Bios
Keith Wentzel (Drums)
Just like the lyrics from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, Keith “was just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit” who started playing drums as a teenager in a local garage band. Moving to New England in the mid-80’s, he got back into music, met up with some other Andover-North Andover guys and became the first (and only!) drummer with the WSB. Married with two kids, Keith keeps his day job in the financial services industry and resides in North Andover.
Steve Longo (Bass)
Steve was first turned on by music in February 1964 when he saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Steve’s parents bought him a guitar for Christmas, and he quickly learned the three basic chords to play all of the garage band hits of the 1960’s. Steve has played guitar or bass in pit orchestras for many musical theater productions, performed onstage at Boston’s Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, North Shore Music Theater, backed up the great Tom Rush, and has played in several other local rock and jazz bands and folk ensembles. Nothing feeds Steve's soul more than to be making music!
John Chang (Keyboard, Guitar, Vocals)
John is originally from Long Island, where he participated in school bands as a woodwind player. In time he took up drums and bass, and he also has played guitar most of his life. John purchased a keyboard in the late 90's just to see what he could do with it. In time, he was able to apply much of his earlier music experience to "keys." As the song goes, "He's got a day time job. He's doin' all right..." as a semiconductor engineer. John and his wife have two grown children and two granddaughters.
Bill Putnam (Guitar and Vocals)
Bill grew up in New York, spent several years chilling out in California, and for over 30 years has called the Boston area home. He started playing guitar as a teenager and often performed in theatre and vocal groups. During his business career, Bill was a manager in the healthcare sector, traveling to China, India, Brazil, and all manner of exotic places (always with guitar pick in pocket – because you never know…). He's learned his priorities and now focuses on photography (www.imagineaccess.net) and rocking out with White Street Band.
Martin McGrath (Lead Guitar)
Martin grew up in New York and began playing guitar in high school. He joined his first band during graduate school where he convinced his future wife to join him on keyboards in the chemistry department band. After moving to North Andover in the early 2000’s, Martin continued to his involvement in music by playing guitar in church folk ensembles, the pit orchestras for local musical productions, on stage at the North Shore Music Theater, and in local jazz bands and rock ensembles. Martin also served for 5 years as the president of the North Andover Music Association helping to promote and support music programs in North Andover public schools. Martin is a senior director in the biotech industry. He and his wife have three children.
Dave Cook (Harmonica)
"Big Dave" Cook is no longer an active member of White Street Band. But he is a founding member and may - despite the fact that he relocated to Vermont to be closer to his family - join us from time to time. We hope so. You are always welcome, Dave! You also can find Dave running around Vermont (or any other place he is visiting) playing his blues harp at local venues. He's a pretty cool bluesman!