Southtown Soul & Groove

VINCE SCHREMENTI: (Crete, Illinois) Co-Leader, Keyboards, Vocals

Vince Schrementi started playing in high school when he saw his musician buddies were getting the attention from all the girls. They didn’t have a keyboard player so a star was born! Flash forward 40 years, plus a wife & 2 daughters, he now plays for the love of performing live! Between gigs with former bands Graffiti, Line Drive, Cagoots, a different oldies Graffiti band, … he says “I’ve been gluing little rock’s together to make big rocks as a concrete artisan across the country and of lately also running Smokey Jo’s restaurant in Crete. Besides Southtown Soul & Groove. Vince is also a recovering softball junkie previously coaching in-house, travel ball, Jr High & High School softball teams for 20 years! Vince’s hobbies include sculptural art, playing music, old fashions & afternoon naps!”

CHAD TAYLOR: (Ottawa, IL) Alto & Tenor Saxophone, Horn Section Coordinator, Social Media Webmaster

Chad Taylor grew up in Markham Illinois and was fascinated with music from a very young age. When he started school band at 10 years old there was no looking back. He has been a freelancer in the Chicagoland area since he was 17 years old playing with various groups such as The Blooze Brothers, Alan Gresiks Swing Shift, The Rhythm Rockets, Boogie Shoes Disco Experience, James Taylor, Jay and the Americans, Streetlight Manifesto, The Peoria Symphony Orchestra, West Suburban Symphony, Heavy Metal Horns, The International Ellington Society, Downbeat Magazines Upstart Band and many more. Chad attended South Suburban College, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University and Minnesota Southeast Tech. As one of the original members of Southtown Soul & Groove, Chad currently resides in Ottawa, Illinois and has a very active career both as a renowned instrument repair tech specializing in bassoon repair and restoration as well as continuing his freelancing musical endeavors.

STEVE WUNDER: (Bradley, Illinois) Alto, Tenor, Baritone Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet

Steve Wunder, from Bradley, Illinois performs as a Saxophonist in Kankakee, Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area.  He predominantly plays saxophones, also doubling on flute, clarinet and singing lead or background vocals.  His styles include Jazz, Swing, Fusion, Latin, Classical, Blues and Rock music.  He holds a Master's degree in Education and Bachelor's in Science from Eastern Illinois University where he majored in Technology, Music Education and Counseling.  At EIU he played in and toured with multiple ensembles as a featured tenor or alto saxophonist while also performing.  Steve has played music continuously since high school, but exclusively since retiring from his job as a school counselor.

​Steve currently plays regularly with; Del Bergeson's Swing Orchestra, Doug Horn's Rhythm Maker Big Band, The Calumet Band, Kankakee Silhouettes, Steve Anthony's Dance Orchestra, Jazz Times Big Band and now a proud member of Southtown Soul & Groove. 

ERIC LAMBERT: (Lowell, Indiana) Rhythm & Lead Guitar

Eric Lambert is a 3-time Chicago Music Award winner, a Strings & Sol Festival (Mexico) Guitar Champion, and a RockyGrass (CO) new band winner as a member of Henhouse Prowlers. He has played, educated, recorded and toured internationally with artists as diverse as the Henhouse Prowlers, Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, Heartsfield, Tim Grimm, Katheryn Rondeau and Big Shoulders in a career that has spanned over 50 years. His latest recording “Beat the Odds” peaked at #8 on the Folk Alliance International DJ Chart in 2021 and was named one of the top releases by the “Back Porch” radio show on WVPE public radio as well as the Best Regional release of the year by the Times of Northwest Indiana. Eric now brings his talents to the Soul and R&B sounds of Southtown Soul & Groove.

TY STAEHLIN: (Blue Island, Illinois) Trombone

Ty's passion for music began at a very young age when his parents would listen and dance to their favorite albums at top volume in the living room. After picking up trombone in school at age 10, he soon began going to jam nights and starting bands with his friends as a teenager. Today, Ty has played dozens of styles of music including rock, blues, funk, punk, ska, musical theater, and marching band, and he's just as comfortable performing in basements and bars as he is in banquet halls and on festival stages. Currently you can see him onstage with Mr. Funnyman, The Land Before Tim, and now Southtown Soul and Groove. Ty also enjoys playing video games, listening to audiobooks, and spending quality time with his friends and family.

JOE GARDNER: (Beecher, Illinois)  Keyboards, Trombone, Vocals

Joe Gardner taught himself to play keyboard by ear around 3rd or 4th grade. Later on he studied under Jazz Piano/Organ mentor Tommy Gibbons for 8 years., and studied trombone from 5th grade thru high school and college while continuing to play keyboard as his main instrument. Joe made his first dollar playing music for Vince Schrementi’s father in the early 70’s at the Old Town Tap along with bandmate George Einhorn.  He worked with various wedding and show bands that performed in Chicago and the Midwest thru the end of 1980. Joe opened for celebrities Rusty Warren, Phylis Diller and Wayland & Madam.