends some of his time working with Little Brother, and Friends of the Elderly.
His musical idols are The Beatles. "Few have been as influential," he says. However, he loves not only The Beatles, R & B and Blues, but many music styles. "I'm interested in creating music with a new twist...naturally fusing different influences to make something unique."
Tom also has a deep respect for the people that support the music, "Without the people that enjoy what we're doing, it would be a lonely life."
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