Oz's Music Staff

Leslie is the manager of Oz's Music and has been working with the music business since 1999. Her background is in customer service and she has a BFA from Michigan State University. Helping the Oz community is her goal. Though not a trained musician Leslie is always willing to do her best to answer your questions and make your experience at Oz's a good one.

Joe started learning piano at age six from his mom who was a church music director. He picked up guitar (electric and acoustic) at 14 and began studying with Steve Somers at Carty's Music. Rounding out his musical skill set, over the years he has taught himself bass, drums and harmonica.

His early work experience includes working with rentals and sales at Carty's Music in Ypsilanti. He discovered early on that working in a music store situated in the Ann Arbor-Detroit area, rich in rock history, had its benefits. The guitar tech at the time at Carty's Music was none other than Detroit rock legend, Gary Rasmussen, bass player for The Up and later Scott Morgan's Sonic's Rendezvous Band.

Over the past several years he has been exploring techniques in multi-tracking, recording "found" sound and further experimenting with sound.

He graduated top of his class in radio at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. He put those skills to work at WAAM 1600 AM in Ann Arbor from April 2001 to January 2004 where he did "on the hour" local news.

Joe enjoys playing at Open Mics where he can showcase his talents, not only as a musician, but as a songwriter as well.

Ken founded Inkwell Education Technologies (as a division of Nalli Music, Ann Arbor, Mi.) to promote the use of technology in music education and encourage the use of modern electronic instruments in school ensembles. He consulted educators and installed multi media labs in many K-12 schools and university settings, including University of Michigan. He collaborated with Harry Sargous (U of M music professor) on "midi-fying" Harry's oboe with synthesizers and Ken composed music incorporating trumpet, keyboards, wind synthesizers, sequencers and the triggering technologies for concerts, workshops and multi media events.

With MGVCB, Ken has recorded and performed with tabla master Badal Roy (Miles, McLaughlin, Ornette), talking drum virtuoso Sikuru Adepoju (Baba Olatunji, Mickey Hart), innovative guitarist James Gurley (Big Brother, Janice Joplin), jazz greats Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, legendary conga master Giovanni Hidalgo, percussionist Jim Donovan (Rusted Root), didgeridoo virtuoso Steven Kent, free jazz innovators Mark Whitecage and Rozanne Levine, Egyptian composer and percussionist Halim El-Dabh and many more. The history of these great musicians and their associations fill volumes and Ken is grateful for these wonderful opportunities and humbled by these experiences.

In January 2005 Ken released two solo CD's ("Street Beat" and "Visualize") consisting of new and old electronic music he has composed. Ken recently formed Zenkora Soundscapes as a vehicle to license his music for movies, multimedia, trade shows, advertisement, art installations and special events. Ken is Founder/Director of Horns for the Holidays, an instrument donation program which gives underprivileged children the opportunity to participate in the joy of music making. He continually utilizes his musical talents for a variety of humanitarian efforts including environmental causes, better understanding of world cultures and promoting world peace.