Biography

Sonia Dada, an eclectic, exciting genre-bending rock & roll group, was born in the spring of 1990. Like their labelmates the Freddy Jones Band, they are based in Chicago. The members take their songwriting inspiration from their experiences in that city as well as on the road. One day in 1990, songwriter-guitarist Dan Pritzker got off a subway train and heard the three-part harmonies of Michael Scott, Paris Delane, and Sam Hogan. Pritzker had already been working with a group that consisted of his longtime friends -- guitarist Dave Resnik, drummer Hank Guaglianone, and bassist Erik Scott. The three singers joined the quartet, and Sonia Dada had a new lineup: Paris Delane, Sam Hogan, and Michael Scott on vocals, plus the original four. Shortly after they began rehearsing in earnest, they added keyboardist Chris "Hambone" Cameron. The band has released two albums for Capricorn, Sonia Dada, (1995), their self-titled debut (originally released on Chameleon/Elektra Records) exceeded 100,000 in sales and spurred a minor radio hit, "You Don't Treat Me No Good.'' A Day at the Beach, their follow-up, was released in March, 1995. The group's intoxicating blend of blues-rock, rhythm & blues, and soul music won them fans in faraway places like Australia, and led to the international touring schedule they now maintain. When the group toured Australia, they sold out all 19 concert dates, and in 1994, they opened 40 shows for Traffic while headlining some large clubs and theaters around the U.S. Songs like "Deliver Me" and "We Treat Each Other Cruel'' are soul-gospel-rock celebrations that feature creative arranging and the messages that appeal to the audience for adult rock radio. The songs on Day at the Beach continue the band's genre-fusing traditions, with tracks like "Lay My Body Down'' recalling the gospel-rock mix of their debut record, and the single from the album, "Screaming John'' showcasing a memorable melody, good harmonies, and crafty lyrics. On their second album, the band continues the grooves laid down on its first record, adding funkier rhythms and melodies. My Secret Life followed in 1998, and a year later, Sonia Dada returned with Lay Down and Love It Live. The richly layered soul album Barefootsoul appeared in 2002. In 2004, they released the ambitious Test Pattern, a richly atmospheric collection of material that included a bonus DVD of multimedia centered around two short films by director and cinematographer Jeth Weinrich. ~ Richard Skelly