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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
Ted Wyman, bass, 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
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)

Kevin Ellman - Drums, vocals

A 'Veteran-Skinsman', from Essex County, Kevin joined 'The Kootz' in early 2021, referred by our good-friend (and drummer, himself), Rich Hempel, proprietor of a favorite 'Kootz-destination', The Great Notch Inn.

Born in 1952 and originally from New York City, Kevin got started as a drummer, like so many of his "Kootz- Kounterparts", influenced by the arrival of 'The Beatles', in 1964... He was 'so'-smitten with 'The Fabs', that he not only acquired a Ludwig 'Ringo-drum-kit'... but sported the boots, clothing and a 'mop-top'-haircut, as well; But it was the gravity of this 'new-music' of the 'British Invasion' that pulled Kevin into a life-long love and immersion in the world-of bands and music, beginning when he was just 13 years-old!

Working-steadily in various-groups from the time he was in junior high-school and through his graduation from Riverdale (NY) high school in 1969, Kevin furthered his musical-education, studying at The Berklee School of Music in Boston; which was just a 'prelude' to what would- follow!

Coming-out of his collegiate-tenure, many in the 'upper- echelon of music-circles' were beginning to take-notice of Kevin's 'percussive-skills', leading to touring and recording opportunities with a veritable 'who's-who' of notable-acts! He has had the privilege of drumming-for the likes-of Todd Rundgren & Utopia, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Richie Havens, Chuck Berry, Laura Branigan, Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish (of The Young Rascals), Mary Travers, and The Manhattan Transfer. <WHEW>!

'Gigging'-himself-to the brink of exhaustion... Mr. Ellman then stepped-out from behind 'the kit', immersing himself in the 'real'-world, interleaving his musical and business- savvy, in 1976, working-within his family's 'restaurant- empire' which included 'The Cattleman'-restaurant in New York City, as well-as the chain of 'Beefsteak Charlie's'- locations. Among the many-roles Kevin assumed while ascending to Executive Vice President for the chain, was booking the music-acts for all 70 of the "Charlie's"- locations!

This pairing of 'business and entertainment expertise' led-to consulting opportunities with other restaurants... and ultimately fanned-out into multiple roles for Kevin as an advisor to an assortment of clients, eventually-morphing- into a regional TV-show where he offered business and financial advice... It did not go un-noticed, as it launched a ten-year-residency for him as a guest financial-expert on the CNBC show, 'Power Lunch'.

For the past twenty-five+ years, Kevin has led the north- NJ-based 'Wealth Preservation Solutions LLC' as CEO, overseeing investment portfolio-design and management for the firm’s private wealth clients. He's also a frequent guest-speaker at corporate, public and private group-events and regularly conducts workshops and seminars on financial-planning. He has appeared on CNBC: (Morning
Call, Portfolio Make-Over, Make Your Money Work)... and on ABC, as well-as being featured in Businessweek, CBS Market Watch, Fortune Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

Fusing the worlds of 'music and business' to this-day, Kevin is also a board-member of Todd Rundgren's 'Spirit of Harmony Foundation', a group that supports and funds music-education, throughout public schools in the US.

When he's not rocking, rolling (or investing!)... Kevin is an avid-reader, a fitness buff and a devoted family-man. He also enjoys playing golf, scuba diving, and playing music (with 'The Kootz'... and others).

Why not 'allocate' some time, to catch Kevin Ellman, drumming for 'The Kootz'... You'll see a VERY-satisfying 'return' on your 'investment'!