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the Olga
Watkins Band
The fresh
fusion of original blues, soul, R&B, funk and jazz.
Olga Watkins is the
host of the new WB22 cooking show; Food, Friends and
Flicks. Her web site,
www.olgawatkins.com has been seen by over
270,000 people since May, 2004. Olga Watkins has
been featured in stories in USA Today, The
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Pittsburgh Tribune
Review, The Pittsburgh Downtowner Magazine, The
Ohio-based, Get a Life Magazine and on websites such
as
www.ZBands.com and
www.businessopportunities.biz
“Olga and her
band have been responsible for our 3 best Saturday
nights. People just stay, listen and drink. They
have brought us a lot of new faces and everyone,
including our regulars, loves their music!” --Joe
Mansfield, Proprietor, Monterey Pub, North Side
“I was in awe
listening to all the clips on her web site. She
truly has a one-in-a-million voice.” Jim Dofka, lead
singer and guitarist of the rock band Dofka,
Since October
2003, Miss Watkins and her Soul Kitchen band have
played regularly, to packed houses at venues such as
the Crawford Grill in Station Square, Fresco’s in
Wexford, Cefalo’s in Carnegie, Magoo’s Bistro in the
north hills, Zozo’s in Greensburg and Monterey Pub
on the north side, among others. They are also the
featured entertainers for annual events such as the
Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce Annual
Wine and Dine in Robin Hill Park, and the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation’s Annual Wine Opener.
“Even out of the
kitchen, Olga Watkins has all the best recipes.”
wrote Bob Karlovits, staff music writer for the
Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Olga also works as a demonstration chef, personal
chef and caterer, consultant and menu development
specialist. She teaches community outreach classes
for the Community College of Allegheny County as
well as private classes and classes for Whole Foods
Market, Sewickley Sweetwater Arts Center and In the
Kitchen in Wexford; a passion and vocation that has
allowed for a broad and diverse fan base. Her
singing chef show was seen by thousands of
spectators in the summer of 2004 in Pittsburgh’s
Strip District.
The talented, Soul
Kitchen band is comprised of other highly trained
and accomplished musicians such as Drummer, Subha
Das; a graduate of Duquesne University and teacher
in the award-winning, Mt. Lebanon High School,
percussion program; who has a heavy load of private
students and plays with other local artists
including
Sputzy and the Soul Providers. Pianist/ Keyboardist
Mason Embry; graduate of the University of
Louisville, plays regularly with Contemporary
Christian Recording Artist, David De Marco and is
regarded as the best, new, up and coming pianist in
the area. Bassist Jason Hollar, graduate of Temple
University and founder of Colorado’s Big Black
Cadillac Jazz Band, has played in clubs and for
events throughout the country and currently appears
with Olga’s group as well as with his own trio and
with jazz vocalist Donna Bailey. The band is
currently working on a CD of original music and is
making plans to record live this summer in a local,
musical venue.
“We appreciate that
she works so hard to market her appearances. She’s
able to draw a crowd on a Sunday or a Thursday. And,
we really love her voice.” Tom Burley, Proprietor,
Crawford Grill, Station Square |
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