Closed Captioned is a Portland, Oregon based classic rock dance band that brings tremendous passion and experience to each of its gigs. We have been playing the Portland metro area for over 4 years and have performed for thousands of satisfied people. The band takes great pride in its "wall of vocal sound" and prides itself on the power of its live delivery. Come check the band out to see for yourself!
keith laurent - keyboards, guitar, vocals
	Born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Keith started his music career playing in the local Drum & Bugle Corps at the age of 10. Though he wanted to play the drums, he endured 2 years of the bugle. Keith eventually did get his chance to play the drums in the Corps. During this time his family required all the children to take piano lessons for at least two years. When entering the school band program in Grammar school however, he changed his focus to trombone. He received a 1st star rating for his trombone work during a statewide competition. After grammar school and into Jr. high and High school, Keith changed his focus again to percussion, which lead to positions in the schools jazz band playing the "Vibes" and Trap set, and miscellaneous adventures in the Concert band, Pep band, and Youth symphony. During this same time Keith had picked up the guitar and started his own 7pc. Band performing top 40 music with a Chicago flavor to the sound. Keith also pursued orchestration and wrote several symphonic pieces for which he won 1st place in a statewide music contest at the age of 18. Keith continued performing through his years in college, while studying music theory and composition, which included arrangements for a contestant in the Miss Iowa beauty pageant and many club dates. Keith moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest and again started a band. He continued to work club dates but was drawn back to the Midwest by a good friend to pursue radio, television and recording performance. After a few years however, Keith was back in the Northwest with a son of his own and a family to raise. During this period Keith spent his musical time arranging and performing gospel music and directing choirs. With his family growing up, Keith again has entered the club scene with the band "Closed Captioned". Keith uses Yamaha, Fender, Gibson and Roland products for performance and recording events. You can find out more about him and his upcoming performances outside of Closed Captioned on his web site. Click here to visit the very special world of Keith Laurent!
rich frasier - bass, woodwinds, vocals
	Despite repeated exposure to Lawrence Welk and "Polka Parade" as a child, Rich has maintained a life-long love affair with music. The affair began when he first heard the Beatles' "I want to hold your hand" while being towed by his mother through a Woolworth's drug store in East L.A, where he grew up. The culmination of his youthful love of rock and roll was the short-lived and unlamented band "Flying Squirrel" which was active in the Newport Beach and Santa Ana areas of Southern California in the 1970s. After a long hiatus of semi-mature behavior, Rich is back to his old musical tricks, having abandoned all hope of ever growing up. In addition to Closed Captioned, he performs with the vocal trio Southern Cross, and the rock/blues band Dull Boy Jack. He also writes and performs original music. You can check out his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/staggeringgeniussongs to hear some demos of his songs. Rich worships The Beatles, Al Green, Neil Finn, Sting, and Joni Mitchell, maintains a personal shrine to Paul McCartney, and plays Lakland and Fender basses with SWR and Eden amplification. In addition to the electric and upright bass, Rich plays saxophone and flute and can make balloon animals while wearing a red rubber nose. He is available for children's parties for a reasonable fee.
jason thomas - guitar, vocals
	Jason Thomas (J.T. to his friends), grew up in Bend Oregon with a good "Classic Rock" upbringing. Jason began his musical training on violin, but lost focus because he constantly used it to play air guitar to AC/DC. His desire to play guitar was developed in high school, playing in groups that ranged from coffee house rock to metal. Jason studied theory and jazz, and earned a music scholarship to Clackamas Community College. He moved to portland to attend school in 1995 and began playing with a funk/jazz group called Succatash that played around the Portland area for about 4 years. At the same time he started teaching guitar lessons at Adrian Guitars in Oregon City, and has continued to teach there for the last 9 years. Lately, Jason has been playing a lot of jazz leading a group of young (12-18) jazz prodigy's called Gideon and the Waz. Although he's a jazz cat, J.T. loves rock and roll, and is excited to tear it up with Closed Captioned. Some of his biggest influences include: Hendrix, Jeff Beck, AC/DC, Santana, James Brown, Funkadelic, Buddy Guy, Metallica.
greg levine - drums
	Greg is a 20+ year veteran of the music industry. He was born in Miami, Florida and started formal drum lessons at age 6 though his Mother will tell you he had been playing long before. During High School in Miami Beach Greg sharpened his stick control and rudiment skills by joining the marching band while jamming with friends whenever time permitted on a full drum set. Greg's home was a musical one as both parents were ardent lovers of music of all genres. In fact, Greg's late father was a DJ at his college in the early 60's and was a walking encyclopedia of the 50's and 60's music that Greg grew up on. After graduating High School and spending a year abroad in Israel, Greg moved to LA in 1989 to attend Musicians Institute (MIT) in Hollywood. The school's curriculum and social style did not agree with him however and he promptly left the school after one month. In retrospect it was his best move to date. After a few gigs with local talent, he quickly established himself as an up and coming drummer joining a local singer/songwriter named Bruce Witkin. Greg would go on to play in 4 different bands with Bruce from the early to mid 90's. Bruce's deep love for early 80's rock equaled that of Greg's and they shared a strong bond for playing to and for the song. They played LA's biggest and brightest stages. Though their bands attained national notoriety and received record deals, none were built to last. During these years Greg also became a local top call for session work and also auditioned for some of today's biggest stars in music (Sheryl Crow, Seal, Screaming Trees, & more). One of Greg's career highlights came during this time when he and Bruce participated in 80's star Adam Ant's return to the music world. Both joined his band in 94 and played select shows with him. At the end of the 90's Greg relocated to Kansas City, Missouri to re-join some friends that he had helped with their debut record. From the end of the 90's into the new millennium, he toured incessantly across the United States opening for some of the biggest names in the business as well as sharing festival stages with those names as well. Today, he has left the touring trail behind him as he is committed to his family and his career working for Creative Agencies. He has an 8 year-old son named Remy who has aspirations of becoming a rock-star one day soon as well. Greg abuses Mapex Pro drums, KC Drumworks snare drums, Zildjian cymbals, and DW Hardware ONLY!!
rick gordon - sound/harmonica
	Rick is a musician and sound engineer with over 30 years in the business as a performer and sound engineer. He is the owner of American Made Sound, a mobile recording and live sound production company, based in Milwaukie, OR. (www.americanmadesound.com) Some of the acts he has engineered and recorded include: Closed Captioned, Jimi Lund Band, One Brick Shy, Jim Fischer, A Twist of Faith, Blues Broads, Paul DeLay and Duffy Bishop, Louis Pain, Tony Coleman, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, May Palmer Band, Bill Rhoades and the Party Kings, Darby O'Gill, Papa Salty and many many others. He is oft refered to as "The Commisioner".

If you're looking for Portland and Vancouver's best rock cover band for weddings and corporate events, you've come to the right place! Closed Captioned plays classic rock cover tunes for dancing and enjoyment by all ages. We play classic rock cover songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and present day. We have played many corporate events, Christmas parties, weddings, birthday parties as well as many lounge and bar events. Our members include: Keith Laurent, piano, keyboards and vocals; Rich Frasier, bass, woodwinds, vocals; Jason Thomas (JT), guitar vocals; and Skip Landis, drums. We are a fun, experienced group of entertainers that will turn any event into a party. With 3 singers sharing lead vocals, we play high-quality classic rock songs for dancing, such as Mustang Sally, Sweet Home Alabama, and songs from the Beatles through Matchbox 20. For the best party music and wedding music in Portland and Vancouver's, you need Portland's best classic rock band - Closed Captioned! We play the classic rock songs that you love and remember, with emphasis on dancing and fun. Modern rock songs, too, along with classic Rock, Motown, and Blues favorites. We love to play Weddings and have many happy customers. Corporate events are our specialty - we are a reliable and professional group of entertainers that work hard to make your musical event a success. Call us or email today for booking information. You will love our classic rock show!

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