Higher and Higher

Gina Palmieri

Gina Palmieri

Lead Vocals,  Miscellaneous Percussion

Gina has been performing and belting out songs since the age of 6. Her passion has always been singing. Gina has been the lead vocalist for the top 40 band RIO for 25 years! She was a finalist in the CT star search contest and found herself singing with Vince Gill at the Chevrolet Theater in Wallingford, CT in front of 5,000 people. Gina’s mother was a trained opera singer and studied with Rosa Ponsel for many years. Gina took the tools her mom gave her and translated them into a strong alto voice with a trained ear for great pitch and harmonizing technique. Gina’s mission is, “to make people feel as good as I feel when I’m singing. If I do that, then I did what I set out to do!!”. She is a very versatile vocalist and can sing everything from Motown classics to R & B, pop, disco, and rock. She adds a unique blend to the band’s vocals and compliments their stage presence with a great energy. Gina handles the PR and personal communications with our clients acting as our official spokes person and master of ceremonies.

---

Ray Plue

Ray Plue

Lead Vocals,  Drums,  Percussion

Ray is a multi-talented musician acting as both drummer and lead vocalist extraordinaire. Ray has been playing for over 35 years performing the hits from the Big Band swing era, the music of the 50’s and 60’s, the disco era, classic 80’s rock, and the new classics from the 90’s up to the present. Ray demonstrates his skill and diverse talent performing music from many ethnic backgrounds and styles; Country to Blues, or Jazz to Rock, Ray delivers a solid performance. When Ray sings, people listen as his voice is strong, flexible and captivating. Ray has been with Higher & Higher for over 24 years and is a well recognized face in the tri-state area having performed at thousands of prominent events. Ray joined Higher & Higher in 1981 and since that time, Higher & Higher has continued to grow in popularity and stature as one of the premier bands in the Northeast. Ray, acting as the business manager for the band, handles most of the administrative and booking responsibilities for Higher & Higher.

---

Chuck Pomeroy

Chuck Pomeroy

Bass, Electronic Percussion, Vocals

Chuck is a musician’s musician and a superb bass player. He provides the solid support that keeps the band tight and grooving. Chuck has been playing for over 30 years and is a consummate performer. As founder of Higher & Higher back in the mid 70’s, Chuck has continued to develop his craft and is comfortable playing all popular musical styles and genre. Chuck’s Music is a popular music business that is located in Brookfield, CT (http://www.chucksmusicrepair.com). It is solely owned and operated by Chuck and his staff. He has a world-wide reputation as a master craftsman, skilled in the fine art of restoring and repairing all types of brass and woodwind instruments. Chuck has fine tuned and perfected the instruments of many music industry legends; he is highly regarded and is a strong supporter of live music performance.  Chuck’s Music offers lessons on all instruments on site at his studios in Brookfield, CT.  Chuck is widely respected as a solid and creative bass player providing the driving force in the Higher & Higher rhythm section.

---

Christian Martirano

Christian Martirano

Lead Vocals,  Keyboards

Christian adds a wide variety of sounds and full orchestrations that add to Higher & Higher’s special sound. From brass, winds, strings, and piano, to record scratches and rhythm loops, Chris provides a wealth of sound colors. Chris has been playing for over 40 years and holds a Masters Degree in Music. Chris lives and breathes music 24/7. Before joining Higher & Higher in 2005, Chris worked with Voices (ATCO – Atlantic Records) for over 10 years as keyboardist and song writer. Acting as co-arranger and keyboardist on The Solution (Last Kingdom Records – distributed by Vision Records), Chris worked with the legendary Ms. Betty Wright who co-produced the album. He has programmed synthesizers for many major international recording artists, and played on many recording projects.  Chris served as musical director and composer for the off-Broadway show Ministry of Progress. He has recently completed programming synthesizers, and  electronic drums for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down The Wind (on national tour), Walmartopia (off Broadway), A Ring of Fire, the Broadway musical  (Barrymore Theater) based on the music of Johnny Cash, and All Shook Up (on national tour) based on the music of Elvis Presley (http://www.designsounds.com). Chris programmed and performed with Wendy Carlos, world renowned synthesist, programmer, and performer at the Bach at the Beacon concert held at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Wendy is best known for her works  Switched on Bach, soundtracks from Beauty and the Beast,  A Clockwork Orange, Disney’s Tron and so much more. Chris is known mostly for his work with Kurzweil Music Systems (a leading synthesizer manufacturer) where he directed product development for over 12 years, working with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues and many others. Chris handles Higher & Higher’s sound recordings and website.

---

*Additional Musicians

Guitar,  Saxes,  Trumpets,  Latin Percussion

Higher & Higher often works with other musicians as specific engagements require. Additional associate members are of the highest caliber players and add to the total musical experience. Please ask us for more information about booking additional pieces for your next function.