The Ugly Mug Coffeehouse Welcomes
Ken Margolis & Friends
Dave Handloff on bass · Bruce Handoff on drums
Friday February 21, 7pm, $13
at The Ugly Mug Coffeehouse ·Soquel Drive @Porter
Reserve tickets with an email to: KenMargolisMusic@gmail.com
Reserve today, and pay just $10 at the door!
Ken Margolis - lead vocals, keyboards, principal songwriter.
Born in the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio, Ken Margolis is an accomplished songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist. Throughout the early years in Cleveland, he played keyboards and was a contemporary with many of the up-and-coming musicians in the early stages of their careers – like them he thrived in the creativity of that musical renaissance. In the process, he shared the stage with many luminaries such as the Who, Herman’s Hermits, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Womack and others. He appeared at the “Topping the Rock” Ceremony at the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame, the Tri-C Rock Festival and the Undercurrents Showcases.
He first began recording as a member of the popular 60’s band, The Choir. He sang lead on their single “Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight” and later recorded the songs which were released on two Choir CD’s as “Artifact” and “Last Call” by Omnivore Recordings.
Now living in Santa Cruz, California, he continues to play with many of the area’s top musicians - primarily with the traveling Americana Jam Band Edge of the West. In the process he has been writing songs that explore the intersection of human struggle and the natural world - resulting in a long anticipated album collaboration with his son Ethan Margolis (Emaginario) as producer, arranger, and guitarist. The album, entitled “Hope and Courage” is a powerful tribute to classic rock songwriting. Ken is accompanied on the album by many top session musicians including Gary Novak, Jimmy Haslip, Ariel Posen, Reggie Hamilton, Bob Sheppard, Munyungo Jackson, Diego Álvarez, Ethan Margolis among others.
David Handloff - bass, background vocals
Dave Handloff is a well-known guitar player and bassist, sound engineer, music store entrepreneur and technician, originally from San Jose but living in Santa Cruz for many years. Having been born into a family of musicians, from early on Dave played lead guitar and bass extensively in bands in the Bay Area and Northern California. Before coming to Santa Cruz he played lead guitar in Davis, Ca, and in the Sons of Twang in Monterey.
Early in his career, he developed a keen interest in sound reproduction and the technical aspects of music. As a result he became a full time guitar tech and sound engineer, working in studios and in live performance on the road for over 19 years, alongside many well-known artists.
Dave is the owner and driving force behind More Music in Santa Cruz, a place where musicians of all stripes look for vintage gear and are treated like family. Throughout his varied career - including More Music, his sound company, his recording studio, his music school, his road work as a guitar tech, and his work on synthesizers and samplers, he has helped create and sustain the musical community in Santa Cruz for the last 40 yrs.
His bass playing in Ken Margolis and Friends is passionate, adventurous, and tasteful and together with brother Bruce on drums, provides a solid foundation for Ken’s originals and the unusual covers they make their own. Dave was a founding member of the Dylan Rose Band, and also plays with other well-known Santa Cruz and Monterey musicians in Not So Young, Vinyl Revival, and the Pink Lizards.
Bruce Handloff - drums, background vocals
Bruce Handloff has been an active musician in Santa Cruz for decades, playing first in rock bands, and evolving into a jazz drummer in very high demand. Playing in Ken Margolis and Friends, with his older brother Dave, brings him back to his rock roots, where his jazz sensibility brings a refreshing and deft touch to all the music. He can often replicate live what it took multiple percussionists to achieve on record.
Bruce started playing drums at an early age joining various high school bands. At age 18 he left home to join the Cabrillo College Jazz Ensemble, and after 1 year, started playing professionally. The first music he played was in local rock bands. After playing in Magician, produced by Michael Nesmith, he changed his direction to jazz and was influenced by the likes of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Billie Cobham.
After a hiatus when he focused on his family and his chiropractic clinic,Bruce began playing with Nora Cruz, Jeff Cruz and the Blues Benders and various other groups in and around Santa Cruz. His continuing interest in jazz led him to become the house drummer for the Santa Cruz Jazz Society for almost 10 years, playing with many of the well-regarded jazz players in the area including Martan Mann and Dan Robbins, and was the on-call drummer for several other bands including the Boss City fusion band. He continues to do session recording primarily in the jazz idiom, and joins other noted ensembles and singer-songwriters, such as the The Brian Fitzgerald Trio, Jazz On Tap, the Soulfinger Trio, Vinyl Revival and the Dan and Laurel Quartet, at concerts around the area.