Glenn M. Taylor, guitar, keyboards, vocals * Bob Cianci, drums, vocals Chris Roselle, guitar, harmonica, vocals Russ Crapella, guitar, vocals Gary Evans, keyboards, harmonica, bass, vocals Jeff Guenther, guitar, bass, vocals	Mike Guaragna, bass, guitar, vocals Rhonda Grindell, drums, vocals Pepe Hernandez, bass, vocals Sean Jenness, guitar, vocals Ted Wyman, bass, guitar, vocals
Christopher Bolger, guitar, bass, vocals * Joe Alexander, guitar, vocals Al Egizi, guitar, vocals Keith Theall, bass, vocals Dave Hirschberg, drums, vocals Jerry DeLisio, saxophone(s), flute, vocals Don Guinta, drums, vocals Joe Coghlan, drums, guitar, vocals Scott Calvert, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals Andrei Koribanics, drums, vocals Tom DePalma, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals John Frondelli, drums, guitar, vocals Ethan Maayan, drums, vocals Kevin Ellman, drums, vocals Bill Winters, guitar, bass, harmonica, trumpet, vocals Matteo Varano, saxophone(s), woodwinds, vocals, percussion * Indicates original Kootz / OMJ band-member; (see history)

Drummer-percussionist Bill 'Dino' DiMartino joined-up with The Kootz in the summer of 2005, on the reccomendation of his old pal from Kendall Park, NJ… former Kootz bass-man Chris Breetveld. It was obviously a 'good call'… because Kootz fans immediately noticed Bill's 'percussive-signature'… The band seems to take on a 'commanding, driving… yet very dynamic-aura', with 'Dino' behind 'the kit'… Dino is currently holding down the 'South Jersey' faction of 'The Kootz Fan Club', as he resides in Monmouth Junction, NJ!

Born in 1955 in Newark and raised in South Brunswick, New Jersey… Bill's 'Pre-Koot- Musical History' has included participation in previous musical aggregations (and aggravations!) with "The Road Apples" in 1973… and 'The Rockin' Bricks' in 1979! Overall, it's been 'quite the musical journey' for Dino… This is HIS story… in his OWN words…

"As far back as I can remember, it's just been my fascination with sounds… more specifically 'rhythm'… especially the way a beat can “get inside of you”. My earliest 'musical' recollection is having one of those playschool 'xylophony' things - there was something pure, even angelic, about the tone that a piece of metal produces, when 'struck' and allowed to ring.

Some time later it was a Victrola and some 45's (you've heard of them, haven't you?). My first two favorite tunes were “Short Shorts”, originally released in '58 by a group called 'The Zig Zags'… and “Purple People Eater” by David Seville (later of Chipmunk fame). Many say my 'musical taste' has grown 'just a little' since then.

'Fast-Forward' to when I was 5 years old… at my first-ever party that featured a live band… Man! I can still hear the sound of the clarinet & cymbals that day… possibly the most beautiful sounds I had ever heard!

I'd been told stories of how 'back in the day', my grandfather used to come around a Newark, NJ tenement to serenade his “dark-haired immigrant heartthrob” from the sidewalk, with a round-top classical guitar. After years of my begging, that guitar finally found it's way into my hands… ironically, on the very day that the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of '64. There I sat, in front of the TV with an untuned 50 yr. old guitar, singing along… ”yeah, yeah, yeah… (yeah)”.

The local music teacher said my hands were too small for guitar, but soon after, a smooth-talking door-to-door music-lesson salesman convinced my mom & dad that I could start try playing the drums. So, in September of '65 I took my first drum lesson. Dumb luck and a little good-timing had me learning music in the midst of the most exciting period in pop music… ever!

My natural-talent seemed fairly limited (to me) but… “That '60's Sound”!… It was one of “riffs, rhythm & reverb”… certainly too much to resist!… So, I continued my enrollment in the 'School of Perspiration', with the hope of ‘demystifying' the magic coming out of my little transistor-AM radio. I can recall waiting near it… hoping for “I'm A Believer” to come on. Once it did, I'd turn it up all the way… and race over to the drums for another ill-fated attempt at 'playing along with the song'. Good thing I learned it back then, too… since The Kootz STILL play it!

My uncle Frank had done some drumming in the 'Big Band Era'… His knowledge helped me add names like 'Krupa', 'Rich', 'Miller', 'Dorsey' and the like, to my 'artistic-vocabulary'. He was big on 'rudiments' (something like the practicing 'scales', for you non-drummers out there)… and the names of them! They sounded so cool! I mean who wouldn't want to play a 'ratamacue', 'paradiddle', a 'flam', a 'drag', or… a 'ruff'. Later on, playing them while marching with the local drum & bugle corps & H.S. marching bands was an incredible lesson in internalizing the beat. Almost as good as dancing… although I do confess… I march MUCH better than I dance…

I owe a debt of gratitude for my playing skills & musical knowledge to so many great musicians & teachers that I've been fortunate enough to play with and/or learn from. The concert, marching and jazz ensembles at South Brunswick High School (S.O.B.!) Studies at the Mannes & Manhattan Schools of Music… as well as the days of carrying my trap case on the 'A train' up to Harlem, to work and study at the 'Jazzmobile'… These are just a few of the icons that helped broaden my knowledge & appreciation of music far beyond the pop idiom.

I've learned as much about the “role” of the drummer (pun intended) from guitar & bass players as I have from drum teachers. The aforementioned 'Rockin' Bricks'… an early band-effort that included former-Koot, Breetveld, particularly helped me focus on the balance between drum technique and the groove itself… A real study on how the 'pedestrian beat' can drive a band… not to mention everyone on the dance floor.

I truly DO believe… “It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!”

In an effort to spare you the boredom of the names of every group I've played or recorded with, I'll just give you a brief 'personal-favorite' “discogrophy”…."

Laurie Altman Quintet “For Now At Least”
['Performance Jazz' label] a Billboard 'Jazz Pick of the Month' in 1980!

Roadapples/Breetles esp. the collectable “Confessions of a Big Lanky Dope”
[Pink Grass] - my first recording with Chris Breetveld…

The Rockin' Bricks “Having a Wild Weeknight“ (ep)
[Major Label Records]

Blue Money Blues Band “Wasn't It You?”
[independent]

A HUGE thanks to all the teachers, bands, engineers, clubs, bartenders & waitresses
who are all 'in the mix', somewhere... Oh, and a special thanks to WaWa… and Dunkin' Donuts for all the great 3:00 AM “coffa-cuppees”.

In short, it's been a life, so far, in pursuit of:

“The groove, the whole groove… and nothing but the groove!”

Keep on dancin'… (Especially when 'The Kootz' are in Town!)…