Presence Felt

 

 

Presence Felt is a multi-faceted group of versatile, world-class musicians and singers who combine their skills and broad backgrounds to render a sound as unique as the Bay Area in which they are based.  Their sound, best described as “progressive urban,” touches and entertains their audiences with energy, taste, and, to re-coin a once over-used phrase, soul.  The result is a repertoire consisting of Smooth Jazz, old-school and new-school R&B, Swing, Funk, Motown, Blues, Rock, Gospel, Hip Hop, and Soul.

 

Greg “Gman” Simmons has made his “presence felt” in an enormous array of musical situations, from concert venues and festivals to hotels and nightclubs, “from the ‘Top of the Mark’ to the Bottom of the Hill,” in his words.  He has performed with such National and Bay Area acts as:  Earth Wind & Fire, Norman Connors, Ray Charles, Martha Reeves, Lou Rawls, Kenny Lattimore, Fred Ross, piano virtuoso Ricardo Scales, Paul Tillman Smith, Boni Boyer, DeWayne Wiggins, Ledesi, Pete Escovedo, Robert Stewart, Tony Dewayne, Linda Tillery, Lady Bianca, Al Von, E.C. Scott, Jackie Payne, and the Fats Gaines Big Band.  Add to that, tours to include Japan, Southern California, New Orleans, Reno, Las Vegas, and Tahoe, and you see why his motto is “Anybody, Any stage, Any time.”  Greg’s audio production experience includes production for Creative Vibrations Productions, engineering and producing at Mindseed Records, and CreatiVibes, an independent production studio, and numerous recording sessions and projects.  Recording credits include Ricardo Scales’ “Next Step,” the Edwin ‘Tobo” Group “Live at Embarcadero Cove,” Park Place “The Invisible Man,” Presence Felt “Can’t Wait,” Jackie Payne, and several upcoming projects.  Greg continues to hone and apply his skills as Bassist / Vocalist / writer / producer / engineer, or videographer wherever needed.

 

Guitarist / Vocalist Charles Spikes has been performing nearly all his life.  Originally from Houston, Texas, he began playing with gospel groups and choirs and traveling with his church for organizations in California, Colorado and other western states.  He also had the opportunity of working with well-known gospel artists Yolanda Adams, and Dorothy Morris (of Oh Happy Day fame) Edwin Hawkins and the Love Center Choir, The Berkeley Gospel Choir, The Northern California Gospel Workshop of America, as well as many others.  As part of Kashmere High School's Jazz Band, Charles opened up for Count Basie's Orchestra and Stan Kenton's Big Band Orchestra. Charles has brought his enormous talent to audiences around the world with such renowned artists as Tony! Toni! Tone!, Master P, Minnie Ripperton, Charles Brown, Michael Cooper, J. Spencer, Edwin Hawkins, Robert Brookins (of Earth, Wind, & Fire), Meshell NdegeOcello, Norman Connors, DeWayne Wiggins, and a host of others.  Charles has also written many gospel songs and R&B songs, which appear on the albums of such artists as Roy Tyler and New Generations and Tony Saunders.  He more recently co-produced the following:  two songs ("Temptation" and "Sweet Sixteen") on the Destiny Childs' album "Bills, Bills, Bills"; co-produced with D'Wayne Wiggins (of TTT) new artist India Arie’s song entitled "Video".  Charles is in demand in the Bay Area and around the country for his expertise as writer, producer, vocalist, guitarist, and/or bassist.

 

Billy Mo was born in San Francisco. A true S.F. native, Billy now resides in Hayward, California. Better known as "Billly Mo," Billy was introduced to the drum scene at the young age of three, when he played with the San Francisco marching band called "The Fillmore Steppers." During his junior high and his high school years, he had the privilege of studying under the great Ed Kelly. He also had the wonderful opportunity to learn from and play with the late, great Smiley Winters. He has played with such artists as: John Handy, Oscar Peterson, Eddie Harris, Paul Jackson, and a host of other great artists. Most recently, he has been touring with such groups as: the Ink Spots, The Coasters, The Drifters, E. C. Scott and Smoke, Little Johnny Taylor, John "Broadway" Tucker, Al Von Johnson and the All Stars, Finis Tasbt, Maria Muldaur, Craig Horton, Presence Felt, Lady Bianca, and many more.