Physician Musicians Competed for Top Doc Band

Dr. Idol: Battle of the Bands, III took place on Saturday, November 16^th at the White Buffalo Saloon raising funds to support of Ear Research Foundation.

Over 300 guests heard about the message and mission of the Ear Research Foundation from Executive Director, Melissa Lane; enjoyed the musical sounds of jazz, rock, dance and cover tunes played by doctor-led bands with Lulu of iHeart Radio’s WCTQ emceeing and celebrity judges sharing their fun reactions to each band.

The Gift of Hearing Table displayed the organization’s mission and reach in Research, Education, and Community Care for hearing and balance disorders.  Guests were encouraged to take a five-minute challenge experiencing hearing loss and enter a drawing for prizes donated by Cinébistro and Kendra Scott.

Sponsors of the evening included Rooms to Go Foundation; iHeart Radio; J.P. Morgan Chase; Suplee, Shea, Cramer & Rocklein, C.P.A.; Sarasota Herald-Tribune; Trilogy Home Healthcare; Largo Capital; and Music Compound.  $20,000 was raised to support the Ear Research Foundation’s wide-reaching work in their hearing and balance research and community programs.

Celebrity judges – Jenny Townsend of Music Compound; Beneva Fruitville, actress, comedian, and TV personality; Carrie Seidman of Sarasota Herald-Tribune; and John Miller, principal bass for Sarasota Orchestra  – awarded their top-ranking Dr. Idol bands.  The audience voted and awarded their favorite “People’s Choice” band.

The doctor-led bands included in the competition were:

• Doc and the Ear-iginals with the legendary Ear Research Foundation’s founder, Dr. Herbert Silverstein on piano with Mike Ross on bass and Tom Carabasi on drums
• NU Jazz with Dr. Melvin Price on saxophone and Eric Enfield on keyboards, Ron Ross on bass, Coty Ross on drums, Greg Jordan on guitar, Keith Allen on vocals and percussion, and Veola Drain on vocals.
• Good Lovin’ Doctor with the multi-talented Dr. Robert Koser and James Varnado on drums, Todd Cook on bass, Mark Serio on guitar, and Tanya McCormick on vocals.
• Electric Church with Dr. Heitor Okanobo on electric guitar and Marlon on drums, Jessie on vocals, Lloyd on bass, and Aaron on vocals and guitar.
• The Rear Admirals with Dr. Robert Felman on clarinet playing traditional jazz with Wayne Shannon on piano and Tim Robinson on trumpet.
• Cassandra and the Ear-resistibles with Dr. Jack Wazen on drums along with Cassandra Santiso, lead vocalist; Eve Caballero and Allison Pollack on vocals; Joe Polidoro on guitar; Pat Miller on trumpet; Chuck Alfrey on saxophone; Bruce Ensinger on piano; Edsel van de Wall Arnemann on percussions; and Kevin Voigt on bass.

Judges’ first place award was won by Dr. Jack Wazen’s band, Cassandra and the Ear-resistibles; Judges’ second place by Dr. Melvin Price’s NU Jazz; and People’s Choice winner was Dr. Robert Koser’s Good Lovin’ Doctor.