Read an excerpt of a recently published article
Foster Campbell & Friends rocked the crowd with their renditions of Motown hits and Rhythm & Blues favorites. The band has it all, great backup singers, strong lead singers and talented musicians. My favorite part of the band is the wailing brass section
- The Bakersfield Voice, June 21
Some other kind words:
" Foster Campbell and Friends have played at our festival the last 4 yrs. They handle everything in a professional way and are actually a pleasure to work with. I know Foster Campbell and Friends will make your event something people will talk about, their energy is out of this world".
Merv Crist President/CEO Prime Cut
"I have sponsored events that Foster Campbell and Friends have performed at on multiple occasions. He and his group are very professional and know how to put on a great show. They are the perfect festival band due to their high energy show and crowd pleasing style."
Dennis Muleady Marketing Director Advance Beverage
Foster Campbell and Friends
We are a high octane Blues/Jazzy, R & B Big Band. When you see our live shows there is no doubt about the chemistry and good vibes felt among the players.
The words we hear the most from people after our shows are “we loved the show! You all sure look like you are having great fun”.
The Ring leader, Foster Campbell, has put together a collection of his favorite Kern County musicians, and more importantly, great friends (hence the name “Foster Campbell and Friends”).
Our horn section is all formally trained and highly skilled musicians that blend into a powerful, soulful sound and are known as “Double Stuff”.
The ladies have the sweet and beautiful voices and all the Motown moves and are known as “Tasty Vocals”.
The locked down, killer rhythm section specializes in the groove. These men are the heartbeat and the drive of the band and are second to none when it comes to finding the pocket, known as “The Seaton Sound Machine”.
Thank you for considering Foster Campbell and Friends for your special event.
We look forward to meeting you and providing you with a professional, high quality musical show.
Contact us for Booking Information call 1 (877)310-6611 or use contact page for email inquiries
Foster Campbell
Vocals/Rhythm Guitar and Songwriter
Foster began playing guitar and writing music at the age of 14. A full time family man, physician by day, and as Mac calls him “Blue eyed soul brother” by night or by gig.
A descendant of the late Steven Foster, (Among his most popular songs are: Oh! Susanna (1848), De Camp town Races (1850), Old Folks at Home [aka Swanee River] (1851), My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night! (1853), Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair (1854)).
Foster Campbell figures music must be in the blood.
He often equates being in a band with being on a sports team, you have the camaraderie, the game plan, the hard work, the development of a unit, then the fun part, the execution, the gig. The energy and the reward of doing a great job is where it is all at. Foster enjoys playing live shows more than anything musically and the bigger the better. Foster has opened for BB King to a sold out show, Chris Cain, Roy Rogers, Kim Wilson (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Doug Macleod, James “Super Harp” Cotton, Jazz greats Sando Albert and Hiroshima.
Foster is known to say “it’s all about the groove” and putting on a top level show is priority #1.
Chuck Seaton
Vocals/Lead Guitar and Songwriter
This accomplished musician has been burning up the music scene with his fiery blend of soul/blues guitar for many years and has tons of big show experience. He is known for his incredibly powerful but smooth style and is known to pull out all kinds of guitar tricks on stage that make the other pro players acknowledge his skills. All his accomplishments in the music world have not changed the man, he is one of the good guys that people admire on and off the stage.
Some of the many acts he has shared the stage with are:
BRIAN ADAMS, CHICAGO, ELVIN BISHOP, ROBIN FORD, DIXIE CHICKS, LEANN WOMACK, BUCK OWENS, MARSHALL TUCKER, BILLY RAY CYRUS, VINCE GILL, MERLE HAGGARD, TRACE ADKINS, TOBY KIETH, SAVORY BROWN, TRACY BIRD, BLUE OYSTER CULT, TRACY LAWRANCE, CLINT BLACK, DWIGHT YOKAM, GEORGE STRAIGHT, BUDDY MILES, REBA McENTIRE, PAM TILIS, GEORGE JONES, PATTY LOVELESS, LEANN RIMES, RANDY TRAVIS, DIAMOND RIO, TRAVIS TRITT, BROOKS AND DUNN, KEITH URBAN, MARK CHESNUT, TRISHA YEARWOOD,THE MAVERICKS, COLIN RAY, FAITH HILL, TIM MAGRAW, and JO DEE MESINA
Dennis Wilson
Alto & Tenor Sax
A native of Bakersfield, California Dennis Wilson began playing music at Horace Mann Elementary School in the late 1950’s and studied privately with Dr. Charles Thelen for several years. While attending East Bakersfield High School Dennis participated in numerous Honor Bands and Orchestras (state and local), was a member of the Bakersfield Junior College Marching Band and has performed with the “Electric Oil Sump”. Dennis also taught private clarinet and saxophone lessons to many young local musicians for several years.
In the 60’s and 70’s Dennis performed with “The Continentals” (later to become “The Reptiles”) and “The Fables". In the 80’s and 90’s he was a member of “The Radiators” and “Tony Ernst and After Hours”.
For the past several years Dennis has performed solo at many events and venues around the state and played sax, keyboards and back-up vocals with popular Bakersfield bands “One Night Stand”, "Eddie & The Islanders", “Rough Edges” and “Foster & Friends”.
Dennis enjoys traveling with his wife, Carolyn.
Chris Neufeld
Vocals/Keyboard
Born in July 1982 Chris started playing piano at 2 years old, and is a self taught phenom.
He played first gig at 7 years old with local band Civilian in 1989 at the Kern County Fair during the Run for Life event; he was also interviewed by B-ROCK 99 at that same event
He has played in multiple bands providing keyboards and vocals in The Gutter Cats with his dad from 2003 to 2006,opened up for B.B. King at the Fox Theatre with the Monty Byrom Band, guest keyboard player with Big House at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, sat in for vacationing Buckaroos keyboard player Jim Shaw with the Buckaroos at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, plays with Bunky Spurling and Ray McDonald bands. He has sat in with several local bands and jams including Hot Taco and Dustin “Catfish” Meridith
Currently playing keyboards for Foster Campbell and Friends as well as Randy Emmett and the Side Show Band, the Monty Byrom Band. He is forming his own rock and roll band The Chris Neufeld Band. He is a multitalented musician playing piano/keyboards, drums, and lap steel guitar. His hobbies include playing and listening to almost all types of music, performing, writing and recording original music, video and music production and engineering, and loves video games
Mac McClanahan
Tenor/Soprano/Bari Sax/Horn Arrangements
Performing professionally since age 16, Mac McClanahan is an accomplished musician who plays the soprano, tenor and baritone sax. Mac McClanahan is also an award winning composer/arranger. With his big band composition/arrangement Immolation City, he earned the 1988 Pacific Coast Outstanding Composer Award. His song Sister Long Legs led the R&B horn section band Ain't no thang to be judged by Don Was, Chrissie Hynd, Bootsy Collins and John Hiatt as a Musician Magazine’s 4 th Annual Best Unsigned Band Contest Award winner. Out of almost 2000 international submissions, they were one of only fifteen bands made the final cut. Mac has arranged horn section parts for major label recording projects. Mac has composed and/or arranged music works commissioned by high school and college jazz combos, marching bands, big bands, choirs and jazz choirs. Notables such as Michael Brecker, Ellis Hall, and Bob Shephard have performed his works. Mac is currently composing arrangements for the J*A*M Ink CD project.
Recording Artist:
McClanahan has co-produced five recording projects. Mac can be heard playing on these recent releases: Simp-ly FUN-ky by Ain't no thang (Bari Sax) and (Tenor Sax, Flute & Background Vocals) on Reflections by Valerie Lewis.
Event Coordinator: Mac aided the production and promotion of events featuring: The Michael Brecker Band, Chick Corea Electrik Band, Jeffery Osborne, Wynton Marsalis, The Pointer Sisters, Bakersfield Jazz Festivals I-V, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.
Opening Act: Mac, as an artist or a sideman, has opened for many acts including: David Benoit, The Yellowjackets, The Smokin’ Armadillos, Pete Escovedo w/Sheila E, John Scofield, Ronnie Laws, Poncho Sanchez, Keiko Matsui, David Sanborn, War, Mac has performed with or as a sideman for: Saxophonist Michael Breckery White (vocalist/Keyboardist Ellis Hall (Tower of Power) Vocalist Pauline Wilson, The Temptations
John Hollins
Trupert
Attended Idywild school of music and Arrowbear music academy. Went to Stan Kenton school of jazz. Played in Kern Philharmonic at the age of 16.Played with several bands like the Electric Oil Sump jazz group. Played horns with Daddy Ray Arvisu with the D,Blues band. Backed up Cher for Jerry Lewis Telethon and have opened up for bands like Walter Trout, Mike Bloomfied and Charlie Musselwhite and the Dooley Brothers.
.
