S. Joel Norman first began playing music at age four at the piano. “Mom probably got sick of me pounding on her antique piano as a toddler, so she put me in lessons,” he says. Hailing from the south suburbs of Chicago, Norman got his musical start playing and composing gospel music in the church. “Some of the guys who played were also working musicians, and after playing a couple Sunday mornings, they asked me to come play on Saturday nights with them. I was only in junior high.”

He went on to study and graduate from Wheaton Conservatory of Music, where he began composing and arranging pieces for orchestra, chorus, and jazz ensemble.

He’s toured worldwide with a variety of artists and played alongside jazz greats Ira Sullivan and Marquis Hill, as well as rock and roll heroes Billy Ozzello (Survivor) and Chip Znuff (Enuff Znuff), and went on the road playing keyboards with Eddie Money. Joel was the resident artist at some of Chicago’s finest venues, including Soho House, The Hoxton, and Tack Room at Thalia Hall, as well as residencies in Manhattan and the Virgin Islands. He’s led worship at the largest RCA church in the world, and scored plays for Arena Theater and The University of Chicago’s Shakespeare program. Produced and performed hundreds of tracks for fellow artists and he is currently writing and recording music for upcoming albums, commercials, film, and television.

Chicago’s Robot Lounge strikes a fine balance between the ironic and the heart-felt, given its impeccable insight into the human condition. Founding member, Kevan Eftekhari, incorporates elements of jazz, pop, and new wave, while providing lyrics that touch on bad days, wasted time, deranged love and spectacular nightmares. Since 2006, the band has amassed an energetic live following with performances that border on the fervor of an old-time tent revival (look it up!). The band hopes that you have the opportunity to check out a live show and join in on the fun!

Mike Gallagher could easily be considered a journeyman musician, performing, recording with and backing many artists as a guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. Mike has been a member of the band Zzaje’ for ten years, and guitarist/ vocalist for Walt Cunningham and the Dartmouth College gospel choir for 6 years. Other notable artists and groups Mike has performed alongside include Lupe Fiasco, Common, George Clinton, Carole King, R. Kelly, Bumpus, Rachel Yamagata, Umphrey’s McGee, M.C. Lyte, Rhymefest, Kindred and the Family Soul, The Roots, Bilal, Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), James Young (Styx), Jim Peterik (Survivor), Marsha Ambrosius (Floetry) J. Ivy and Tarrey Torae, Eric Roberson, Brian McKnight, Roy Ayers, Malik Yusef, Bebe Winans, Yolanda Adams and Darius Brooks. He is also featured as a guitarist on R&B artist Chico DeBarge’s album “Addiction” and keyboardist on R&B artist Joe’s album “Signature”. In performing alongside this eclectic group of artists, Mike has gained much depth in his playing style as well as his writing. Mike also is a producer for “Trackforce” productions which has placed his music on television shows for Oprah and MTV2. Because of his many journey’s in his musical career, in 2009 Mike began to compose music for his E.P. Traveler which was released in June 2011. However he will be releasing the full 11 track album this June 2012. Be on the lookout for great new music from Mike Gallagher!