by Jaz Bowens
(photo credit, Clayton Hauck)
JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound along with Escort will be at the Theater of the Living Arts on Wed. Nov.20th for their much anticipated performance.
The Chicago based band consists of vocalist JC Brooks, guitarist Billy Bungeroth, drummer Kevin Marks, keyboardist Andy Rosenstein, and Ben Taylor on bass. The group has been together since 2007 and their story is quite spectacular, with a twist of fate that brought everyone together.
JC Brooks, also know as Jason Cody, is originally from Camden, NJ. Music and the theater have always been a part of his life. “Since I was younger, I was always doing musical things,” Brooks says. “ I started acting in high school and I went to college in Chicago for it.”
The band formed after JC replied to a post on Craigslist from guitarist Bungeroth who wanted to put a band together. “I was just wrapping up production of Ragtime and I had some free time because the show just started and I was looking for something to do,” Brooks says. “I found his ad on Craigslist and replied. From there, we decided to meet up and talk about the type of music we wanted to write. So, we went from there and started writing.”
Since the band’s inception, they have been on a role and touring non-stop. Currently, they have three studio albums under their belt with Howl, released in May, as their latest. The newest release is something their fans will appreciate as they keep true to the soulful-funky sound that JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound has delivered since their debut album, Beat of Our Own Drum.
As they continue to tour and perform to packed audiences, JC is more than humble when explaining their rise to fame. “It has been gradual,” he laughs. “It is something that has happened slowly over seven years. It is cool, gratifying and we love it!”
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound band are more than excited to play at the TLA. “Philly shows are pretty much hometown shows.”
For more information about JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound make sure to check them on their website.
