CTA (CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AUTHORITY)

Genre: Rock | Jazz | Classic Rock

Sounds Like / Would Open For: Steely Dan/Donald Fagen, Chicago, Eagles, Norah Jones, Michael Buble

Location: Los Angeles, California

Band Members: Danny Seraphine (drums), Larry Braggs (lead vocals), Marc Bonilla (guitar), Peter Fish (keyboards), Edward Harris Roth (keyboards) and Mick Mahan (bass) and Walter Rodriguez (congas)

Website: www.ctatheband.com

Myspace: www.myspace.com/ctatheband
ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/cta

Radio Programmers: Airplay Direct

Label: Street Sense Records

Affiliation: ASCAP

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Recent News

CTA's 'Full Circle' Now Available at Borders & Online!

California Transit Authority In-store Appearance At Borders Chicago

California Transit Authority, Featuring Members Of Chicago And Tower Of Power, Releases 'full Circle' Debut Album August 14

Biography

CTA (California Transit Authority) is drummer Danny Seraphine's trip back to the future, effectively tipping his hat to his past with his feet firmly planted in the here and now. Aptly titled 'Full Circle', CTA's debut album brings Seraphine back to his roots.

Rated by the legendary Buddy Rich as one of his favorite young drummers, Danny Seraphine was a founding member of the multi-platinum album selling, Grammy award-winning band Chicago; helping to produce 18 gold and 13 platinum albums, 50 Top 40 hits, including 20 Top 10 singles and 5 number ones.

It was after conversations with his friends -- composer and musician Peter Fish, as well as from DW Drums, Don Lombardi (Chairman and Founder) and John Good (Vice President) -- which started Danny thinking about forming a band. Guitar wizard Marc Bonilla and Seraphine initially put a band together to play for several charity benefit shows. The response was so overwhelming that they decided to get serious and put a full 70-minute set together and so "CTA" was born.

Danny Seraphine: Bandleader & Drums

Danny Seraphine is one of the world's most highly-respected rock drummers, rated by the legendary Buddy Rich as one of his favorite young drummers. He was the drummer, percussionist and a founding member of the multi-million selling, Grammy award-wining band Chicago. From 1967 to 1990, Seraphine played on and helped produce 18 gold and 13 platinum albums, 50 Top 40 hits, including 20 Top 10 singles, and 5 number ones.

Seraphine grew up in Chicago, Illinois and started playing drums at the age of nine, eventually studying privately with famed percussionist Bob Tillis. After forming Chicago in 1967 he continued studying the drums, first with big band drummer Chuck Flores, then with legendary jazz drummer Jo Jones. When Danny and Chicago parted company in 1990, he moved to Colorado to set up his own label and production company. Returning to Los Angeles in 2001, Seraphine continued to produce and manage recording artists, and produce Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

Releases

Buy FULL CIRCLE exclusively at your local Borders store and online at iTunes | Napster | emusic | Rhapsody | Sony - Connect

While CTA revisits early Chicago classics "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World" on "Full Circle," CTA isn't just a nostalgia trip. For example, "Make Me Smile" has been transformed into an instrumental, with Marc Bonilla recreating the vocal lines on guitar. In addition, Bonilla has also re-imagined many of Chicago's classic horn parts on his guitar. Another twist is vocalist Larry Braggs, the voice of Tower of Power since 2000.

Aside from the re-workings of the Chicago tracks, "Full Circle" revisits Bonilla's "Antonio's Love Jungle," which is given new life as Seraphine's human touch replaces the original's drum-machine rhythms; as well as "Something Different," the Cannonball Adderley track composed by a young Chuck Mangione. On "I'm The Man," guest artists Sheila E. (on timbales), Alex Acuna (on congas), and Keith Emerson (organ solo) make an appearance. And a new original track, "Several Thousand," features guest vocalist Wes Quave.

1) Something Different
2) Introduction
3) South California Purples
4) Make Me Smile
5) Several Thousand
6) Dreams
7) West Virginia Fantasies
8) Colour My World
9) Happy Cause I'm Going Home
10) Mississippi Delta Blues
11) Antonio's Love Jungle
12) I'm A Man
13) Bonus Track: 25 Or 6 To 4 (Live: Modern Drummer Festival 2006)