95th Street Band

Based in Steger Illinois

1982, In the southland of Chicago, a dream was realized when a band of high school students were able to play through horn-driven songs they had listened to since they could remember. "We knew we wanted that fat horn section sound". says bandleader, founder, and lead vocalist Bob Baader. "The world had finally finished its disco phase and had moved on to synthesizer sounds, but we held our ground". Bands with horn sections had been dying out in favor of drum machines and synths. This band never went that direction. They have remained constant and for that, they are proud. "In a time where glorified karaoke singers clutter the dial, musicianship is alive and well."

We started out with a lineup that had the typical rhythm section (guitar, bass, keys, drums) and 4 horns (2 trumpets, a sax, and a bone). We existed pretty well doing current songs and adding horns where we could or even doing a Blues Brothers tribute from time to time. "I'd have to say, I didn't own very many records without horn sections pumping some air" recalls Bob. "As our skills got better, our repetoire became more sophisticated to include songs by Tower Of Power and Earth Wind and Fire while keeping songs by the legendary band Chicago as a focal point in our set."

Now venerable veterans of live shows, this wall of sound is ready to seriously take on the global music scene. "When the World Trade Center came down on my birthday, so did my day job. I decided to concentrate on the music that had been with me my whole life. I was in premed for a year, got injured trying to be a ballplayer, so I decided to get my degree in music. It was probably the best decision I ever made. I learned the ins and outs of scoring music and I decided to really focus on it."

I'm surrounded now with musicians who are fantastic players as well as fantastic people. Everyone does their thing, but they also listen. That is SO rare and I am truly grateful.

"With the current lineup:
Bob Baader. Lead Vocals, Keyboards scoring
Tom Vienna. Guitar
Bill Zielinski. Bass, Vocals
Bill Borys. Trumpet
Tony Romero. Trumpet
Vince Lollino. Tenor Sax and Flute
Dan Sartori. Trombone
Adam Frank. Bari and Tenor Saxes
Tim McCarthy. Drums, percussion
Bonnie Phillips. Vocals, percussion
Victor Camacho. Vocals, percussion


We would love to play for you.
Turn your ears this way.
Repetoire includes but is not limited to:
25 or 6 to 4 Chicago; Eddie Floyd; 10th Avenue Freezeout Bruce Springsteen; Attitude Dance Tower Of Power; B Movie Boxcar Blues Blues Brothers; Beginnings Chicago; Can't Turn You Loose Blues Brothers; Celebration Kool; Chain Of Fools Aretha Franklin; Color Me Gone Strokeland Superband; Come On Come Over Jaco Pastorius; Dancin in The Streets Martha Reeves; Dialogue Parts I & II Chicago; Diggin On James Brown Tower Of Power; Disco Inferno Trammps; Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Chicago; Domino Van Morrison; Don't Change Horses Tower Of Power; Down To The Nightclub Tower Of Power; Dump The Chump Strokeland Superband; Everybody Needs Somebody Blues Brothers; Fantasy Earth Wind & Fire; Feelin Stronger Every Day Chicago; Flip Flop Fly Blues Brothers; Free Chicago; Get Down Tonight KC; Get It On Chase; Gimme Some Lovin Blues Brothers; Give Me Your love Tower Of Power; Go Down Gamblin Blood Sweat & Tears; Got To Get You Into My Life Beatles; Hard Habit To Break Chicago; Hard To Handle Otis Redding; Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Get Away Chicago; Here In My Heart Chicago; Hey Bartender Blues Brothers; Hold On I'm Comin Sam and Dave; How Blue Can You Get? ; I Feel Good James Brown; If You Leave Me Now Chicago; I'm A Man Chicago; Introduction Chicago; It's Not Unusual Tom Jones; Just You N Me Chicago; King Bee Blues Brothers; Knock On Wood Eddie Floyd; Land Of 1000 Dances Wilson Pickett; Looking For A Fox Clarence Carter; Lucretia M