Ain’t Misbehavin’ is an eclectic, energetic five piece variety band that can cover all styles from the 1920’s up through the current pop charts. The group has played extensively for the last twenty-five years throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. Covering all major corporate events, private parties and concerts logging over 1,200 live performances to their roster!
Some of the major functions the group has been featured:
• The Swan Ball – Milwaukee, WI
• The American Heart Association – Milwaukee, WI
• The American Lung Association – Milwaukee, WI
• The Vince Lombardi Golf Fund Raiser, Milwaukee, WI
• The Father Daughter Dance at DSHA – 15 years – Pfister Hotel
• The World’s Largest Office Party – Hyatt Hotel, Milwaukee WI
• Third Ward Jazz Festival- – Milwaukee, WI
• Zoo a la Carte – Milwaukee, WI
• The Jazz And Blues Festival, Milwaukee WI
• The Wilson Center For The Performing Arts – Brookfield, WI
• The Milwaukee Public Museum – Milwaukee, WI
• Discovery World- Milwaukee, WI
• Milwaukee Art Museum – Milwaukee, WI
The band member’s recent accomplishments are as follows:
Anita Stemper, Vocals – Anita has been singing in Milwaukee and Chicago for over thirty years. She has played with Love Affair, The Mighty Makers Show Band and The Ambassador Hotel Cabaret Show in the Bahamas, The Playboy Club, Opus, Quintessence and her recently formed trio called The Anita Stemper Trio.
She has performed on the CD’s entitled “Love Beach” with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, “Everything Is Everything” with Inner Circle and “Here in the Dark” with Jim Kishline.
She enjoys a very busy schedule performing throughout Milwaukee, working as a Cosmetologist and completing her own CD. Anita’s strong vocal skills and flexibility leads Groove Towne/Ain’t Misbehavin’ into a tight-knit ensemble.
Pete Billmann, Guitar and Vocals – Pete has been playing guitar professionally in the Milwaukee area for over twenty-five years and has maintained an active performing schedule throughout the Milwaukee area and the Midwest.
He attended the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies with honors. Mr. Billmann has studied with several renowned jazz artists including Richard Davis, Gene Bertoncini, Berkeley Fudge, fellow UW-Milwaukee staff member Don Linke, as well as classical guitarists Benjamin Verdery and Javier Calderon.
In addition to performing, Pete has also been one of the top guitar transcriptionists for Hal Leonard Publishing, and his work has been featured in dozens of guitar magazines and publications worldwide. His 2002 recording, The Connection, was featured on WYMS radio in Milwaukee and received rave reviews in the local press. As a guitar instructor, Pete Billmann has served on the faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, was a guest clinician at various schools and colleges throughout Wisconsin, and has also taught privately for over 20 years.
Mark Lewandowski, Bass and Vocals – Mark has been playing bass in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas for over twenty-four years. He has performed with Ballet Chicago, The Ruth Page Ballet, Chicago Lyric Opera, George Daugherty (Warner Brothers), Conti Condoli, Steve Turre, Stanley Jordan, Mel Torme, Bud Harner, Michael Drake, Deirdre Fellner, Ben Hans, Cold Sweat and The Brew City Horns and his own groups called Crosstalk and Groove Towne among others. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Millikin University in Decatur Illinois.
He has performed recently on two CD’s with Barb Olson, his own group Crosstalk – “Live At The Red Mill”, “The Connection” featuring Pete Billmann and “Live in Aruba with the Rev”.
Mark has toured as a musician to Germany, France, Italy, Aruba and performed at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
Andy Blochowiak, Drums and Vocals – A member of Groove Towne/Ain’t Misbehavin’ since 2006, Andy Blochowiak began playing drums at the age of eight. He continued his musical training throughout high school and college, earning a Bachelor’s of music Degree from UW-Milwaukee.
He maintains a busy schedule performing throughout Milwaukee, including recently opening up for James Brown at Summerfest, Joey Bonamossa at Shank Hall, and Tommy Castro at Buddy Guy’s in Madison, WI. In addition to performing, Andy teaches private lessons at Lincoln Music House, on Milwaukee’s south side.
Johnny Padilla – Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet and Vocals – Along with Groove Towne/Ain’t Misbehavin’, Johnny is leading his own group in support of his recent recording entitled “Here’s Johnny” on the BP Music label. His new recording “Bright Morning” will be released early 2011.
Johnny has performed with Jimmy Buffett, Mongo Santamaria, Paquito de Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. Johnny is featured as a soloist on Mr. Jimmy Buffett’s platinum album Fruitcakes (Flute Solo on Apocalypso).
Johnny has been a featured artist for:
*Jazz in Cutler Park Waukesha, WI – *Third Ward Jazz Festival Milwaukee, WI *Starry Nights, Wilson Center Brookfield, WI – *The Towers Concert Narragansett, – *Arts Concert Vero Beach, FL – *”The Miami Latin Jazz Festival” Miami, FL – *Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida among many others.
Johnny has toured as a musician to Austria, The Bahamas, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and throughout the United States of America.
Customer Reviews:
“Ain’t Misbehaving Band was GREAT! All my guests had a wonderful time dancing to their music. The band leader played a good mixture of music and we liked the medleys he put together.” — anonymous