Click on a title to hear a sample:

How Sweet It Is
Something to Talk About
Brown Eyed Girl
Brick House
I'll Be There
Life During Wartime
Let's Stay Together
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Someone to Watch Over Me
Baby I Love You
Tutti Fruiti
Love Train
Holiday
Melt With You
Get this Party Started

The Desotos are a seven-piece Bay Area premier variety dance band. During their twenty years together, The Desotos have played with some well-known stars including Bo Diddley, Joshua Redman, Eddie Money, Frankie Avalon, and Michael Bolton. In addition, The Desotos have played The Fillmore with Tower of Power, and were featured at several SF Giants baseball games.

Tari Lacourt A fabulous singer, Tari became quite well known locally with the band Hot Cider. She was also in a group with Bruce Conti (Tower of Power), has played with Lydia Pense of Cold Blood, and has opened for many big names including The J Geils Band, Elvin Bishop, and Ricky Nelson. She's an incredibly hard worker and loves performing; she often goes out on the dance floor to join the happy revelers. She's a true professional.

Paul Hlebcar Paul is the bandleader and founder of The Desotos, and he covers many styles with his vocals and guitar. From Mick Jagger to Frank Sinatra, Paul's vocal style adds a nice touch to The Desotos' repertoire, as do his simple, tasty guitar licks. A 'mean harmonica' also flavors the musical palate.

Pete Elman Pete is an excellent all-around musician. He was the original keyboardist for Bay Area favorites Pride & Joy. He later went on to have a successful solo instrumental career, launching his own record company with his brother. His talent covers all styles from jazz to soul to rock and in between. Pete has performed with Peaches and Herb, Tom Johnston, and Clifton Chenier.

Tim Wagar Tim is a bass player one would truly call 'solid'. Tim has performed and toured (in Europe, Japan, and the US) with many Blues and R&B icons including James Cotton, Otis Rush, La Vern Baker, Charles Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, and Howard Tate. He can also be heard on Taj Mahal's album "Shakin' a Tail."

Steve Cameron Steve is a drummer extraordinaire. Most drummers are either flashy or great timekeepers; few are both. Steve's ability to keep the groove while sparking the band to greater intensity is a gift, as well as the product of years of hard work. He is 'in demand', and for good reason. He has played with many local groups such as David Martin's House Party and The Cruisetones. Also, Steve played with guitar great Joe Satriani, and has done several shows in concert halls across America and Europe.

Jack Holmes Jack's sax adds a great dimension to the Desotos' sound. His vintage tone is warm and bluesy, as well as rockin'. He leads the band's dinner sets with a great 'pre-bop' sound, giving the band an extra touch of authenticity and class. And then, he'll easily shift gears and wail on "Shotgun" or rock it out on "Honky Tonk Woman". Jack has been a member of the Bay Area blues scene for years while playing with many groups including Delta Wires and Charlie Musselwhite.

Calvin Tillery Calvin is one of the finest, if not the finest, male soul singer in the Bay Area. He has performed with Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Pete Escovedo, and Harvey Mandel to name a few. His silky vocals have also added depth to albums by Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, and Narada Michael Walden. His personality is part of his appeal-- Calvin has a warm and friendly stage persona with lots of positive energy.

SONGLIST

Ain't Nobody (Chaka Khan)
Ain't Too Proud To Beg (The Temptations)
All Of Me (Jazz/Swing Standard)
All Star (Smashmouth)
Allison (Elvis Costello)
As Time Goes By (Jazz/Ballad Standard)
At Last (Etta James)
Baby I Love You (Aretha Franklin)
Babylon (David Gray)
Beyond The Sea (Bobby Darin/Swing)
Brick House (The Commodores)
Brown-Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Chain Of Fools (Aretha Franklin)
Come Rain Or Come Shine (Standard Ballad)
Crazy (Patsy Cline)
Cruel to Be Kind (Nick Lowe)
Disco Inferno (Tina Turner version)
Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Don't Do Me Like That (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
Fields Of Gold (Sting)
Fly Me To The Moon (Swing Standard, Sinatra)
Georgia (Ray Charles)
Get Ready (The Temptations)
Get This Party Started (Pink)
Gimme Some Lovin' (Spencer Davis, Stevie Winwood)
God Bless The Child (Billy Holiday)
Groove Me (King Floyd)
Hand in My Pocket (Alanis Morrissette)
Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
Heart of Glass (Blondie)
Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms)
Hey Ya (Outkast)
Higher And Higher (Jackie Wilson)
Holiday (Madonna)
Honky Tonk Women (Rolling Stones)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
How Sweet It Is (Junior Walker version)
I Can't Help Fallin' In Love With You (UB40, Elvis Presley)
I Can't Stand The Rain (Ann Peebles, Tina Turner)
I Feel Good (James Brown)
I Only Have Eyes For You (Standard/Ballad, The Flamingos)
I Second That Emotion (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Iko Iko (New Orleans shuffle)
I'll Be Around (The Spinners)
I'll Be There (Jackson Five, Mariah Carey)
In The Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett)
It Had To Be You (Swing/Standard)
Kansas City (Blues)
Kind & Generous (Natalie Merchant)
Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer)
Last Dance (Donna Summer)
Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
Let's Stay Together (Al Green)
Lickin' Stick (James Brown)
Life During Wartime (Talking Heads)
Love Shack (The B-52's)
Love Train (The O'Jays)
Melt With You (Modern English)
Misty (Standard, Johnny Mathis)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett)
My First My Last My Everything (Barry White)
My Girl (The Temptations)
Night And Day (Standard/Ballad)
Night Train (James Brown)
Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly, Rolling Stones)
One Headlight (The Wallflowers)
Ooo Baby Baby (Smokey Robinson, Linda Ronstadt)
Peace Love and Understanding (E. Costello)
Respect (Aretha Franklin version)
Ribbon In The Sky (Stevie Wonder)
Rikki Don't Lose That Number (Steely Dan)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Rock And Roll Music (Chuck Berry)
Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin)
Roll With It (Stevie Winwood)
Route 66 (Swing/Rock n Roll Standard)
She's Lookin' Good (Rodger Collins)
Shotgun (Junior Walker and the All-Stars)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder)
Slow Down (Larry Williams, Beatles)
Soak Up the Sun (Sheryl Crow)
Someone To Watch Over Me (Standard Ballad, Linda Ronstandt)
Something To Talk About (Bonnie Raitt)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Stir It Up (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
Take Me To The River (Al Green)
Tequila (The Champs)
The Very Thought Of You (Standard Ballad)
The Way You Do The Things You Do (The Temptations)
The Way You Look Tonight (Swing Standard, Sinatra)
There She Goes (Sixpence None the Richer)
Think (Aretha Franklin)
Tutti Frutti (Little Richard)
Twistin' The Night Away (Sam Cooke)
Unchained Melody (Ballad, Righteous Brothers)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole)
Uptight (Stevie Wonder)
We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
What I Like About You (Romantics)
When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)
When I Fall In Love (Standard Ballad)
Whole Lotta Shakin' (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Wild Night (Van Morrison)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
You Send Me (Sam Cooke)

special songs (i.e. first dance, etc.) upon request with CD and sheet music at least two weeks prior