RANDY CHORTKOFF (NOVEMBER 18th)
Harmonica / Vocals / Producer / CEO

Randy Chortkoff’s passion for music was instilled in him at an early age. His father, who was a dedicated jazz fan, used to invite Louis Armstrong and members of his band into his home for dinner which often resulted in spontaneous and informal jam sessions. Randy’s exposure to live blues came later in the ‘60s, as he frequented the now historic Ash Grove in Los Angeles, in addition to Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium and Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco where he witnessed performances by Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddy King and Jimmy Reed. By the early ‘80s, Randy had formed his own band and over the years began building relationships amongst the local music scene that included close friendships with Rod Piazza, Lester Butler, Debbie Davies and Alex Schultz. His first project as an independent record producer was Billy Boy Arnold’s highly acclaimed comeback release “Back Where I Belong,” which helped signal the path that would eventually lead him to the formation of Delta Groove Productions. These days Randy divides his time between performing with the Mannish Boys, running both the Eclecto and Delta Groove labels, as well as applying his considerable talents to financing and production for feature films where he ultimately hopes to combine his passion for blues with film to reach a much larger audience.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Mannish Boys “That Represent Man”
Mannish Boys “Live & In Demand”
Mannish Boys “Big Plans”
V/A – “Road Tested, Vol. 1”
Mitch Kashmar “Wake Up & Worry”
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers "For The Chosen Who"

ZITO (NOVEMBER 19th)
Vocals / Guitar / Song Writer

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Zito was immersed in the gritty sounds of the south side that would unknowingly become the groundwork of his future in music. After receiving a Van Halen record for his birthday,Zito soon discovered his instrument of choice – the electric guitar. At the age of 19, Zito’s journey took off when he busted into the local St. Louis music scene, developing his sound and issuing his first independent release in 1996. Upon the release of his sophomore effort, his touring schedule eventually found him crisscrossing the country, as well as performing a regular dose of 6 nights a week in and around St. Louis when not on the road. With such a crazed schedule and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, drugs and alcohol subsequently took their effect on him. One night after a show, Walter Trout pulled Zito aside and explained to him that he had been down that path himself, and about the responsibility he had to the music and to the people to perform honestly and unaffected. After drifting around the country, Zito finally settled down in Southeast Texas and fell in love with his now wife, finding the love and support he needed to help him clean up and refocus on his career. With renewed vigor and a bevy of real world experiences to draw upon, Zito released two more albums before ultimately crossing paths in 2007 with Delta & Eclecto Groove CEO Randy Chortkoff. Recognizing his raw talent, Chortkoff whisked Zito into the studio along with the help of the “Dream Team” consisting of David Z. and Tony Braunagal, and a stellar assemblage of world class musicians resulting in Zito’s most fully realized and powerfully majestic effort to date. 

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Zito “Today” - (FEBRUARY 2008)

MARS CALLAHAN (NOVEMBER 23rd)
Actor / Writer / Director

Mars Callahan was born in Studio City, California. By age eleven he was touring with a children’s musical group for Columbia Artists singing and dancing on stage in a 37 state tour across the Untied States and by fifteen he had landed a supporting role on the hit television series “The Wonder Years". Continuing to work in television, Mars appeared in many other popular series, such as “Cagney and Lacey”, “Growing Pains”, “The Facts of Life”, “The Bronx Zoo”, and “ER”. After honing his skills as an actor in television, Mars tried his hand at the big screen, appearing in several films helmed by premier Directors such as Dominic Sena who cast Mars opposite Brad Pitt in “Kalifornia”, Lawrence Kasdan who featured him with William Hurt in “The Accidental Tourist” and Tom Hanks who cast Mars in their second film together, “That Thing You Do”. Inspired by the Directors he was working with, Mars decided to step behind the camera and try his hand at directing, and so in 1998 he wrote and directed the short film “The Red Bag” which opened that years’ Hollywood Renaissance Film Festival to critical acclaim. Shortly after that in 1999, Mars wrote and directed the feature film “Double Down” starring Jason Preistly and in 2000, Mars achieved a milestone in film making history by writing, directing and starring in the feature film “Poolhall Junkies” whose supporting cast included Academy Award winner Christopher Walken, Academy Award winner Rod Steiger and Academy Award Nominee Chazz Palminteri. Three years ago, Mars Callahan and Randy Chortkoff came together to form Big Sky Motion Pictures, combining the strengths and talents of each others passion for music and film. Today, Mars continues to write and direct new material, including Big Sky Motion Pictures romantic comedy “What Love Is” starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and the upcoming teenage comedy “Spring Break ’83."