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Glenn M. Taylor, guitars, keyboards, vocals
Christopher Bolger, guitars, bass, vocals
Joe Alexander, guitar, vocals
Ray Longchamp, guitar, mandolin, vocals
Ben Asher, bass, vocals
Chris Roselle guitar, harmonica, vocals
Rick Oberson, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, bass, vocals
Tony 'Al' Dente, drums, percussion, vocals
Bob Cianci, drums, guitar, vocals
Greg Hollenbeck, drums, percussion, vocals
Bill DiMartino, drums, percussion
Gregg D. Hollister, bass, harmonica, vocals
Peter Scance, bass, guitar, vocals
Keith Theall, bass, vocals
Al Egizi, guitar, vocals
Ron Weinstein, guitar, bass, harmonica, vocals
Gary Evans, keyboards, harmonica, percussion, vocals
Robert Pollack, keyboards, vocals
Ed Alstrom, keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals
Doctor "DD", drums, vocals
Rick Oberson - Guitar, keyboards, bass, harmonica, vocals

Like so many of his 'Koot-brethern', Rick Oberson has had a 'life-long love-affair' with rock 'n roll music; one that started at the robust young age of three when he gleefully clutched his first guitar… a plastic-toy 'Hootenany'-brand axe.  The year was 1961… and the music scene was changing… Not only in Rick's home town(ship) of Washington, NJ… but all over the USA… and the world.
 
Within a couple of years, The Beatles had become the dominant force in pop music as the 'British Invasion' saturated the ears of many an American-youth, permanently inspiring many musical-neophytes… the 'young Oberson lad' among them.
 
From his grade school years, right on through to his graduation from Westwood High School in 1976, Rick was constantly immersing himself in all kinds of music… From formal training on classical guitar… to music theory on the piano… not to mention a host of pickup and garage jam-bands interspersed throughout his 'Wonder-Years'… 

After high school, Rick squarely focused his attention on putting a working band together.  The result?  “Courtney”… which turned out to be a very successful endeavor for the multi-talented “Mr. O” and his bandmates.  The band enjoyed a four-year run, performing mainly on the New Jersey club and concert scene.

In the early 80's, Rick took some time-off to marry, 'procreate' and establish a business.  But even with a family, home-life and growing construction firm (by day), he still felt the 'musical calling'… and could not continue without his 'lifeblood'… MUSIC!
 
This time the 'answer' to that 'call' came in the form of a new band; an ensemble known as 'Import'… At this juncture, Rick was venturing into music that was more ambitious and complex.  'Import' incorporated a horn section… and in general, was considered 'progressive', when compared to his previous endeavors.

Rick-O's next stint came with a band that is no stranger to the 'Koot-bios'… In the late 80's, Rick became the lead guitarist and a singer for 'The Motones' in (what was then) their early days.  Ironically, when he chose to 'move on', the vacant slot was filled by another (and current) 'fellow-Koot' Mr. Ray Longchamp… Small world! (large band!)…

After his tenure as a 'Motoner', 'Mr. O' scaled things a 'little differently'… and yet-again headed toward a differrent 'performance-personna'… He formed the 'Deacon-Oberson Duo' along with former 'Courtney' member Frank Deacon… and focused mainly on 'acoustic-duet-shows', which also utilized electronically pre-sequenced background tracks, which as Rick says, 'freed him up'… to be more of a 'live virtuoso' on guitar (and vocals) when performing”.

All of Rick's musical-forays have drawn on his extensive repertoire of songs… a collection that, like for most-every 'Koot'… has taken a 'lifetime' to amass… The Kootz are quite enthralled to have Rick Oberson… AND his catalog… as a part of theirs!

As Rick says, “You never know which tune is just gonna 'pop-out' at any given moment!”… An upstanding resident of Bergen County, with two great kids... he also embraces a very simple formula for a life of contentment; “The Beatles, Golf… and Laughter”!

C'mon out and catch The 'amazing' Ricky-O on a Kootz-gig soon!