St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk All Stars

Welcome to Montalvo!

I’m so glad that you are able to be with us tonight. Whether it’s your first time here, or your fiftieth—welcome! I am thrilled to welcome you to another season of Montalvo’s Carriage House Performing Arts Series.

As a multidisciplinary arts center, there’s even more to enjoy at Montalvo in addition to the world-class talent found in the Carriage House. We are a public park and arboretum open year-round for picnics, hiking, and leisurely strolls, as well as a vibrant cultural producer supporting an artist residency, vital arts education programming, and so much more.

Montalvo is a nonprofit organization—as such, we rely on the support of patrons like you in order to continue serving our Silicon Valley community. If you have not yet considered becoming a donor, I’d like to personally invite you to engage in a deeper relationship with our dynamic institution. After all, there’s something for everyone at Montalvo!

Enjoy the show and thanks again for joining us tonight,

Angela Torre McConnell
Executive Director

St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk All Stars

One of the best musicians to emerge from the Twin Cities, St. Paul appeared in Purple Rain as a teenage wunderkind, playing keys with The Time on hits like “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.” He was hand-picked by Prince himself to be the lead singer of The Family (best known for “Nothing Compares 2 U”) on Prince’s Paisley Park label. 

In the tradition of Motown’s Funk Brothers, St. Paul has assembled the who’s who crew of the Minneapolis Sound with St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk All-stars, showcasing those who wrote, produced, performed, or sung on some of the biggest hits from the heyday of electro funk-rock in the Twin Cities. 

St. Paul Peterson – Lead Vocals and Bass – The Time/The Family

Paul Peterson, dubbed St. Paul by Prince in 1985 when he asked him to be the lead singer for his group The Family, is the leader of The Minneapolis Funk All Stars. He originally joined the Prince camp as a replacement for Jimmy Jam in “Morris Day and The Time”in 1983, and appeared on their double platinum album “Ice Cream Castles” and in the movie “Purple Rain.”  He was a part of their biggest hits “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.”

When Morris Day went solo, Prince chose Paul to be the lead singer of his newest group The Family, who were the first to sing the song “Nothing Compares 2 u.”

He is the youngest of the “1st Family Of Music of Minnesota,” The Peterson Family, and has been honored by The Minnesota Black Music Awards as an Icon in 2022. 

Jerome Benton -Percussion -The Time, The Family, Prince, Purple Rain

Jerome is best known for his association with Morris Day and The Time and his roles in Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He was also a member of The Family and Princes band as well.

Dr. Fink -Prince and the Revolution

Dr. Fink, an original member of Prince and the Revolution joined St Paul and the Minneapolis Funk All Stars in 2022.

He has also worked with artists, songwriters and producers, including The Time, Lipps Inc., The Jets, Vanity 6, David Z., Bobby Z., P. Diddy, The Rembrandts, Phil Solem, and Shock G

Fink has won three Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, and numerous RIAA gold and platinum awards for his work with Prince and The Revolution.

Oliver Leiber – Guitar/Producer – Tamara and the Scene/Paula Abdul 

Part the of the fabric of pop music coming out of the Mpls in the 80’s, Oliver is a world class guitarist, drummer, songwriter and producer. He is responsible for all of Paula Abdul’s early hits, recorded at various Mpls studios, utilizing Mpls musicians.  Paula’s record sold over 20 million copies. He also played with “Ta Mara & the Seen,” a Jesse Johnson produced project.

Elisa Fiorillo – Vocals – NPG

Elisa toured with Prince and the NPG from 2009 -2014, and scored two top 20 hits with Jellybean Benitez. In her pop career she’s collaborated with: Prince, Jellybean Benitez, Savage Garden, Dave Koz, La Toya Jackson, Luciano Pavorotti, Belinda Carlisle, David Cassidy among others

Kirk Johnson – Drummer -Prince/NPG

Although he was in Purple Rain, Kirk did not begin working with Prince until he became a member of the NPG in 1990 – first as a dancer and percussionist.  He took over the drum chair in 1996, a role he filled periodically over the next two decades while also serving as Paisley Park’s estate manager.  He worked with Prince up until the day that the artist passed away.

Jason Peterson DeLaire – Sax/Keys/Vocals – Carmen Electra/Solo/Michael Bolton

Jason is a member of the well-known musical “Peterson Family” of Minneapolis, MN. He is a saxophonist and keyboardist, as well as being a talented singer, songwriter and producer. He helped pen fDeluxe’s songs (aka The Family) for their comeback record.

Jason has toured nationally and internationally with renowned artists such as The Family/fDeluxe, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Prince, Alexander O’Neal, Richard Marx, Solo, and Oleta Adams. Jason has also recorded  with Michael Bolton, Prince, Donny Osmond, as well as Bobby Brown, Oleta Adams and Flyte Time Productions

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