KARENA KOROKOUS
Lead Vocals
Inspired by early R&B, soul and rock legends of the '50s, '60s & '70s, Karena grew up swooning alongside her father with his vinyl collection. Performing live for the first time at age six, she began writing poetry and lyrics shortly after. Karena cultivated her silky-smooth vocals with years of formal choral training, often competing in Florida's local and state solo & choral ensemble competitions, later in an R&B singing group in her teens. Her vocal style is described as a mixture between Rock, R&B, soul & jazz coming together to form a unique sound and delivery. Her captivating warm alto carries each song she sings with deep emotion. Karena lists her most significant influences as Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Stevie Nicks, Sade, Ann Wilson, and Diana Ross to name a few. Karena recorded her first album titled "NO OTHER WAY TO SAY THIS." Self-described as a smooth R&B, a real labor of love. Karena would like to thank her producer, friend, and mentor Mr. Russ Swain of Russ Swain Productions who also collaborated vocally on two tracks. Her album and Single Tracks are on sale now.
MIKE SILVERMAN
BASS
Mike has played the club circuit throughout Long Island, South Florida and Memphis. With Simply Tina, he has performed in front of thousands of people over the past 10 years in numerous venues in the USA. Originally trained on drums, Mike learned to play Bass as a teenager when he applied to join a band and was told they already had a drummer but needed a bass player. He learned the bass and has loved playing Bass ever since. Mike notes that it's a lot easier to setup for a show as compared to being a drummer ! Together with John’s expert drumming abilities, Mike helps complete the solid rhythm section for Simply Tina.
JUAN AGUIRRECHU
Lead guitar
At the age of eight, caught up in the rapture of “Beatlemania,” Juan began what would become his lifelong passion - this unquenchable love for music & perfecting his talent as a musician. An amazing self- taught talent, Juan is authentic in an array of styles from Rock, B&B, Pop, Ballads, etc. His mastery of Latin “flavors” further developed through performing with Israel Cachao, renowned Cuban Bassist & father of the Mambo. Juan has performed with Vantage Point along with many top Florida groups over the years but comments that SimplyTina is the closest he has gotten to fulfill his pursuit for playing with “Beatles caliber” musicians.
JEFF ANKENEY
KEYBOARDS, BACKING VOCALS
From an early age, music was a huge part of life for the young Jeff Ankeney, having half of his family being musically inclined, he soon took to playing saxophone as his father had. Thru elementary and high school, he played in band and would eventually be part of the jazz and marching band which led to him playing baritone Sax and learning Baritone Horn and Tuba. His brush with greatness would come with meeting and marching with Nancy Cartwright, the creator of the voice of Bart Simpson, which would eventually coin the phrase "Eat My Shorts" . This phrase would be shouted at the end of a drum cadences as a dig at the music director. The members of that marching band are still waiting for their checks. Teaching himself how to sing , play piano, bass and guitar would lead him to writing and playing with several local Ohio bands. Jeff's love of sounds would lead him to learn and program synth keyboards. These Keyboards would later lead to some of the amazing horn and string parts you hear with Simply Tina. As a member of Simply Tina for the past ten years, he has often said that this group of musicians has been the greatest experience of his musical life.
Gary Lapenski
Keyboards, background vocals
Gary has a lifetime of experience as a professional musician. He has toured the US with many bands & performed with the 50's group, The Capris. He was also a member of the Skyline Orchestra in NY for many years. Skyline was known as the ultimate "Party Band/Show Band" to have at for any affair. In addition to playing piano, organ & synths, Gary incorporates string, horn, guitars, fiddles, vibes, etc into his performances. Vocal arranging & creating smooth harmonies are his specialties. He has performed with Simply Tina for over 10 years and is an important part of the Simply Tina family.
LEE GABE
Lee Gabe was born and raised in Miami from a musically talented family and continues to make South Florida his home base for his musical journey. Lee can be found performing in many different bands, ensembles, and solo acts. Lee's primary instrumental focus is the saxophone but also doubles on Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument). Lee's favorite music to perform is modern jazz fusion but performs all styles of music from classical, jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock, and top 40 hits.
Lee picked up the saxophone at age 10 and credited his instrument of choice thanks to the influence of his older brother who played keyboards and was listening to the famous jazz musicians of the '80s from Spyro Gyra, Dave Sanborn, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, along with many more artists. These artists framed a strong musical foundation for Lee to continue and study music through high school and college.
Lee is a graduate of the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy and received his bachelors in music performance from Florida International University where he studied under Gary Campbell. Lee also studied saxophone, flute, and clarinet privately with Billy Ross. Lee Gabe has performed and shared the stage with Earth, Wind, and Fire, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Nestor Torres, The Fifth Dimension, Efrain Toro, Mike Gerber, and has recorded along with Vintash Band's Live performance album New World. Lee is very excited to be apart of the Simply Tina family!
