Tony Saunders Bassist & Producer

Tony Saunders, Son of Legendary Merl Saunders follows his Dad's footsteps to the legendary Little Bear Stage...playing the music of Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders from the Live at Keystone Album and in the groups Reconstruction and Legion Of Mary...an electric evening not to be missed! In recent years, Tony Saunders was in the house band at the Blue Note in Napa, where he has also played with his own group, featuring guitarist Vernon Black (Mariah Carey, Maze, Herbie Hancock, Booker T.) and a young drummer named Austin White. Saunders has also played jazz at Yoshi’s in Oakland, Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay in San Diego and has opened for Jeffrey Osborne. For many years, he headed back East to perform at an allstar concert celebration of Jerry Garcia’s birthday at such venues as the Strand Theatre in Lakewood, N.J. Playfully hinting at the romantic nature of his music, Saunders says, “We play music that when you get home, you’ll thank God you came to the concert.” “I play the bass like B.B. King played Lucille, with a passion that is all about conveying a warmth and making people feel the music,” he adds. “I’m not a virtuoso and don’t feel the need to play fast to impress anyone. My music’s got punch and pizzazz, but it also takes you to a cool place where you can chill for a while and walk away humming the melody. Completely in line with the theme of All About Love, I truly love people – and creating and sharing music is the way I let them know,” Saunders explains.