Gino Matteo & The Family are:
Gino Matteo: Guitar, Vocals
"Chicago" Chuck Gullens: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Morris "Mo" Beeks: Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Chris White: Bass, Vocals
I am ecstatic to be making music with these three guys. Not only are they the most creative, imaginative, and talented players I have worked with to date, but they are also my best friends. I feel blessed to be onstage with them every night.
Chris White was born in Washington D.C. and has lived in Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma and currently resides in Southern California. He is the nephew of famous folk/blues guitarist Josh White. Chris started out playing guitar at the tender age 6. He switched to bass when his fingers got too big to play guitar. He has played with the notable ensemble The Greenwood Archet 'n' Pine Band. After that, he moved to California and formed Monkey Meet with Renard Luke, Steve Biando, Arthur Thompson and Ted Grimes. Monkey Meet, an upwardly global funk-a-gogo band, toured throughout the U.S., Canada & Europe for 10 years. Chris credits his finesse and knowledge to the years on the road that he spent perfecting his craft. He sites his uncle Josh as the most influential element of his creative force. Chris' idols are Marcus Miller, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Stanley Clark, Victor Wooten, Nathan East and a plethora of others.
Morris Beeks. Known as “Mo Beeks” to most people, “Meaux Luv” to others, grew up in the windy city of Chicago, IL. A keyboardist and vocalist in his own right, who’s career in the music world has led to playing and /or singing with notables such as, the late great Jimmy Smith, whom he had the honor of playing a duet with on the Hammond B-3 Organ, Chaka Khan, Najee, Noel Pointer, Leroy Hutson, Otis Clay, Big Jay McNeely, Mickey Champion, JJ “Bad Boy” Jones, organist Deacon Jones, bassist Jennifer York, and multi-talented Tony Newton, just to name a few. Aside from being a regular on the short lived “Chevy Chase Show” singing with acappella group “The Enchanters” Morris has toured extensively and has been featured on numerous recordings in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, which also includes recording with own urban jazz group Himalaya.
He is an extraordinary vocalist, writer and arranger whose talents are a major force in the music industry.
“Chicago” Chuck Gullens hails from south side of Chicago; and Las Vegas and Kansas and Wyoming AND NOW (lucky us!) - Santa Monica CA. Chuck has been playing the drums since he was a little boy, from junior high, high school, through college - where he actually found time to study and play. Well, it shows! His accolades include: “Outstanding Musician” two separate years at the esteemed Wichita Jazz Festival and national recognition from competing in GUITAR CENTER’S annual drum competition “Drum-Off”. In 2001, he won the regional finals and was crowned best drummer in the southwestern United States. Chuck cites drummers like Elvin Jones, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Buddy Rich, Sonny Emory, Will Kennedy And Vinnie Colaiuta as his biggest drumming influences adding: “I treasure drummers who work hard to perfect their craft and present their art with pure, heartfelt emotion; who strive to surpass the boundaries of human potential. To me, that’s where humanity meets divinity.”
