Meet the Band
Antonio Donaldson (Vocals)
Antonio was born and raised in the QC, and is a graduate of Rock Island High School. Though he grew up with many musicians in his family (mainly his grandfather, singer/trumpeter Dave Navarro) he didn’t decide to give it a try until he joined choir his sophomore year, and eventually became an All-State Vocalist. He attended the University of Iowa’s music program after graduation, but ultimately decided to take his voice other directions. After honing his craft and performing at many local fundraisers, community events and occasionally singing in his grandfather’s band, he ultimately decided to “retire” once COVID shut down live performances. Taking time over the pandemic to rethink what music meant to him, he was more than ready to audition for a spot in 10 of Soul when presented with the opportunity to do so. We are excited and lucky to have him in the TOS family- you’ll hear why at our first gig back!
Tiffany Rivera Gomez (Vocals)
Tiffany is an East Moline/Rock Island native that has been singing her whole life. She has opened for several big names throughout her lifetime, including Usher and the late Notorious B.I.G. Tiffany has also auditioned for American Idol and The Voice. Music is a big part of her life and she shares this gift with her own daughters, who are aspiring artists. Tiffany is currently a stylist at SK modeling agency and Shear Elements Salon. Wait until you hear the range and energy of this feisty new addition to our TOS front line!
Mike McMann (Trombone/Arranger)
Mike has performed and/or toured with icons like Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Wynton Marsalis, Gloria Gaynor, Martha Reeves, Louie Bellson, Frank Foster, Don Rickles, and others. Mike is one of the on-call trombonists in the Quad City area and has enjoyed performing with many touring Broadway musicals like Grease, A Chorus Line, Chicago, and more. He has performed in many international venues, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands, Jazz et Vienne in France, and all over the U.S. On the side, Mike has played professionally with bands like The Late Nite Blues Brothers, Shade of Blue, Orquesta Alto Maiz, The Rod Pierson Big Band, The Manny Lopez Big Band, River City Six, and many other local and regional big bands. He also has extensive experience writing and arranging music, which has been put to good use as the arranger/musical director for 10 of Soul. Before forming 10 of Soul, he spent some time working for the Mouse, spending summers at Disney World and Disneyland Paris as Lead Trombone/Assistant Director of the All-American College Band and International Student Show Band, respectively. Mike currently teaches Band at North Scott High School and lives in Eldridge with his wife and three children.
CJ Parker (Vocals)
CJ Parker is a singer, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist originally from Davenport, IA. He blends his upbringing of gospel with his schooling in jazz, funk, & soul. An exciting, entertaining, and fun-spirited musician, CJ was featured in MTV Music News as a ‘Rising Star Due for Take Off’. His vocal timbre is comparable to John Legend and Justin Timberlake. CJ is excited to join the talented 10 of Soul family!
Tyler "Booter" Roberson (Guitar/Vocals)
Booter spent the first few years of his musical life watching his Dad gig and at the age of 9 got his first guitar. Growing up with his cousin (a DJ), he soaked up as much music as he could, having access to his record collection of more than 2000 records. In High School, he was actively involved in music, playing in the High School Pit Orchestra, Jazz Band, Pep Band, and was a Drum Major for the Marching Band. During this time, he also played locally and regionally with SF and The Pinheads and recorded full length LPs with both. After graduating from St. Ambrose, Booter was accepted into the Music Production Program at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN. While there, he worked as a session guitarist and producer for countless recording projects. After graduating from McNally Smith, Booter worked for Liquid 8 Records and JD Entertainment Group as a producer and on-call musician. Since his return to the Quad City area, Booter has been a first-call guitarist for The Tailfins, UnXpected, Gully Entertainment, Lovedogs, and was the guitarist/vocalist/leader for Tronicity.
Rusty Ruggles (Reeds)
Rusty was born and raised in Aledo, IL, listening to all kinds of music including Country, Pop and Classic Rock. He started playing saxophone when he was 11 and fell in love with Classic R & B and Soul. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Augustana College and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, IL. Rusty is currently the Band Director at Mercer County High School, where he has one of the largest small school bands in the state of Illinois. He also heads up the Aledo Central Park Band Shell and directs the Mercer County Community Band. Rusty has directed many high school musicals and performed with Crossroads, Misdirected Blues and The Sin City Orchestra.
Cory Schmitt (Trumpet)
As an active trumpet performer, Cory is the lead trumpeter of the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra and is on the horn-line in the rock/soul group 10 of Soul. As a freelance musician, Cory has been contracted to perform with world renowned classical, jazz, and rock musicians such as The Jim McDonough Orchestra, John Hollenbeck, John Clayton, Donny McCaslin, Craig Morris, David Childs, Les Neish, Jim Self, as well as the rock band Kansas, the Motown group The Temptations, The Beach Boys, and Lake Street Dive. He recently subbed in for rehearsals with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis His trumpet teachers include Paul Neebe, Jim Kluesner, Christine Ennis Carrillo, Chris Carrillo, Randy Grabowski, Michael Gause, and Curtis Taylor. Cory is in his third and final year on the University of Iowa Bands staff as a Teaching Assistant for the Hawkeye Marching Band, Iowa Pep Band, and University of Iowa wind bands. Cory is currently the Director of the Iowa City New Horizons Band. He also serves as an active guest conductor, guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator around the state of Iowa. Cory earned his Master's Degree in Wind Conducting and Trumpet Performance from the University of Northern Iowa in 2014, where he served as Graduate Assistant for Athletic Bands and played lead trumpet in the award-winning UNI Jazz Band One, who toured Thailand in 2013.
Joey Schnoebelen (Trumpet)
The newest and youngest member of the band, Joey is an Iowa City native who began playing trumpet at age 10. He is currently finishing his undergraduate studies at The University of Iowa in Accounting and Trumpet Performance. During his time at the University of Iowa, Joey was selected to be a member of the Disney All-American College Band in Anaheim, California in 2018. This nationally auditioned program selected the top 21 collegiate players from across the country to perform 25 shows a week at Disneyland. Additionally, the band performed with esteemed artists such as Wayne Bergeron, John Clayton, Jiggs Whigham, Sal Lozano, and Gordon Goodwin. In 2017, Joey was selected as a national finalist in the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Jazz Challenge that featured some of the finest up and coming jazz improvisers in the United States. Classically, Joey was a two-time national semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) solo division and a three-time semi-finalist with trumpet ensembles from the University of Iowa at NTC. Joey is also a frequent performer in Iowa, having played in his own quintet at the Iowa City Jazz Festival and Noce in Des Moines.
Ben Soltau (Bass)
Ben Soltau is a bass player (one of THE funkiest ones around!), singer and composer of funky music. A jazz and soul student performing since 2005, he moved out of Iowa to tour with Colorado's Euforquestra in 2009. After honing his soul with the talented ensemble he returned to Iowa in 2012, and now writes and performs with several groups in the area.
Nick Vasquez (Keys)
Nick started playing percussion at a young age. In his teen years, he switched over to playing guitar primarily, and played mostly as a hobby with friends. He decided to take his passion for music seriously after high school and began studying music theory and composition at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Ia. At 20 years of age, it was there he fell in love with playing the piano. Under the direction of Dr. Joan Trapp, Dr. William Campbell, and Towanta Lopez, he honed in his skills on the keyboards very quickly. Since then, he has gone on to perform with many groups around the Quad City area and the Midwest. Most notably in the QC area, The Candymakers, who were semi-finalists in The 2011 International Blues Competition. He now also teaches various instruments and is involved with music education in the community through The River Music Experience.
Brian Zeglis (Drums)
Brian got his first drum set at the age of 6, started taking lessons at 10, and hasn’t stopped drumming since. His continued study of music eventually led him to the University of North Texas where he was fortunate to study with world-renowned educators/performers Ed Soph and Paul Rennick. Brian is Associate Director of Bands at Davenport Central High School. He loves challenging his students and encouraging their love of music through jazz band, concert band, percussion ensembles, and drumline. Zeglis has drummed in The Rod Pierson Big Band, Hunter Fuerste’s American Vintage Orchestra, Manny Lopez Big Band, Funktion, and The Spicy Pickles, among numerous one-off side gigs/tours.