Over the Rainbow

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Joe Lynn Turner: Vocals

In a career that spans over 30 years and over 60 album credits, Turner (“JLT”) is best remembered for his collaborative work with Ritchie Blackmore in both Rainbow and Deep Purple. When Blackmore made the decision to focus on expanding Rainbow’s audience in the USA, he employed JLT. Turner’s ability to write radio-friendly rock hits, combined with his MTV-ready good looks and ability to sing a variety of songs, helped catapult Rainbow to a higher level of commercial success in the United States. In the late 80s, he helped revive the career of guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen. In 1990, he reunited with Blackmore and joined Deep Purple. Turner has toured, recorded and worked with a diverse array of artists including Billy Joel, Cher, ACDC’s Brian Johnson, Mick Jones (Foreigner), Michael Bolton and many others.

Bobby Rondinelli: Drums

Bobby Rondinelli was a member of Rainbow during their most commercially successful years, 1980-1983. When Ritchie Blackmore needed to fill the shoes of iconic drummer Cozy Powell, he enlisted Rondinelli. Fans of the band immediately embraced him and Rainbow never lost a beat as a result. The showmanship of Rondinelli was also unparralled and captured on the band’s “Live Between The Eyes” full length concert video. Rondinelli is a “Drummer’s drummer.” Aside from his work with Rainbow, his resume includes BLACK SABBATH, BLUE OYSTER CULT, BONNIE TYLER, DORO, QUIET RIOT, THE SCORPIONS, RONDINELLI ,THE LIZARDS, RIOT, PYRAMID, ZEBRA and AEROSMITH. In addition to critically acclaimed solo projects, Bobby is also a drum clinician and teacher when time permits and co-authored “The Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming.”

Greg Smith: Bass

After Rainbow split up in 1984 it would be ten years before the band released another album. Greg Smith joined Ritchie Blackmore in 1994 and recorded/toured with Rainbow through 1997. Smith has most recently been on the road with Ted Nugent providing the rock solid bottom and both lead and background vocals. He’s also been the bassist and backing vocalist for such artists as Alice Cooper, The Alan Parsons Project, Blue Oyster Cult, Dokken, Tommy James & the Shondells, Joe Lynn Turner, Vinnie Moore, Van Helsing’s Curse, O2′L and Wendy O. Williams. Greg was also the principal bassist and backing vocalist for the Tony Award winning Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp musical “Movin Out” during its entire three year run on Broadway and one year on the road.

Jurgen (J.R.) Blackmore: Guitar

Jürgen (“J.R.”) Blackmore was born in London in 1964 as the son of Ritchie Blackmore, founder of the legendary Deep Purple and Rainbow, and his German wife Margit. He started playing guitar at age 10. Blackmore took on an apprenticeship as a guitar maker in 1979. After stints in many rock bands, in 1990, the J.R. Blackmore Group gained a stellar reputation on their European Tour. This helped launch Blackmore’s international career. Various solo projects, such as a cover version of “Smoke OnThe Water” with King Kurlee (Top 10 in Australia and New Zealand) and studio work broadened his musical spectrum. In 2004, he teamed up with Malte Rathke for an instrumental project on Musikerei-Records in 2006 and enjoyed worldwide distribution of the critically acclaimed, “Between Darkness And Light.”

Paul Morris: Keyboards

Keyboardist Paul Morris was part of the Rainbow reformation in 1994. He sent guitarist/founder Ritchie Blackmore an audition tape and Blackmore was so impressed that he immediately hired Morris. Paul played on Rainbow’s “Stranger In Us All” and toured with the band until 1997. After his time with Rainbow, he joined the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and also worked with acts as diverse as Nena of “99 Luftballons” fame and the Teen Idol Tour with Davy Jones, Bobby Sherman and Peter Noone. In recent years, he has played on several albums by Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow/Deep Purple/Malmsteen) and Trans-Siberian alumnus Chris Caffery (Ex-Savatage). Heavy metal fans are also very familiar with Morris’s work as a member of Doro. He was with the band when they recorded their self-titled album with Gene Simmons (KISS) in 1990.

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