(This is a copy of a page of the official website from Margo Rochelle & Rodeo Drive from 03. March 2002 (http://www.margorochelle.com/Biography.htm)
Margo Rochelle and
Rodeo Drive have emerged as one of Florida’s most in-demand
country music acts. In addition to regular performances at Disney’s
world famous "Pleasure Island", the group shared
billing on the 1996 "Hot Country Nights" concert series
with Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, and Tracy Byrd and appeared on
other major concert and festival stages since then with Toby
Keith, Kenny Rogers, Tammy Wynette, The Oak Ridge Boys, George
Jones, and others. In June 1997 they made their first trip to
Europe, where they performed the big Country-Festival in
Interlaken, Switzerland. With the help of their European
label, Margo and the guys will return to Europe again in July to
promote the release of their second album. The Swiss
television helped in the success of Margo's first CD by airing a
video that was filmed in the Swiss Alps.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation featured one of Rodeo Drive's songs on their "Bright Side" CD.
Margo Rochelle brings a
rare combination of talents to the stage - a voice that could
best be appreciated with the eyes closed, a command of the
spotlight will most certainly keep them open, and a style that
can turn a roomful of strangers into friends...then fans in the
course of just a few songs.
Margo sang the featured role in Disney’s Diamond Horseshoe Review for a year before leaving to become the lead singer with the Cheyenne Stampede band at the Orlando’s Church Street Station. That group proceeded to take the national grand prize in the GMC/TRUE VALUE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN (the nation’s largest new-talent showcase) and played on a nationally televised show from the Grand Ole Opry House with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Appearances on TNN’s Crook & Chase and Nashville Now soon followed.
These events set the stage for Margo to take the important next step: a band of her own - Rodeo Drive:
Robbie Brake (Vocal,
Fiddle, Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin). Robbie won
awards for his exceptional fiddle and mandolin work at an early
age. Moving from his native Ohio to Nashville, he toured for over
a year with bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin, played on the Grand
Ole Opry, and has performed for two U.S. presidents. Robbie was
also a member of the award winning Cheyenne band with Margo
accompanying Travis Tritt, Lee Greenwood and many others on that
stage. Robbie is an accomplished BMI songwriter. He
produced and wrote most of the songs on Margo's first and has
written all of the songs for her upcoming release.
Jamie Baker (bass) is a
graduate of the Bass Institute of Technology, and his playing
forms the foundation of Rodeo Drive. His style is the
anchor for the songs, and his dominance of the groove is a
benchmark. Jamie has been prominent on the music scene in
the Southeast United States, playing and recording with groups
including the Rollin' Thunder Band, Les Dudeck, Bong Water Taffy,
and the Sons of Doctors. He is a natural player, a studio
veteran whose signature is on many regional releases, and an
award-winning performer whose experience and expertise are
integral part of Rodeo Drive's original sound.
Chuck Smith (percussion,
vocals) hails from Chicago. He has been in the central
Florida area for over 11 years. He has worked with numerous
acts including The Spencer Davis Group, the Groove Masters, and
the Dave Kury band to name a few. Charlie Daniels, Pam
Tillis, and Mark Wills are some of the people he has had the
pleasure of sharing the stage with as an opening act.
Charles Stoykovich
(Keyboards, Vocals) At the age of 12, Charlie was the head
organist at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Powers,
Michigan, his home town. Two years later he began working
in nightclubs following in his brothers footsteps. In a
career spanning over 25 years, Charlie has appeared on countless
television music shows and has opened concerts for all the best
in country music, plus a few rock bands you’d remember as
well. For the three years prior to joining Rodeo Drive,
Charlie was the keyboardist and musical director at Katie Belles
in Lady Lake.
Ross Taylor (electric
guitar, vocals) was born and raised in Winnsboro, LA. His
fiery, heartfelt guitar style is sure to keep you captivated.
Ross' musical talents began at age three when he started playing
the piano, a natural gift that he must have inherited from his
mother who was a piano teacher. He continued his love for
music discovering rock and roll in his teenage years. He
ran several bands of his own before moving to Nashville and
working with recording artist Butch Baker. He has appeared
on Nashville Now, On Stage, Live From Church Street, and
many other performances with national acts. He did
extensive work in the denver area before moving to Florida.
He has played at all of Orlando's hot spots including Church
Street Station, Sullivans, and Walt Disney World. He's a
talented studio musician and has also worked as a computer
software music specialist.
Each member of Rodeo Drive is a superbly talented individual. Combined, they produce a unique and thoroughly refreshing sound that has propelled them to the forefront of country music in the USA and abroad.
