PERMANENT RESIDENTS

Steve Rosch, Vocals & Guitars

D.C. native Steve Rosch began his musical adventures in 1964, about 60 seconds after he heard his first Beatles record.  Steve studied jazz guitar and music theory at D.C.’s famous The Guitar Shop, and eventually Voice from Gina Maretta of Columbia Concerts.  Steve began performing in nightclubs at the age of 16, appearing at many of the DC Metro’s legendary rock & Top-40 clubs.  In 1973 he co-founded the East Coast show/dance band Fire & Ice, which continued into 1979. Over the years, he shared the stage with acts like Paul Revere & The Raiders, Tommy James & The Shondells, BB King, The Dovells, Journey guitarist Neil Schon, and Santana and Journey keyboardist Greg Rolie.  Winning numerous songwriting awards throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Steve went into the audio production and recording studio business with his company ROAR Audio, Music & Video Productions.  In the 1990s, he joined Baltimore’s famous horn-driven band The Admirals, and by 2005, had co-founded ‘60s Tribute Show band, JANGLEBACHS. 2023 found Steve yearning to replay the great R&B, Soul, and Disco music of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, and partnering with vocalist/performer/friend Eileen Stamnas, FUNKTOWN was born. A remarkably short search for top players with the same motivation, including several past bandmates, expanded the roster to include Robert Troutman, David Ruckman, Alan Tilles, and Carmine Strollo.

In 2016, Steve was inducted twice into The Maryland Entertainment Hall OF Fame.  And in 2022, he signed a recording deal as Artist & Songwriter with FERVOR Records.  The Label/Publisher will be representing a number of Steve’s songs, dating back as far as the late 1960’s, to TV, Movies & Independent Producers, as well as for streaming.

David Ruckman, Basses & Vocals

Originally from the Washington DC area, and current Rehoboth Beach resident, is bass guitarist David Ruckman,. David started his musical journey with a regional touring act called The Deep End in the early 90’s, where he was fortunate to play many of the very best venues in the DC area and surrounding cities including The Bayou, The Black Cat, The Psychedelia, 9:30 Club and more, sharing the stage with many of the best bands of the day. 

Since then, David has stretched his artistic abilities playing in a variety of studio and live bands ranging from indie rock to funk, punk, blues, jazz, and even a Pink Floyd tribute band. He is now providing the foundational thump for FUNKTOWN with his 5-string Fender and Sadowsky basses as well as contributing keyboard bass, percussion and vocals.

Eileen Stamnas, Vocalist

Eileen began her singing career as a teenager, singing in pubs and clubs in Annapolis and Washington, D.C., and lending her voice to jingles. She studied classical music in college but has also loved singing jazz, pop, R&B and Big Band Music. Her performances have taken her from Canada to Key West, and from clubs in L.A. to showrooms in Reno and Lake Tahoe. She spent several years performing aboard cruise ships and was honored to have sung at three Presidential Inaugural Balls.

Eileen was the Music Director for the Ocean Pines Children’s Theater for many years, as well as acting in many community theater productions. She is currently on the board of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Stamnas is a featured recording artist on FERVOR Records and can currently be heard singing solo on the 1977 recording, TOUCH ME, available on all popular music platforms.

Carmine Strollo, Drums & Vocals

Born and raised in Baltimore’s Little Italy, Carmine has been playing the drums since he was 6 1/2 years old. He originally studied at Yeager’s Music Store in East Baltimore under Wayne Hudson and then attended the Peabody Conservatory Prep Department and studied under Bob Kennick and Chuck Memphis. He then enrolled at Towson University (College) and studied percussion under Dale Rauschenberg and composition with Hank Levy. After graduation, he then began a 21 year full time musical career with Buddy Voelker’s Brass Menagerie, DC Review, Fantasy, the 2nd Coming and Admirals Showbands, before moving to Delaware’s eastern shore in 1999.

He rekindled his musical career in 2006 as a drum instructor B&B Music in Lewes, Delaware. He also gives private instruction remotely via SKYPE to students across the country, and has also created a number of training videos which can be viewed on his Youtube Channel and Website channels. He is an experienced clinician and has appeared on the Columbus Drum Jam & Clinic DVD series for 2009 and 2010.

Carmine also formed the band called High Mileage, which reformed into the band 4 STAR REVUE, where he rekindled a friendship with bandmate Steve Rosch. He also formed the Windy City Tribute Band , performing the best of Chicago. He currently performs with Charlie and the Cooltones, and is proud to be the final member of Funktown, reviving his disco/ funk roots.

Alan Tilles, Vocals & Saxes

Alan has been on the music scene in the Washington, DC area since the 1970s, fronting several well-known bands, as well as a five year stint playing with DC’s Film At Eleven. Most recently, he has helmed The Fine Print, winners of three titles at the international Law Rocks charity competition.

Alan has toured with 70s/80s rock legends Ambrosia, and has played on stage with many classic rock artists, including Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane), Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), Orleans, David Muse (Firefall), Gary Wright, John Ford Coley, Christine Ohlman (Saturday Night Live Band), and several former members of Tower of Power. He has opened for Ann Wilson (Heart). Alan has appeared on recordings by Greg Adams (Tower of Power, East Bay Soul) playing sax and Joey Molland (Badfinger) singing.

Bob Troutman, Keyboards & Vocals

Bob began taking classical piano lessons as a child and was introduced to pop music by his next-door neighbor.  Answering the call when his teacher wanted to form a rock band, he bought a combo organ and learned the full version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida for his debut performance at a school assembly. Bob eventually joined the group Penny Lane, a 4-piece band specializing in (what else?) Beatles songs, but also playing Frank Zappa material.    In the late ’80s, Bob formed a funk-rock band, Early Warning. This band was a fixture in the club scene in the greater Washington region.

The mid ’90s found Bob joining Kaleidoscope, a 10-piece band that played weddings and corporate events. He was with that band for 17 years, developing and evolving his jazz and pop chops over time and perfecting the part-playing keyboard style that is his trademark. Most recently he has been a member of 60s tribute band Janglebachs. Bob also has a professional studio, Potomac Audio. Whether it’s a string or horn line, a piano part, or his first love, organ, Bob has the all bases covered and on display.