Prime Time Funk Band
Rochester, NY - Funk Band
Rochester, NY
Between clubs, colleges, and corporate dates, and from festivals and fundraisers to private celebrations, Prime Time Funk Band is more in demand than ever. Between clubs, colleges, and corporate dates, and from festivals and fundraisers to private celebrations, this premier ten-piece powerhouse is more in demand than ever.
- Description
- Testimonials
- Song List
- Request Info
It was 1996 when veteran Rochester, NY musicians James Richmond (sax, keyboard and vocals) and Ralph Ortiz (bass) started assembling their dream band. A funk band, of course, and for once there would be no compromises in musicianship or material. This would be Prime Time Funk Band. The dream quickly became a reality, surviving the inevitable personnel changes that occur in any band, and becoming stronger with each change.
The current and longtime lineup features Andy Calabrese on keyboards, Joe Chiappone on guitar, Ron D'Angelo and Derrick Lipp on trumpets, Michael Edwards on baritone sax and violin, and the incomparable Ronnie Leigh on vocals. In its 14 years, Prime Time Funk Band has played the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in Paris as well as the Rochester International Jazz Festival, and has shared the stage with some of the world's most respected funk, R&B, blues and jazz acts: Earth, Wind & Fire; Medeski, Martin & Wood; The Brothers Johnson; Tom Scott; Terrence Blanchard; The Temptations; Average White Band; Stanley Clarke; Lenny White; Larry Carlton; John Scofield; Sherman Roberston; and Francine Reed.
"Prime Time Funk Band is an amazing band based in upstate New York. The leader, Ronnie Leigh, is an amazing singer and really got the crowd going. My guests kept saying, "you really know how to throw a party!" and it was definitely all thanks to the band. The band learned our special-request first dance song and did very well with it, though they were less willing to learn a ton of other new songs."
--Megan, Wedding Wire Review
"We would like to thank you for the wonderful performance of Dance Band DB135 at our daughter’s wedding. Everyone was most professional and superb. Your playing was universally appreciated by everyone in attendance. Each member of the band contributed to his fullest. We appreciated your learning “our” song (“In My Life” by The Beatles) for the wedding. You have an extensive repertoire of tunes and were so good about playing our favorites. We had so many we could have stayed another few hours for you to play them all!! To anyone who asks us, we recommend Prime Time Funk Band with our greatest appreciation. Thank you for helping to make our daughter’s wedding so successful"
--Gwen K. Sterns MD and Richard H. Sterns MD , Genesee Valley Club, Rochester, NY
"Both Lynn and I would like to extend our warmest "thank you" to you, Ronnie and all the other members ofPrime Time Funk Band. Everything from that day seems like a blur, but the sound of Prime Time Funk Band still resonates in my head. We had many people from Manhattan, London, and the West Coast.... all raved about the band, the vocals, the sound etc. Megan's theme for the wedding was to show case upstate NY for the "world" to see. Prime Time Funk Band was a significant part of that "perfect day." Again, Thank you."
--Don and Lynn Fredericks, The Aurora Inn, Aurora, NY
"Prime Time Funk Band is a terrific party and event band. They are dependable, creative and very importantly they are a pleasure to work with. At our daughter's wedding reception the dance floor was packed the entire evening. This band is gooooood!!"
--Dan and Linda Carp, Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, NY
"Prime Time Funk Band was wonderful to work with. I could not have been happier. The band sounded just great. People said over and over that Prime Time Funk Band was amazing. Elaine at the Butler House said they were the best band that had ever played there. Prime Time Funk Band was integral to making our wedding such a huge success. If we ever have another event in the Buffalo area we’ll use you!"
--Bronwen Cowan, Butler House, Buffalo, NY
Lets Stay Together - Al Green
Girl From Ipanema - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Once I Loved - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Triste - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band
Let The Good Times Roll - B.B King
And I Love Her - The Beatles
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
In My Life - The Beatles
I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
Stand By Me - Bill Withers
Aint No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Just the Two of Us - Bill Withers
One Love - Bob Marley
I Shot the Sherrif - Bob Marley/Eric Clapton
What You Wont Do For Love - Bobby Caldwell
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Cannonball Adderly
Brick House - Commodores
Love The One Youre With - Crosby, Stills, & Nash
Dont Get Around Much Anymore - Duke Ellington
Satin Doll - Duke Ellington
Take The A Train - Duke Ellington
After The Love Has Gone - Earth, Wind & Fire
Fantasy - Earth, Wind & Fire
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
Thats The Way Of The World - Earth, Wind & Fire
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
Misty - Erroll Garner
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
You Dont Know What Love Is - Frank Sinatra
Breezin' - George Benson
On Broadway - George Benson
Comin Home - Herbie Mann
Chicken - Jaco Pastorius
Come On, Come Over - Jaco Pastorius
Soul Intro - Jaco Pastorius
Cold Sweat - James Brown
Get Up (Sex Machine) - James Brown
I Feel Good - James Brown
Blue Bossa - Joe Henderson
Viva Da Funk - Joe Sample
Bye Bye Blackbird - Joe Williams
I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
Baby What You Want Me To Do - Lou Rawls
Kansas City - Lou Rawls
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
I Heard It Thru The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
What's Goin' On? - Marvin Gaye
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Fiesta De La Noche - Prime Time Funk
Hopelessly In Love - Prime Time Funk
Never Make Your Move Too Soon - Prime Time Funk
One Life To Live - Prime Time Funk
Ready And Willing - Prime Time Funk
When You're Hot, You're Hot - Prime Time Funk
Use Me - PTF/Bill Withers
Piece Of My Heart - PTF/Janis Joplin
Love Will Find a Way - PTF/Lionel Richie
Hallelujah I Love Her So - Ray Charles
Help The Poor - Robben Ford
Talk To Your Daughter - Robben Ford
Feel Like Makin Love - Roberta Flack
When Something Is Wrong - Sam & Dave
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
The Way You Do The Things You Do - Smokey Robinson
Peg - Steely Dan
Just Wanna Have Some Fun - Steve Winwood
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Masterblaster (Jammin) - Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters
Ill Be Around - The Spinners
Aint Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
My Girl - The Temptations
Night Creatures - Tom Scott
All of Me - Tony Bennett
All The Things You Are - Tony Bennett
Georgy Porgy - Toto
A Little Knowledge - Tower of Power
Come On With It - Tower of Power
What Is Hip? - Tower of Power
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett