The Groove Council

Classic Soul - Motown - R&B - Funk

The Council held its first session in 2006. But the band pulls together a group of musicians with assorted backgrounds from all around the Detroit area (and even Canada!) to make up an impressive combined musical resume that spans decades. The band has become known for delivering dance-inducing soul music with an infectious groove. When you put Kathleen’s powerful vocals over a cookin’ rhythm section and layer on those tasty horns, you get a delicious blend of soul, blues, R&B, and funk that keeps audiences coming back for more. There’s a genuine excitement that radiates from the stage and embraces the crowd. It’s all part of what makes the band a favorite at area festivals and keeps them in-demand at local clubs.

The band was awarded the 2011 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding R&B Artist/Group. Since then they’ve been nominated for Detroit Music Awards eleven times. Singer Kathleen Murray is a twelve time Detroit Music Award nominee for outstanding vocalist . The band’s local reputation earned them spots opening for the Temptations, Jonny Lang, Eddie Money, and Morris Day & the Time. In 2019, they did a full night with Tom “Bones” Malone, original Blues Brother and SNL band leader. In addition to frequent appearances in and around Detroit, the Groove Council has also been the back-up band for the late saxophone legend and Silver Bullet member Alto Reed and his various special guests, which have included Mitch Ryder, Dave Mason (Traffic), Peter Rivera (Rare Earth), Rick Derringer, Gary US Bonds, Otis Day (Animal House), and Mark Farner (Grand Funk).

Kathleen Murray - Lead Singer
Ron Pangborn - Drums Ryan Venora - Trumpet
Tom Scarcella - Guitar Ron Tedesco - Alto Sax
Roger Noonan - Bass Len Temelini - Tenor Sax
Bernie Palo - Keys Dave Snyder - Bari Sax

Select Past Appearances:

Windsor Bluesfest, Jazzin' on Jefferson, Canada South Blues Society Showcase, Old-Town Bluesfest - Lansing, Blues Festival London Ontario, Royal Oak Arts, Beats, & Eats, Detroit River Days Festival, Parade Company Detroit Fireworks, Epicure Festival Windsor Ontario, GM Nextfest, Blue Water Festival Port Huron, Alto Reed's Thanksgiving All-Star Celebration at the Fillmore Detroit, Sterlingfest, Stars & Stripes Festival, Green Fair, Celebrate Oxford, I Chews the Blues Festival, Concert in the Park for Farmington Hills, Catalpa Oaks, West Bloomfield, Novi, Oxford, Lake Orion, Lexington, Sterling Hts, Macomb Twp, St Clair Shores, Rochester, and Southfield's Eat to the Beat Concert Series.