Blues/Rock Guitarist Ronnie Mariano has had a forty year love affair with his instrument since he got his first guitar from a neighbor who introduced him to it’s sonic possibilities at age thirteen.
As a music major in high school he continued his pursuit as a guitarist in local R&B bands Fragile Glass and The Brown-Smith Vibration. Seeking to expand his sound Ronnie began listening to Seminal Guitar Giants Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and B.B. King which helped to cultivate his growing affection for Rock and Blues while maintaining a solid foundation in R&B and Jazz.
Throughout the late 80’s into the early 2000’s the contributed his unique guitar stylings to local act State of Affairz and eventually began performing Gospel as featured Guitarist with Contemporary Gospel Artist Reggie McClurkin & The Praise Agenda and the Traditiona Gospel Quartet The Gospel Creators. Presently Ronnie is developing original music for his first CD and has started his own band “Purple Flo” a Jimi Hendrix Tribute Act hoping to keep Hendrix’s music and contributions to the music industry alive through live performances.
Charles "Chan" Curtis
Bassist Charles “Chan” Curtis was drawn to the sound of the Bass Guitar as a child listening to the music of the early 60’s with his parents while growing up in Baltimore, MD.
Initially influenced by preeminent Motown Bassist James Jamerson, he began playing the instrument by the late 60’s and continued his development during military service overseas. After returning to the U.S. Charles continued his musical journey playing Bass with local groups Hot Pursuit and The Vandals throughout the 70’s and 80’s while also collaborating on various original projects.
Upon joining R&B act State of Affairz in 1988 he accelerated his musical growth eventually learning Bass Synthesizer Keyboards, expanding the group’s sonic textures and versatility elevating the band’s profile and popularity which led to opening for acts such as Roberta Flack, Regina Belle, Phil Perry and Gerald Veasley.
Charles’ influences now include Marcus Miller, Anthony Wellington and Stanley Clark and he is a regular attendee of Fusion/Jazz Bassist Gerald Veasley’s “Bass Boot Camp”.
Recently he has contributed his “Bottom End Artistry” to groups The Persians, The Bleu Lights, Hidden Exit and The Vizion Band and is continuing to grow through live performance and study.
Charles’ ultimate goal is to perfect the art of hearing, feeling and playing the Bass Guitar and allow God and the music to carry him into his future.
Mike Delvison Sr.
As a Drummer/Keyboardist/Vocalist and Sound Engineer, Mike Delvison Sr. is a musician and technical support Veteran of the Baltimore music scene since the early 70’s.
At age 18 he began his musical journey, playing the drums and gradually added Keyboards and Bass Guitar to his “musical arsenal” while formally studying music at Morgan State College, The Peabody Conservatory and Baltimore City Community College. He also gained invaluable on-the-job performing experience from participating in jam sessions and performing with local R&B acts too numerous to mention.
His musical influences include Drummers Tony Williams, Ndugu Chandler and Jack DeJohnette as well as Keyboardists Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul and Dexter Wansel who helped shape his approach and technique on both percussive instruments.
Mike believes that playing music is therapeutic, stabilizing and soul-satisfying and welcomes every opportunity to share it with like-minded musicians and music lovers either through live performances or Engineering recordings in his home studio.
He brings a wealth of Musical and Technical Knowledge to PurpleFlo, making him the “Consummate Team Player” to Support the Band’s Vision of “Keeping Jimi Hendrix’s Musical Legacy Alive” In The 21st Century”.