Camaro Brothers
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Camaro Brothers

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"Camaro Brothers new CD FREEDONLAMD"

CAMARO BROTHERS C.D. REVIEW:


FREEDOMLAND


The Camaro Brothers and Sister Saroya are seven talented Detroit musicians who have traveled many lands. Gathering musical influences from each, their combined experience makes for the eclectic mix of melodies and rhythms showcased on their debut CD: Freedomland. This is rock music at its best: inspiring, driving, devotional and bound for Glory - pedal to the metal all the way.

The cover photo, an expansive stretch of straight and narrow highway, invites us to get behind the wheel and see where the journey might lead. The highway stretches not only infinitely onward, but heavenly upward. Who knows? A leap of faith in purchase – a jump for joy in listening!

The opening song, Reason for Beauty, is a revelation. The sheer vocal power of lead singer, Hassan Watkins, hits like a lightening bolt. In this voice there seems to be two voices combined. The first is one of great, expressive purity: the second, underlying, ignites every word with the passion of rhythm and blues and muscular soul grooves.
The highway stretches onward.

The journey has just begun...
.
The second track, Victoria, features the brilliant, harmonizing vocals of Watkins’ sister, Saroya. Clearly, God has bestowed great gifts on this family. Accompanying her on vocals are Kevin Knott, Kevin Holevar and Ron Thurau.

Freedomland’s rhythmic pacing, eclectic sounds and tempos, will hold the listener’s attention track after track. Amidst fine vocal performances, powerful instrumental statements are performed by brothers Ron and Dave Thurau, Kevin Holevar and Kevin Knott.

Varied and finely woven, these sounds and textures will inspire the listener, from the first note sounded to the last chord struck.

The band combines influences too varied to enumerate: from Zydeco to driving metal rock, from lyric jazz to melodic swing. Like the best New Orleans gumbo, each ingredient serves and enhances the next. Nothing here is heavy-handed or obvious. It is for the listener to discover and discern the subtleties, the spices, the flavors here-in to be savored.

Freedomland transcends, elevates, and rocks to beat the band.

So hop in the Camaro. Come along for the ride.


Freedomland highway is a groove, and at every curve a sonic surprise.

Deborah Pohrt~ Freelance Writer ~ The Ann Arbor Observer

- The Ann Arbor Observer


"Soul-rockin' Camaro Brothers drive to finals"

Wayne E. Smith / The Detroit News

The Camaro Brothers were a crowd-pleaser during the Sonic Summer Showcase on Friday.
It's official: The Camaro Brothers are finalists in The Detroit News Sonic Summer Battle of the Bands.

The soul-rock band won the first Sonic Summer Showcase on Friday, after facing off with Warrendale-area band Starfire for a chance to compete at Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats on Aug. 31. Six more bands will compete for two finalist slots next month.

"I'm so excited," lead singer Hassan Watkins of Detroit said after winning at Detroit's Campus Martius Park. "The love we gave (to the audience), they gave it back. I felt the energy."
Watkins, who calls the group's sound soul-rock "with an edge," says they are getting ready for a Clark Lake gig before rehearsing for the Labor Day weekend competition.

The eight-member band, which formed in 2006, recently recorded the album "Freedomland," available at CamaroBrothers.com and on iTunes.

"Their harmonies and vocals were really on point, and I definitely think they deserved to win today," said Toya Hankins, manager for Motown recording artist Kem.
Hankins judged the contest, along with Liz Hill, a music columnist for Strut magazine and Melody Baetens, a local musician, local radio show host and Detroit News staff writer.

As a finalist, the Camaro Brothers will perform on The Detroit News stage at the 2007 Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats, competing for $1,000 from Axis Music; 12 hours of studio time at the Audio Cafi Recording Studio; a Rocket Printing merchandise pack of customized posters; postcards and T-shirts; a full-page advertisement in The Detroit News; and a gift certificate for Guitar Center Roseville.

The other finalists will be chosen at Sonic Summer showcases at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Magic Band in Ferndale and Aug. 9 at iLounge in Pontiac.
You can reach Kara Morrison at (313) 222-2021 or kmorrison @detnews.com.

- Kara G. Morrison / The Detroit News


Discography

Freedomland CD released 2007. All tracks (12 in total) are streaming on all internet music sites itunes, Napster, CD Baby and our web site www.camarobrothers.com. Change the new CD released on 07/11/2008 will soon be streaming on the internet.

Photos

Bio

The Band blends influences ranging from classic Soul, Jazz, House and from the Rock and Roll of the 70’s through the current sounds of todays rock. Each of the seven members brings something unique to the table, including years of experience.

The band was created by chance October of 2005. Hassan and Ron were selected by a songwriter who wanted to record a song and was looking for a singer and a guitarist/musician to create the music and melodies. The song was written and recorded before they ever met. Once completed, the end product was given to Hassan and Ron separately for their reviews. After reviewing the completed song, they both knew that there was a strong synergy between the two of them and they had to meet. Over the next two months, they were able to bring together the other members and shortly after wrote, composed and recorded their first CD; FREEDOMLAND (released February 2007).

July 2007, the Camaro Brothers were selected as one of the top nine finalists in The Detroit News Sonic Summer Battle of the Bands. Making it to the finals, the Camaro Brothers preformed at Pontiac’s Art’s, Beats & Eats Festival on the Comcast stage. They took a close second to the band Green Street, and continued to perform throughout the summer of 2007 at various festivals and at numerous charity events in the Tri State area. Their live performance is 90% high energy with focus on audience interaction. The message is upbeat and positive. The sets are true performances.

The Camaro Brothers have just finished thier second CD "CHANGE" released July 11, 2008.

Individual Bio's are as follows:
Hassan Watkins - Vocalist Hassan Watkins began singing at age thirteen with the Detroit Festival of Performing Arts, under the direction of Kim Weston. Hassan's career took off when he sang on several dance track hits like "These Are My People", "Party of the Year" and "Reach Out for the Love" with the world-renowned house group Members of the House.

Along with the Members, Hassan has opened for many artists’ such as Martha Walsh, Colonel Abrams, Crystal Waters, Nunez, Jomanda, and Gospel artist, Take Six.

Hassan has also won international success as a writer, arranger and background vocalist on the smash UK hit "Let the Music Lift You Up".

Ron Thurau - Guitarist/Songwriter, began his musical career at age 12 in Detroit and has awed and outraged audiences with his energetic and irreverent take on rock and roll ever since. He has done studio work with many local Detroit area bands and is one of the founding members of Camaro Brothers.

Rick Mickens/Bassist/Songwriter-Self taught,grew up listening to Stanley Clarke,Jaco Pastorius, Ralph Armstrong, Larry Graham and other bass players in the early jazz fusion days.Has done Gospel projects including with Dr.E. LeQuint Weaver and the Hallelujah Singers and currently playing with Abundent Faith Ministries in Detroit. Also working on Techno projects with Ghetto Tech, DNA Recrords, and Doc Midi Productions. Currently working on solo project with F.U.A..A Productions and 3lelement due out by October.

Dave Thurau - Percussion, Background Vocals,
originally from Spring Valley, IL, began playing in Detroit with the Slippery Anderson Blues Band and tour stints with several bands, including The Virtues and New Laundry.

Kevin Holevar - Lead Guitar -vocals,
Started playing the guitar at age 4, and fronted 1st band by age 6. Started recording by age 12. Early influences were primarily Soul & R&B. Had multiple small record contracts from age 16 to the present. Attended Wayne St University & studied jazz guitar. Played musicals in the Detroit area while attending school. Opened Underground Productions in 1987. Currently working with the Camaro Brothers & teaches Recording at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI.

Performing Credits:

David Leibman ( Jazz Sax)
Noel Pointer (Jazz Violin)
Jimmy Dean (Country)
David Gates (Bread)
Head East (Rock)
Sly Fox (Pop)
Blues Traveler (Rock)
Incubus (Rock)
Billy Ray Cyrus (Country)
Pam Tilis (Country)
Mitch Ryder (Rock)
Los Lobos (Rock)
Dino (Pop)

Recording & Production Credits:

Carl Craig
Kevin Saunderson
Art Forest
Code Industry
Brave New World
UNV
7 Mile
Brazil & Beyond
Clinton River
Keith Saxton-Kevin Holevar
2 Live Crew
Hot Buttered Soul
Bellita Woods
Commission
Marcus Devine
Universal Xpression
Ray Cash
Musique
Caruso
Eminem
Royce Da Five Nine
D12
Ford Motor Co
Lexus
Keith Johns (Stevie Wonder & Babyface)
KMC Crew

Kevin Knott - Piano, Keyboards, Background Vocals - AKA “K-Stoke”, started his musical journey as a young child. A fan of all sorts of music, he went on to be a self taught keyboard player and formed several local bands in high school including The New Breed; which featured brother Hassan and Sister Saroya on vocals. Later, after high school, he joined the band Venum which was one of the Budweiser showdown winners. In 1989 K-Stoke played k