QUICKSTEP
I left MANTRAP to play with a band called Ruby for a short amount of time. The focus of that
band was not to play covers and to focus on originals only. I was recruited by Nelson
Santiesteban who used to be the drummer for Calhoun (they were the house band for The
Castaways). That is the band the Jimmy from Ecstasy used to sing with before he joined Ecstasy.
On one of our many outings to see other bands, I came across Quickstep who was playing at
Daphne’s in Hialeah. They were a six piece band with musicians that played multiple instruments
and switched around depending on the tunes. The guitar player also played trumpet, the
percussionist lead singer played trombone, etc…. They needed a high tenor voice to round off
their vocals and someone that could play the guitar when the other guitarist was playing the
trumpet. So I joined and played the guitar and percussion, congas, etc…. Quickstep was a club
band/working band, so all the players were full time musicians. I played, toured and recoreded
with them for 10 years and for that whole time we had the same members, except for the
drummer.
After 10 years playing full time in clubs I decided I wanted to get married, settle down and try my
hand at business. I joined a Medical Device company which sold minimally invasive surgical
instrumentation and became their Director of Business Development. I managed international
markets and was in charge of Latin America, The Middle East, Asia and Europe. I worked with
them for 20 years and recently left them to form my own Medical Distribution Company.
band was not to play covers and to focus on originals only. I was recruited by Nelson
Santiesteban who used to be the drummer for Calhoun (they were the house band for The
Castaways). That is the band the Jimmy from Ecstasy used to sing with before he joined Ecstasy.
On one of our many outings to see other bands, I came across Quickstep who was playing at
Daphne’s in Hialeah. They were a six piece band with musicians that played multiple instruments
and switched around depending on the tunes. The guitar player also played trumpet, the
percussionist lead singer played trombone, etc…. They needed a high tenor voice to round off
their vocals and someone that could play the guitar when the other guitarist was playing the
trumpet. So I joined and played the guitar and percussion, congas, etc…. Quickstep was a club
band/working band, so all the players were full time musicians. I played, toured and recoreded
with them for 10 years and for that whole time we had the same members, except for the
drummer.
After 10 years playing full time in clubs I decided I wanted to get married, settle down and try my
hand at business. I joined a Medical Device company which sold minimally invasive surgical
instrumentation and became their Director of Business Development. I managed international
markets and was in charge of Latin America, The Middle East, Asia and Europe. I worked with
them for 20 years and recently left them to form my own Medical Distribution Company.
Emilio (Emi) Jimenez
Ecstacy
After I came back in contact with Nelson, I got the music bug (after 25 years!) and I recently joined
a ten piece Tower of Power tribute band called Manchuka here in New England. You can check
them out on their website www.Manchukaband.com
My picture is not even there yet because I have only been with them for about a month. However,
we are trying to get a petition signed so that we can open up for Tower of Power at the Hampton
Casino this summer. If anyone is interested in helping us out, they can visit our website and just
sign the petition.
Ecstasy was the house band at Pete and Lenny’s, but we used to play there as well. Quickstep
was the house band for Bonnie and Clyde’s in West Palm Beach, which later became the
boardwalk.
a ten piece Tower of Power tribute band called Manchuka here in New England. You can check
them out on their website www.Manchukaband.com
My picture is not even there yet because I have only been with them for about a month. However,
we are trying to get a petition signed so that we can open up for Tower of Power at the Hampton
Casino this summer. If anyone is interested in helping us out, they can visit our website and just
sign the petition.
Ecstasy was the house band at Pete and Lenny’s, but we used to play there as well. Quickstep
was the house band for Bonnie and Clyde’s in West Palm Beach, which later became the
boardwalk.
| Although not OPEN HOUSE bands, many local bands called South Florida home during this period. In these pages we focus on Dance oriented groups that played at local clubs. |
For history’s sake Bonnie & Clyde’s was the Boardwalk 1977-80 a big time disco
before it became B&C’s and we were houseband at both and also Mr. Pips as you
joined QS towards the end of the first disco era and then we went more Top 40 after
1979. I went to Miami High with the guys from Ecstacy when they were Trapp and played
Open House’s., Alex on bass, Arthur Cruz on keys, and the brothers on guitar and
drums Jessie and…..can’t remember. I was in a salsa band from 8th grade all through
High school named “Miami Brass” and had a couple of hits on the local radio WQBA and
played many “bailes” at St. Sophia and 15 aneras with the Antiques and so many other
Miami bands I can’t even remember their names. I went on to play and record with “La
Creacion 75” and had a big hit “Popeye El Marino Soy” & “Guarare” (later stolen by Ray
Barreto). Anyways when we started Quickstep in 1975 they were ahead of us as Ecstacy
by a year or so and we use to look up to them and imitated some of what they did
onstage and set wise picking pure disco songs and going from song to song mixing like
a DJ playing non stop but after we got Emi and got our drummer situation straight by the
early 80’s we blew them away. Even at their home Pete & Lenny’s!!...a band named
Wolfgang had the best musicians at that time and were way better than both us and
Ecstacy. FYI Mike Holland their first lead singer before Jimmy said they put 2 c’s in
Ecstacy (one for cock and one for c…you get the picture). I’ve attached some QS studio
pic’s where you can’t miss Emi.
before it became B&C’s and we were houseband at both and also Mr. Pips as you
joined QS towards the end of the first disco era and then we went more Top 40 after
1979. I went to Miami High with the guys from Ecstacy when they were Trapp and played
Open House’s., Alex on bass, Arthur Cruz on keys, and the brothers on guitar and
drums Jessie and…..can’t remember. I was in a salsa band from 8th grade all through
High school named “Miami Brass” and had a couple of hits on the local radio WQBA and
played many “bailes” at St. Sophia and 15 aneras with the Antiques and so many other
Miami bands I can’t even remember their names. I went on to play and record with “La
Creacion 75” and had a big hit “Popeye El Marino Soy” & “Guarare” (later stolen by Ray
Barreto). Anyways when we started Quickstep in 1975 they were ahead of us as Ecstacy
by a year or so and we use to look up to them and imitated some of what they did
onstage and set wise picking pure disco songs and going from song to song mixing like
a DJ playing non stop but after we got Emi and got our drummer situation straight by the
early 80’s we blew them away. Even at their home Pete & Lenny’s!!...a band named
Wolfgang had the best musicians at that time and were way better than both us and
Ecstacy. FYI Mike Holland their first lead singer before Jimmy said they put 2 c’s in
Ecstacy (one for cock and one for c…you get the picture). I’ve attached some QS studio
pic’s where you can’t miss Emi.
RICHARD GOMEZ
Louie Gomez-keyboards, vocals, band leader
Richard Gomez- Bass, drums, vocals (Louie’
s brother)
Mike Miranda-Guitar, trumpet, vocals, sound
mix
Joey Ojeda-Bass guitar, vocals
Ronnie Morales- Vocals, trombone,
percussion (Richard’s and Louie’s cousin)
Emi (Emilio) Jimenez- Vocals, guitar,
percussion
Richard Gomez- Bass, drums, vocals (Louie’
s brother)
Mike Miranda-Guitar, trumpet, vocals, sound
mix
Joey Ojeda-Bass guitar, vocals
Ronnie Morales- Vocals, trombone,
percussion (Richard’s and Louie’s cousin)
Emi (Emilio) Jimenez- Vocals, guitar,
percussion
Standing by the side of the stage at Pete and Lennys allowed many young DJs like myself to observe
something that was never done before or after Ecstacy ,the house band at this legendary nightclub. The
band would " mix " from one song to the other seamlessly and then the DJ would mix into the band when
they would go on break.
Although not an Open House band Ecstacy was " THE" nightclub band back in the mid to late 70s , every
song they performed was identical to the artist they emulated, they didn't " cover" the song they became
the song, down to every last detail and nuance.
On May 28, 2010 with most of their original members Ecstacy took the stage after a 30+ year absence and
delivered a classic performance. Opening their set with Barry White's Love Theme and " Mixing" into
Johnny Bristol's Hang on in there Baby I was immediately transported back to the side of that stage at
Pete and Lennys . A highlight was Cerrone's Give me Love with a percussion solo by the always
electrified " Arana" it was pure " Ecstacy " once again
Thanks Guys
something that was never done before or after Ecstacy ,the house band at this legendary nightclub. The
band would " mix " from one song to the other seamlessly and then the DJ would mix into the band when
they would go on break.
Although not an Open House band Ecstacy was " THE" nightclub band back in the mid to late 70s , every
song they performed was identical to the artist they emulated, they didn't " cover" the song they became
the song, down to every last detail and nuance.
On May 28, 2010 with most of their original members Ecstacy took the stage after a 30+ year absence and
delivered a classic performance. Opening their set with Barry White's Love Theme and " Mixing" into
Johnny Bristol's Hang on in there Baby I was immediately transported back to the side of that stage at
Pete and Lennys . A highlight was Cerrone's Give me Love with a percussion solo by the always
electrified " Arana" it was pure " Ecstacy " once again
Thanks Guys
| Ecstacy Closes out their set and introduces Band members Intros by Lead Singer Michael Holland |
| Recorded At Club Rennessaince in Coral Gables |
The reason the reunion came about at this time was just a matter of timing. We have band members living out of state and upstate and November was
the only time this year we will be able to all get together to perform. But I've had the actual idea for a reunion for ten years. It came about because our
guitar player and sound engineer Mike Miranda used to tape us almost every night as a tool for us to listen to ourselves and improve on the mistakes
we were making and just have a general idea of what we sounded like. The mix came directly from the board so it was pretty much what the audience
was hearing. Well as the years went by we accumulated dozens of tapes that were stored and forgotten about after the band broke up in 1988.
Around 2000 I asked my brother and keyboard player Louie if he still had any of those tapes and he went to his warehouse and produced a box of
tapes spanning years of band performances in many different clubs and venues we had played in. As I listened to some of the tapes they sounded
very good to me and although they were raw mixes as I explained before it made me think that at certain times and with certain combinations of band
members we really sounded good. I asked other people and friends to listen to these tapes to see if they were hearing the same thing I was and most
of them thought they were studio recordings so that got me started thinking about a reunion with the members I thought had made the QuickStep
sound I was hearing on those tapes.
Well at the time it just wasn't possible because of many factors so we just had a reunion party in 2002 and had a lot of fun reminiscing with former
QuickStep members and it was great but the idea of actually playing together again was still on my mind all these years. Now with the advent of
Facebook and My Space and all the radio stations that are totally 80's music format and with the recent happenings in Miami of "Open House" & club
bands reuniting and people such as you who have dedicated time and effort to create websites and recognize these Miami bands it seemed like a
more appropriate time to try to find a venue and see if people would be interested in seeing QuickStep perform again. After receiving great feedback
from friends and fans we decided to give it a shot. We will be playing with QuickStep members from different eras but they all played in the band at
one time or another. We'll give it our all and promise to give our fans the kind of show and music that characterized QuickStep and made us a little
different from the other bands. Great music, fantastic vocals and a powerful driving beat that will make you get up from your seats and dance. We
plan to play a little of everything because QiuckStep was never a one trick pony and we always covered all genres of music from the 70's and 80's. So
if you want to come and hear some good music and see a great show we invite you all to see QuickStep the Band for a one time performance at Club
Ten Saturday November 27th at the WPB Airport Hilton.
Thank you to our fans for supporting us for so many years and thank you Alex for providing this forum for the Miami Bands!
the only time this year we will be able to all get together to perform. But I've had the actual idea for a reunion for ten years. It came about because our
guitar player and sound engineer Mike Miranda used to tape us almost every night as a tool for us to listen to ourselves and improve on the mistakes
we were making and just have a general idea of what we sounded like. The mix came directly from the board so it was pretty much what the audience
was hearing. Well as the years went by we accumulated dozens of tapes that were stored and forgotten about after the band broke up in 1988.
Around 2000 I asked my brother and keyboard player Louie if he still had any of those tapes and he went to his warehouse and produced a box of
tapes spanning years of band performances in many different clubs and venues we had played in. As I listened to some of the tapes they sounded
very good to me and although they were raw mixes as I explained before it made me think that at certain times and with certain combinations of band
members we really sounded good. I asked other people and friends to listen to these tapes to see if they were hearing the same thing I was and most
of them thought they were studio recordings so that got me started thinking about a reunion with the members I thought had made the QuickStep
sound I was hearing on those tapes.
Well at the time it just wasn't possible because of many factors so we just had a reunion party in 2002 and had a lot of fun reminiscing with former
QuickStep members and it was great but the idea of actually playing together again was still on my mind all these years. Now with the advent of
Facebook and My Space and all the radio stations that are totally 80's music format and with the recent happenings in Miami of "Open House" & club
bands reuniting and people such as you who have dedicated time and effort to create websites and recognize these Miami bands it seemed like a
more appropriate time to try to find a venue and see if people would be interested in seeing QuickStep perform again. After receiving great feedback
from friends and fans we decided to give it a shot. We will be playing with QuickStep members from different eras but they all played in the band at
one time or another. We'll give it our all and promise to give our fans the kind of show and music that characterized QuickStep and made us a little
different from the other bands. Great music, fantastic vocals and a powerful driving beat that will make you get up from your seats and dance. We
plan to play a little of everything because QiuckStep was never a one trick pony and we always covered all genres of music from the 70's and 80's. So
if you want to come and hear some good music and see a great show we invite you all to see QuickStep the Band for a one time performance at Club
Ten Saturday November 27th at the WPB Airport Hilton.
Thank you to our fans for supporting us for so many years and thank you Alex for providing this forum for the Miami Bands!
REUNION !!
| Listen to some rare recordings made of Quickstep in the early 80s by clicking on the YOU TUBE LOGO |
