Chicago Groove Collective - Meet the Band
Derrick Procell – Vocals, Harmonica, Piano
Your feet can’t stop moving when Derrick starts singing. His energy stops people in their tracks and the gravel in his voice is so powerful it will blow you over. He is a true legend in Chicago and leads Chicago Groove Collective with style.
Sweet Harmony
A native of Milwaukee, Derrick Procell started his professional career at age sixteen in Nashville. A triple-threat on vocals, piano and harmonica, Procell is a veteran of the Chicago nightclub scene where he has been the lead singer for many of Chicago’s top bands. His voice has been featured in TV and Radio commercials for Ford, McDonald’s, Sears and Subway, as well as numerous TV shows such as Boston Legal, Criminal Minds and My Name is Earl. An award-winning songwriter as well as performer, Derrick’s music has been recorded by a variety of musicians such as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Melissa Manchester. He has recently released a CD titled ‘Why I Choose To Sing The Blues’ with self-penned songs and songs co-written with Grammy winner Terry Abrahamson.
“He’s an incredible guy to have in front of the band,” says nationally known band leader Bobby Schiff. “He has amazing energy and his singing stops people in their tracks. But he’s also a real pro who is easy to work with and really conscientious.”
Karla Beard-Leroy – Vocals
Originally from the south suburb of Phoenix, Illinois, Karla Beard-Leroy has performed around the country in a variety of capacities including: the American Theatre Company in Xanadu after first appearing there in “RENT”. She’s appeared in several productions at Second City including “What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell You”, “Soul Brother, Where Art Thou” “Rush Limbaugh! The Musical” and “The Absolute Best Frigging Time of Your Life” on the ETC stage.
Her on camera/ television work include roles on “Chicago Med”, “Chicago PD”, “Chicago Fire”, “Empire”, “Mind Games” and a variety of commercials. Some of her other theater credits include the National Tour of “Mamma Mia!”, “Doubt” and “Little Shop of Horrors” for Peninsula Players; “Sunday in the Park with George”, “Anyone Can Whistle” & “Princess and the Black-eyed Pea” at the Ravinia Festival. She portrayed Dessa Rose in the Midwest premier of “Dessa Rose” earning a Jeff Nomination. She also earned Jeff and Black Theatre Alliance nominations for TiMoune “Ain’t Misbehavin’” at Arkansas Repertory, and “Ragtime” for Porchlight Theater.
Karla dusted off her French for the Chicago Humanities Festival production of “Four Women” in tribute to Nina Simone, Eartha Kitt and Josephine Baker. She currently sings with various bands around the city. A proud member of AEA, Actor’s Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA, Screen Actors’ Guild/The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She is grateful to have her husband, Jean-Christophe and her two children Dominique & Mireille along for the ride.
Robert Bady – Vocals
Rob is the sweetest guy you’ll ever meet who turns into a dynamic performer when he has a mic in his hands. He is a true class act in his community and in the band, Chicago Groove Collective. He’s got the rhythm, he’s got the groove, so get out on the dance floor and let his voice make you swoon.
Silky Smooth Class
Chicago native Rob Bady grew up in a family steeped in the great tradition of gospel music. At age 10, he joined the family band, “The Righteous Four” with brothers Percy, Ray, O.D., Jr. and George. The group later became known as “The Bady Brothers”. Brothers Percy and Ray have gone on to achieve phenomenal success in the music industry. He met his wife, Mollie, also a vocalist, in college and Rob began to truly hone his skills as a singer. He has sung backup vocals for R. Kelly, Marvin Sapp, Yolanda Adams, and Percy and Ray Bady. His CD titled ‘Gospel Journey’ was recorded with his group Reba Praise in 2006. Gospel music started his musical journey, but Rob loves to sing Soul, Funk, R&B and Jazz.
Tom Vitacco – Guitar
Tom is an incredibly well-rounded guitar player with easy going vibes and the utmost professionalism. You can count on Tom to always be prepared, fit right in with the music, and put up a stellar performance.
Jammin’ Chameleon
Chicago-native Tom Vitacco has made his living as a guitarist, session player, arranger and producer in the music industry for 30+ years. His ability to cover a wide range of musical genres is impressive and likely the reason he is one of the most in-demand session players in Chicago. He has performed live with numerous recording artists, including Kirk Whalum (Larry Carlton, Whitney Houston) & Shawn Christopher (Shaka Khan, Sonya Dada). Tom was the house guitar player for Chicago Singer Spotlight at Fitzgerald’s for 15 years until its final show in January of 2016. He has worked with a number bands locally, including Vern Spevak Big Band and his live theater performance includes Wicked, Aida, Working, Rent, Billy Elliot and Bye Bye Birdie.
Mark Nelson – Piano
Mark Nelson is a popular Chicago-based pianist and keyboardist, a versatile and accomplished performer, whose credits include local performances, touring, and studio recordings. His work with Johnny Blas, Joshua Jern and others can be heard on the radio. He plays jazz, musicals, Afro-Cuban Salsa and folkloric styles, cover and original rock projects, classical, and gospel music. He regularly performs or has recorded with The Mark Nelson Trio, the Latin jazz-fusion ensemble, Contrabanda, the No Reservations Orchestra, Johnny Blas’s Afro Libre, The Joshua Jern Orchestra, The Vern Spevak Big Band, Somewhere Sunny, the Nine Worlds Ensemble, the choirs of Bolingbrook and Romeoville High School, St. Charles North's Vocal Jazz Ensembles and as a freelancer, “wherever the phone rings.” Mark also frequently serves as a worship musician and bandleader, and has worked with numerous Chicago area churches, including The Compass, Crossroads, Calvary Church Naperville and Community Christian. He has previously been a guest artist for the Interstate Eight Swing/Jazz Clinic, Seneca Jazz Festival, the IMEA All State Music Convention, and Bolingbrook: Jazz Under The Stars festivals, the Elkhart and Chicago Jazz Festivals, and the Chicago Latin Jazz Festival. Mark has performed with artists such as Mark Colby, Howard Levy, Vern Spevak, Peter Oprisko, Shawn Maxwell, John Musick of Chapter 6, Ian Maksin, Gabriel Datcu, and Marvin Stamm. He earned a degree in Jazz Studies: Piano from North Central College.
Jim Cerceo – Bass
As a musical Rock of Gibraltar, Jim emanates groove from his bass. Always calm, cool, and collected he knows how to lay down the sickest bass ever. Next to Frank on drums, they become a dynamic duo setting the beat and tone for your party and keeping that dance floor thumping!
Big Bad Bass
When not playing bass, Chicago native, Jim Cerceo, is a producer and composer whose successes include scoring music for A&E’s hit show American Justice and appearing on NBC’s The Today Show. Jim has performed at many venues including Soldier Field, Grant Part, the United Center, Fox Theater and McCormick Place. As a graduate of the University of Miami, he studied Studio Music and Jazz.
Frank Check – Drums
Frank undeniably has the deepest groove in the universe and consistently guarantees that Chicago Groove Collective lives up to its name. He has the incredible ability to memorize all music so he can focus on the feeling his music creates. It is no surprise that people travel from all over to try and capture a fraction of his talent. If Frank is slammin’ those drums, you’re movin’ your feet.
Groove? Check.
Frank Check was raised in a multicultural area outside of Chicago where he was exposed to Rock, Jazz, Funk, Gospel and World music. He began playing drums at the age of two and by age twelve he had his first gig with Elliot Wimbush at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Frank has earned many awards as a jazz soloist, as well as the First Choir Award from Instrumentalist Magazine, three Woody Herman Jazz Awards, The John Phillip Sousa Award and the prestigious Semper Fidelis Award from the United State Marine Corp. Frank finished his Master of Music degree in World Percussion at Northern Illinois University and played with The Shadows of Knight, the 1960s rock group famous for their rendition of the song Gloria. Frank has played across the United States, Canada, England, France and South Korea and currently teaches percussion and steel band at Waubonsee Community College.
Aaron McEvers – Saxophone
Aaron intrigues the audience’s ear as he puts his interesting takes on familiar songs. He is a great composer and arranger, bringing a melodious quality and fiery solos to the band’s horn section. Along with his quirky sense of humor, Aaron loves the element of surprise. Let him rip on that sax and the crowd will take note and applaud with vigor.
Mystery Man
After completing graduate studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music and working two years as a musical director with Carnival Cruise Lines, this Detroit-born saxophonist, arranger, and composer moved to Chicago in 1999. Now settled in the city, Aaron performs and writes for an array of musical organizations, including his own 13-piece ensemble, M13. Equally at home playing alto, tenor, soprano saxophone and flute, Aaron has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He currently teaches music theory and jazz saxophone at the Merit School of Music and performs regularly at Quenchers and the Green Mill in Chicago.
Nick Sednew – Trumpet
Since completing a Bachelor of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2007, Nick Sednew has built a broad career as a versatile jazz musician and trumpet player. A well-established and in-demand member of the Chicago music scene, Nick is equally comfortable in studios, small jazz ensembles, big bands, pit orchestras and horn sections. He has toured extensively, playing lead trumpet with the Broadway musicals “Man of La Mancha” (2014), “A Christmas Story” (2014), “42nd Street” (2015-16), as well as the “Jersey Boys” spinoff vocal group “Under the Streetlamp.” Other recent and notable performances include Matt Ulery’s Loom Large at the 2018 Chicago Jazz Festival and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Chicago Theatre in November, 2018. Nick performs regularly with Brian O’Hern and the Model Citizens, The Heritage Jazz Orchestra at Winter’s Jazz Club, Matt Lewis and The Union, Alan Gresik’s Swing Shift Orchestra at the Green Mill Jazz Club, and David Rothstein Music. He is featured on recent recordings with Chicago Afrobeat Project (“Nyash UP!), Terry Bartalota Group (“Above the Clouds”), The Urban Renewal Project (“21st Century Ghost”), and John Elmquist’s Hard Art Groop’s forthcoming release “I Own and Ion”.