FROM PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA, LEGENDARY KEYBOARDIST & VOCALIST, TONY PATLER Keybord player with Dave Mason, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Kahn, and more. In 1984 Tony Patler began touring and recording with Chaka Khan, eventually becoming her music director (when he first played with Alvino Bennett). From this, he went on to record and tour with many well known artists including Michael McDonald, Janet Jackson, Patti Labelle, The Temptations, Was Not Was, George Michael, ABC, Michael Jackson, Rick Astley, Paul Young, Solomon Burke, and Smokey Robinson.  Patler’s credits also include film soundtracks and co-writing songs for Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan & LTD, among others. To Tony’s delight, a recommendation by long time friend Alvino Bennett, led to him joining the Dave Mason Band in May 2009.

In 1971, at the age of 16, James Anthony joined Jay Douglas and the Cougars TCB and then in 1974 Edward Bear, Ebony Jam and various Toronto bands. In 1978, he had one album released by RCA with Mondo Combo. In the 1980s, Anthony played country sessions, TV and radio shows. As part of the Lulu's House Band  in the 1990s in Kitchener, Ontario, Anthony performed with over 150 touring artists, including Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Denny Doherty  of The Mamas & the Papas, Gary U.S. Bonds, and The Platters. He co-wrote "Here I Am" for the Denny Doherty documentary and for many films and jingles. He hosted an award-winning roots musical variety show "The Midnight Hour" on Rogers cable in the 1990s, and "James Anthony Live" on Cogeco Cable in 2011–2013. He was inducted into Blues Hall of Fame USA on 22 September 2013 in Detroit.