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Glenn M. Taylor, guitar, keyboards, vocals *
Bob Cianci, drums, vocals
Chris Roselle, guitar, harmonica, vocals
Russ Crapella, guitar, vocals
Gary Evans, keyboards, harmonica, bass, vocals
Jeff Guenther, guitar, bass, vocals
Mike Guaragna, bass, guitar, vocals
Rhonda Grindell, drums, vocals
Pepe Hernandez, bass, vocals
Sean Jenness, guitar, vocals
Christopher Bolger, guitar, bass, vocals *
Joe Alexander, guitar, vocals
Al Egizi, guitar, vocals
Keith Theall, bass, vocals
Dave Hirschberg, drums, vocals
Jerry DeLisio, saxophone(s), flute, vocals
Ron Weinstein, guitar, bass, harmonica, vocals
Brian Wiley, bass, vocals
Lenny Kirk, drums, vocals
Don Guinta, drums, vocals
Joe Coghlan, drums, guitar, vocals
Scott Calvert, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals
Andrei Koribanics, drums, vocals
Tom DePalma, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals
John Frondelli, drums, guitar, vocals
Ethan Maayan, drums, vocals
Kevin Ellman, drums, vocals
Bill Winters, guitar, bass, harmonica, trumpet, vocals
Matteo Varano, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals, percussion


* Indicates original Kootz / OMJ band-member;
(see history)

Jeff Guenther - Guitar, bass and vocals

Jeffrey 'Jefferson'-Guenther jumped-in with The Kootz in the Fall of 2012; Fact-is, he'd been moonlighting with the band for a couple of years already when he became an 'official'-Koot! Multi-talented on electric and acoustic-guitar, as well-as bass and vocals, Jeff has been a full-time music-man his entire life!

Born in 1951, Jeffrey Walter Guenther is a native of the Pines Lake section of Wayne, New Jersey, where he grew-up literally next-door to Kootz bass-man Pete Bremy... He first-took lessons on piano, along with accordion; Of course there was the 'harmonica-orchestra' in grammar-school; and then came DRUMS... which Jeff studied for a number of years. It was also a musical-interest that he and 'neighbor' Pete-B shared!

A variety of artists such-as Les Paul, Lawrence Welk's orchestral-guitarists and a plethora of 'folkies' inspired Jeff to 'adopt' the six-string by age-eleven. This gave Jeff and best-bud / neighbor Pete Bremy more to do than just take turns at the drums.

Soon, Jeff-G started performing at parties for family & friends. The group 'Phase III' (which included Pete), would perform at Jeff's-Mom's synchronized swimming-shows, among other venues.

A carousel-of-bands followed, leading-up-to Jeff and Pete answering a 'musicians-wanted' newspaper-ad, and the formation of "Heaven's Sundae". This was their most professional-endeavor yet; P-Bremy moved-over to bass while Jeff assumed the role of lead-guitarist, adding slide-guitar to his 'skills-list'.

While attending Wayne Hills High School, 'Jefferson' was elated to discover that they offered a 'Music Major' program, which he dived-into, 'head-first'! Upon graduation in 1969 and after one year at Upsala College (in NJ), Jeffrey left for Boston, where he worked to earn a degree from the Berklee College of Music in 1974. While at this revered-institution, he also honed his songwriting skills, as well as diversifying with session work, as not only a guitar-man, but as an electric-bassist!

After college, in 1975 Jeff moved to Trenton (NJ), where his studio-project, called "Wind," transformed into a hard-working live-act. After a long-stint of being 'mic-shy', Jeff finally gave-in and began to sing lead with the band… Wind toured much of the Northeast, where JG honed his skills even further. The band continued to record, releasing the single along the way.

In 1979, after 'Wind' broke-up, Jeff joined "The Next", replacing 'some guy' named Richie Sambora (ever heard of him?)... Next was Bobby Lenti's "Blue Eyes", another hard-working / touring act.

By the early 80's, Mr. Guenther was working in a number of projects simultaneously, as well as serving as a house-musician at John & Peter's in New Hope, PA. Some of the session-work from that time led him to Philadelphia, to record with David Uosikkinen, of "The Hooters".

By the mid-eighties, Jeff was back in North Jersey, doing some shows with Labelle's Sarah Dash as well as "The Intentions". Always 'up for the challenge', JG tapped his technical-skills as well, joining the engineering-staff at Fox Recording Studios, in Rutherford, NJ.

Throughout his professional-career, Jeff has performed at many iconic-venues, such as The Bitter End, The Stone Pony, The Fast Lane, The Stanhope House, B. B. King's, Hat City Kitchen, as well as Westbury and Valley Forge Music Fairs, playing (and recording) alongside such notable-artists as Vince Martell, Richie Sambora, Johnny Winter, David Johansen, George Thorogood and Artimus Pyle...

In addition, he has performed as a 'pit-musician' for various theatrical productions and has hosted an assortment of 'open-mics' throughout North and Central New Jersey. He is still a 'first-call' session-ace and his 'twang'-palette now includes Dobro as well-as lap-slide.

He cites Les Paul, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Lowell George and Duane Allman among his guitar influences, while 'bass-inspirations' have been drawn from Sir Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Pino Palladino and Sting.

Jeff Guenther looks forward to weaving a 'musical-tapestry' for Kootz fans, everywhere!

He is happily married to Annmarie and resides in Sussex County, New Jersey.