Tanja Solnik (Vocals)
Since the age of six, Tanja Solnik has been singing
Yiddish and Hebrew music; and from the age of eight, when she got her first union card,
she has been performing international music on tour and on television. She appeared
on Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas, John Gary, and The Today Show, and was a
regular on NBCs groundbreaking childrens program, Take a Giant Step.
As "Little Tanja" her travels paired her with show
business legends Myron Cohen, The Barry Sisters, Molly Picon and Milton
Berle. By age nine she was a veteran performer, doing eight shows a week in the
Catskills and Miami Beach. Her off-Broadway appearance in Mickey Katzs revue
Hello Solly, at the Henry Miller Theater was extended by popular demand. She
also toured nationwide with Mickey Katz for three years.
After a high school hiatus, Tanja recorded several records in Italy and
sang the theme song to the movie, Blue Paradise. Back in Los Angeles, she
recorded the French version of the disco hit Hey, Mickey for Saban Records.
Along with fronting several dance bands, her own country band and frequent studio singing,
Tanja began cantorial studies with Cantor Allan Michelson. She sings regularly now
as a cantorial soloist for the Creative Arts Temple in Los Angeles. You can hear
Tanja singing the theme song on Disney's "Princess Collection" video
series, and she is also a guest artist on Dave Kinnoin's four
children's albums for Song Wizard Records.
As a youngster, Tanja welcomed opportunities to perform international
music - she sang in six languages. As an adult, Tanja has continued to create her
own unique blend of traditional Jewish world music by founding her own recording company,
DreamSong Recordings, with the help of her two longtime friends, Gary Nesteruk and Jim
Hershman. |
Gary Nesteruk
(Piano, Accordion, Keyboards)
Gary Nesteruk was born in Brackenridge,
Pennsylvania. He began studying piano at age seven, and in 1976 completed an MA in
Music Performance at Indiana University in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Since 1979, he has resided in Santa Monica, California, working as a
freelance musician. In addition to touring and live performance, he has worked in
television such as Twilight Zone and Third Rock from the Sun.
His
film credits include Norma Jean and Marilyn, Jennifer Eight, Species,
The Island of Doctor Moreau, Set It Off, and Rounders. |
Jim Hershman
(Guitars, Balalaika, Mandolin)
Jim Hershman was born in Sacramento, California, where he began to
study guitar at age twelve. After living in Berkeley for two years, Hershman
relocated to Los Angeles and received his Bachelors Degree from Cal State University at
Northridge, where he studied both jazz and classical guitar. He received his Masters
Degree from Manhattan School Of Music.
As a professional musician, Hershman has worked in a wide variety of
settings. He has performed and recorded with Joe Williams, Ernestine Anderson,
Jimmy Webb, Michael Tilson Thomas and Patti Lupone. He is
currently based in New York City. |