ABOUT
BIOS
Tammy Santocono - LEAD SINGER
Tammy Santocono was introduced to many genres of music from her parents. Some of the artists that influenced me were : Whitney Houston, The 5th Dimensions and Aretha Franklin. Tammy has been in bands for over 20 years and has recorded with James Walsh (Gypsy) , High Noon and Down Right Tight (Horn Ensemble). Locally she has sang with Love Train and All Funk’d Up. For the past five years, her and her husband have sang in front of 30,000 people at the Susan G. Komen walk.
Carmelo Santocono - LEAD SINGER
Carmelo Santocono grew up listening to funk, R&B, soul and many other genres of music. Some of his favorite musicians are Stevie Wonder, James Ingram, Earth Wind and Fire, Lionel Richie and Parliament. Carmelo has been singing with bands for over 20 years; a few to mention are Love Train , All Funk’d up and, now, inafunk. He and his wife have a successful D.J. and karaoke company and both have sang for the last five years in front of 30,000 people at the Susan G. Komen walk and run.
Nena Peterson - LEAD SINGER
Nena has been in the Twin Cities music scene since the late 80's. From jazz clubs to rock bands - Nena has sang with a wide variety of musicians in her professional career. Her influences have helped shape her singing style: Annie Lennox; Erykah Badu; Sting; Nina Simone; Earth, Wind and Fire; Janelle Monae; Prince; Jill Scott; Lianne La Havas - just to name a few. Her most recent work has been performing with Love Train, The Goodies, in2ition and Double Divas.
Brandt Williams - LEAD GUITAR
Over the past 30 years inafunk guitarist Brandt Williams has played in both original and cover bands in Minneapolis spanning a number of different musical genres: blues, rock, funk, heavy metal and pop. He can also include recording with local artist Tommy Barbarella. Brandt's former bands include Hettie McGee, Full Stack and The 221s.
Wade Hanson - BASS GUITAR
Wade is a skilled bass player that began his career playing with the very talented Michael Bland, former drummer for Prince. Wade's funk skills will get you moving on the dance floor! His recent work with The Goodies is what introduced him to inafunk and our followers are thrilled to hear his heavy bass lines!
Mike Peterson - DRUMMER
Drummer Michael Peterson has spent the last 35 years in bands exploring numerous genres including hard rock, progressive rock, jazz, swing, funk, pop, blues, R&B, alternative and grunge. His repetoire also includes recording with local musicians, like Tommy Barbarella. His bands have included Love Train, Hettie McGee, Mooseknuckle Bros., The Killer M’s, Geyser and many more.
Dustin Doepke - PERCUSSION
Dustin has been a drummer and percussionist locally here in the Twin Cities for the past 25 years. Working with such bands as Speedwall, Love Train, The Fabulous Hackmasters, and The Handsome Devils. Dustin's influences are from the blues, rock, reggae, Latin, funk and soul music genres.
"Keeping the rhythm and tempo grooving helps keep your feet moving!" - Dustin Doepke
Cookie Butterlove - KEYS
Cookie brings a unique perspective to the keyboard. He began studying piano at the age of 5, and saxophone at 10. His high school career culminated and a scholarship was awarded to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. At Berklee his good fortune continued, and as the highest-rated Baritone Saxophonist at the school, he was privileged to work in the schools top ensembles, and along side a cacophony of super-musicians, including future Grammy winners Lalah Hathaway, Danilo Perez, Donny McCaslin, and Roy Hargrove, future Herbie Hancock protege Darrell Diaz, future American Idol bandleader Dave DelHomme, and countless other world-class players.
On returning to the Twin Cities after college, Cookie discovered that the saxophone was not a practical instrument at the center of the synth revolution. Finding a shortage of work as a sax player, he returned to the keyboard. Since making the transition, he has played with – as he says - “every biker jazz band in this town.” Lights Out Committe/Soul Tight Committee, Fat Soul City, High and Mighty, Power of Ten, Love Train, Creamy Delicious, Black Light, International Reggae All-Stars, Prince Jabba, JayBee and the Routine. Cookie also writes music, and has presented a few incarnations – releasing his original work with Clark Nova, Heavy Set, Papa Squat, Aisha's Wild, and most recently Cookie's Bakehouse. Cookie has once been a finalist for the Jerome Foundation's Create Award, and twice for the prestigious McKnight Fellowship.
Alex Meffert - SAX
Alex studied music at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. An avid jazz musician, Alex adds a fabulous tenor sound to inafunk. Alex has performed with national acts: the international renowed vocal ensemble New York Voices; 7-time Grammy-nominee Bobby Sanabria; saxophonist Bob Mintzer; award-winning singer, saxophonist, and songwriter Grace Kelly; and world famous musician, singer, song writer Gunhild Carling. When Alex is not performing with inafunk, he can be spotted playing with Plaid on Plaid at local jazz venues around the Twin Cities.
Alex Karye - TROMBONE
Alex is a freelance trombonist and composer/arranger in the Twin Cities specializing in jazz, funk, and R&B. Alex finished a degree in music performance at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in May 2019, where he studied with Dr. Phillip Ostrander. At UWEC, Alex performed with the Grammy-nominated Jazz Ensemble I under the direction of Robert Baca, where he played lead trombone for four years. With Jazz Ensemble I, Alex was the recipient of two Downbeat Magazine Student Awards for Best Undergraduate Ensemble in 2016, and for Best Live Performance in 2017. Alex can now be found performing regularly with bands around the Twin Cities and leading his own projects.
Leighton Tuenge - TRUMPET
Leighton has played in a few Broadway shows in Minneapolis including Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and Once Upon a Mattress. He has also been on the Easter European tour with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. Along with this, he was also part of the 2018 Dakota Jazz Combo and was in the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands for five years. Leighton has recorded with composer Adi Yeshaya and played alongside award-winning jazz saxophone & woodwind artist Alex Tarantino, leading vocalist in contemporary jazz Diane Schurr and David Bowie's saxophonist Donny McCaslin. When Leighton is not playing with inafunk, he can be found performing original works with Plaid on Plaid in various jazz venues in the Twin Cities. You can listen to some of his original work with The Leighton Tuenge Quintet here: https://music.apple.com/cy/artist/the-leighton-tuenge-quintet/1561897262
TECH STUFF
PROMO &
Stage Plot
Band Photo
Official Logo
Lady Funk Logo
Poster for venue use - size A4 (8.27" × 11.69")
