Killer Flamingos

Bright, colorful, vibrant… those are some of the first things that come to mind when you think of flamingos. But they are also steady, firm, and well-balanced; which is exactly the combo you get with the Killer Flamingos. After 17 years together, they are established as one of the premiere cover bands in the Midwest. Their reputation for excellence and professionalism precedes them, whether the Flamingos are playing a corporate event for Allstate Insurance, keeping the dance floor hopping at an upscale wedding, or entertaining throngs of people at an annual festival like Arts, Beats and Eats.

It is a standard carefully crafted by five talented musicians who have been together in their current incarnation for over 10 and a half years. The Killer Flamingos consist of Todd Best, Michelle Carrallavah, Darren Drake, David Gondoly, and Tim Webber. Darren Drake (keyboards) has been there since the start and remains the only member of the original band still playing with the group. He has been a musician since youth, starting out on trumpet before braces forced him to gravitate toward a Casiokeyboard. By high school Drake had his own band, well-known at talent shows and area venues. 

Michelle Katitus used to frequently see the Killer Flamingos at Fallsports Lounge in Dearborn, so when Drake decided to revamp the group and needed a new lead vocalist, it was an easy decision for her to go from the audience to the stage. Katitus studied Musical Theatre at Wayne State, after having been in choir and theatre during high school. She left college after her first professional band opportunity fell into her lap, much like her fortuitous placement with the Flamingos a few years later. 

Also products of Wayne State University, Todd Best (lead guitar) and David Gondoly (bass) came to theKiller Flamingos as a package deal. In fact, the jazz-trained Gondoly who wasn’t familiar with the songs didn’t even need to perform during the audition. He earned the job based on the quality playing and recommendation of Best. A 25 year connection, forged as friends and bandmates, is on full display as the pair slay their way through their respective guitar parts.

Tim Webber (drums) is the only non-Michigan native, but one would never know. Webber grew up in California but moved to The Mitten during middle school. He was at one time a touring musician with none other than Chubby Checker, but prefers the family oriented vibe of the Killer Flamingos. So muchso that he started helping them out as a fill-in drummer almost 11 years ago and hasn’t left since. 

The thread that binds this musical family together is strong and they pride themselves on actually playing and singing – four of the five contribute on vocals, giving the Flamingos a broader base of music to choose from. Their song selections ensure the audience has fun but lets the band mix things up without getting bored by the same old set list. The Killer Flamingos cover Top 40 across the decades, from the 80’s to current hits, with some Motown and other familiar favorites sprinkled in. 

That considerable versatility, combined with off-the-chart levels of crowd interaction has kept theFlamingos at the top of fan voted lists like Hour Detroit Magazine’s “Best Band” and WDIV’s Click On Detroit’s “Best Local Band” for numerous years since 2008. They recently received the Metro Times 2017 “Best Cover Band” distinction.

Making a full-time living in the music industry is no easy task, but these five performers continue to be relevant. This is no weekend bar band, the Killer Flamingos is made up of seasoned professionals and their dedication is evident at every show. There aren’t a lot of jobs out there where one can get applauded every 3-4 minutes, but there aren’t a lot of bands out there who leave it all on the stage like the Killer Flamingos.