The Funky 'Taters Holiday Party

The Funky ‘Taters band from Tallahassee, Florida, plays originals and covers in a genre that includes funk, jazz, blues, rock, country folk, and reggae, a mix that has been called the “Music of the Gulf Coast Highway.”  The Gulf Coast route is Highway 90 that travels near Interstate 10 (I-10) from the East coast of Florida, through New Orleans, all the way to Texas.  As the Kennedy Center puts it, in this genre “the diverse styles of blues, choral music, cajun, zydeco, brass band, border music, and gospel meet and mingle.”  Michael (Mike) W. Lewis is the leader and founder of the Funky ‘Taters.  He plays rhythm guitar and sings lead and back-up vocals.  Joining him is Jan DeCosmo on back-up vocals and frottoir (washboard); Shanice Richards on violin and vocals; Deanna Miller on vocals; Justin Soto Bell on lead guitar; Justin Varnes on bass; Jordan Green on drums; Sage Khan on trumpet; and Bill Landing and Dino Saliba on saxophone.