Expired CHECO TOHOMASO: February 8

Live Music in the Piano Lounge Thursday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Music Director Checo Tohomaso brings a wealth of musical experience to the Vancouver Outreach Community Sweet Soul Gospel Choir (VOC).  Born in Florida, and raised in Hawaii as well as Okinawa Japan, he has entertained with many notable performers throughout his career.  Checo was honored to play keyboards, percussion and sing background vocals for the last European tour of Motown legend, Marvin Gaye. As a keyboard player and background vocalist for the Green Machine, the band providing the sound for The Commodores and Lionel Ritchie, he continued to tour the world extensively until Expo ’86 brought Checo to Vancouver. Checo’s musical journey began in early childhood with his first performances as a member of a church choir.  The son of an African-American Christian mother and Peruvian/African-American Jewish father, Checo grew up surrounded by different styles of ethnic music. When asked how his passion for Gospel music began, Checo points out “ninety percent of American Soul, R&B, and Jazz singers have their musical foundation singing Gospel music in the church and I was heavily influenced by those artists at a very early age”. Following Expo ’86, Checo toured the Canadian school system exposing youth to ethnic and soul music.  In addition, he worked extensively with the First Nations population to provide positive motivation, from the perspective of a person of color, and deliver messages of staying in school, staying off drugs, and racial tolerance. Checo’s current focus is to communicate the positive, healing qualities of soul music to as many people as possible.  He notes, “at home, everyone sings Gospel and the spirit and culture are strong.  People in Vancouver are longing for real music and my goal is to bring it!” In order to achieve his goal of “bringing soul to the city”, Checo also coaches soul, R&B, gospel and light jazz-style vocals, and teaches both keyboards and bass to students from across the lower mainland. Every Thursday night, the J invites you to enjoy live music in the piano lounge while enjoying drinks and food from the Firehall Cafe. Currated by local musician, Victor Pruner, the Live Music in the Piano Lounge series is designed to bring a variety of live music to the community of Lynden. Performances are always free, but tips for the musicians are greatly appreciated.