VIN ADINOLFI, a.k.a. VIN A

Vin Adinolfi, a.k.a. Vin A, was born in NYC in 1988.  His father, Vin Adinolfi Jr., was a record executive/producer for Lifesong Records for 30+ years and produced many notable artists such as Jim Croce, The Partridge Family and Dion, to name a few.  The label’s bosses came in one day and said they had been bought out by Sony, so his father was out of work and had nowhere to turn. Why does Vin A’s story start here you ask?  Since the age of 7, Vin had been learning to play piano and guitar by ear.  When his father lost his job, Vin was 14 years old and was asked by him to start a band with his younger brother, Nick (who started playing drums at age 6).  The band would be a retrospective of his father’s career and they would perform songs his dad had either produced, sung back up on, or worked with over the years.   The band they formed would forever be known as  “The Bronx Wanderers.”

The Bronx Wanderers started touring all over the NY tri-state area playing small clubs and catering halls.  After two years of performing and amassing a small, loyal following, the band started playing 200-255 shows a year across the country.  First, they were getting asked to open oldies shows for renowned artists such as Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits), Tony Orlando, The Turtles, The Drifters, The Shirelles, Gary Puckett, and more.  After a few years of hard work and honing their craft, they were headlining those same oldies shows along with major festivals, casinos and PACs across the country. 

At this same time, Vin was studying to get a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management at Stockton University in New Jersey.  Vin had to tour on the weekends to help support his family and career and attend college during the week for 4 years.  He graduated with honors in 2010.  In his senior year, he and his brother had won a battle of the bands contest and got the opportunity to open for “Brand New” at his college in front of 5,000 screaming peers and fans.  It was only his second solo gig, the first being the contest.  By the age of 27, Vin had produced 5 full-length studio albums (Bronx Wanderers and Vin A albums) under his then newly-created record label, Whichway Records.  He plays 6+ instruments including guitar, piano, drums, bass, banjo, violin, and even the 3 and 4 string cigar box slide guitar (all taught by ear).

Vin A currently lives in Las Vegas and The Bronx Wanderers have secured a residency with Caesar’s Entertainment since 2016.  They’ve been performing at Bally’s 7 nights a week in the Windows Showroom (which they share with Wayne Newton), they’ve won 4 Best Of Las Vegas awards, a 5-Star Yelp award, a Top Ten Trip Advisor award (#8 out of 184 shows in Las Vegas), and still manage to have time to perform for charitable organizations such as Win Win Charity, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Neurofibrosis, and multiple veteran’s associations. 

With Bronx Wanderers raging on 7 nights/week, how Vin still finds time to pursue a solo career is baffling, but he does.  In 2018, Vin won another contest by submitting his original material to 96.3 KKLZ and got voted to open for Bon Jovi at T-Mobile Arena to perform his originals in front of 18,000+ people.  He also headlined the Motley Brews Downtown Brewfest performing for 3,000 people in October.  He’s a regular performer at the prominent “Composer’s Showcase” which features original artists once a month at the Smith Center (Las Vegas’ version of Lincoln Center.)  

Between The Bronx Wanderers and his solo accomplishments, Vin has sung the national anthem at Madison Square Garden for the NY Rangers along with the NBA summer league in Las Vegas at Thomas and Mack Center, has filled in for Frankie Valli in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, has sold over 50,000 records, and continues to make hundreds of thousands of people smile each year with his family act and personal music.  Vin A is a performer for the ages for ALL ages and his talent is only overshadowed by his humble nature.

LIFE CHANGES and VORTEX IMMERSION

Durning the Coronavirus times, there have been more positives than one can count, and each has been special and important to one person, to many, to millions. Though arguably, positive things are happening all the time, all over the world, being that the recent focus has been on so many of the obvious and maybe not so obvious negatives, a spotlight on some of the highlights that have come to our attention at LIFE CHANGES and have been brought forward by the Vortex Immersion Team, is our show tonight.

It is our trust that they will inspire, and support our faith in individuals and humanity not only in this crisis, but potentially from here on forward. May we never forget the kindness of others we are experiencing at this time and always, and pass it on, and share it in our stories for generations to come.

LIFE CHANGES

When it comes to changes, LIFE CHANGES is setting new trends and ushering in a new paradigm, featuring conversations with experts who have either changed their lives, changed the lives of others, or are changing the world in their own little or big way.  From activist celebrities to people who have achieved extraordinary things; from spiritual leaders, futurists,  to book smart, degreed and/or doctored scientists, physicians, and scholars, hear what they have to say and be part of a conversation that matters on ways to become the new “cool,” be in the know, in the now, and flow with life’s changes.

LAUREN LUGO

An Opera singer that hails from Orange County, California. Back in 2017, Lauren solo traveled to Rome Italy where she was inspired by the pace of lifestyle and opportunity that the Eternal City offered. It was then, that the singer vowed to return a year later. She became an American expat and student in the Summer of 2018, in the pursuit to continue studying, performing Music and complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism in Broadcast Media and Television.  

In March of 2020, Lauren was encouraged to evacuate and return to the States due to COVID 19’s impact on Italy.  On the eve of her departure to return to California, a heartfelt home video of Lauren singing an Italian aria on her balcony was viewed by millions that day.  Perhaps, it was the intention of her paying homage to a city that has gifted her with many blessings of life and lessons these past two years.

Today, Lauren hopes to continue her love of music, philanthropy and writing.  For she truly feels the purpose of her voice is to spread awareness through the therapy of music and hopes others can feel inspired. The philosophy of Lauren is that through hardship, music can truly be transformative and it is the greatest gift that keeps on giving to one another.

EDOARDO COSTA

Italian actor, entrepreneur and former model. His career began in the fashion industry as a model in the early 1990s for the modeling agency Why Not. Desiring something more, he began studying acting in Paris and Milan as well as in Los Angeles at The Actors Studio. He soon made television appearances on various American television series including Baywatch, Arliss, The Bold and the Beautiful.

Costa also made a variety of independent American films leading to his debut in a first major feature as the terrorist Emerson, in the final installment of the Die Hard series, Live Free or Die Hard, with Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. His first major role in an American film was in the soon to be released drama Kiddie Ride, directed by Harold Guskin and starring James Gandolfini and Famke Janssen.

Costa continues to work in both the United States and Italy. He has made forays into theater in the plays, Bread Love Fantasy and Very Old Man, alongside Italian acting legend Marcello Mastroianni (Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita) and worked on numerous Italian soap operas, television series, films and reality shows.

Costa was born in Varese, northern Italy, the son of a Rosangela, who worked at the local electric company and Pietro Cicorini, a transport business owner. Costa is the eldest of two children, he and his sister Monica. Costa attended Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore where he studied philosophy. He served his military service as a Carabinieri in the mid 1980s. It was during this that he was discovered in a local Milanese restaurant bar by a modeling scout.

Costa’s modeling has seen him work in Paris, Moscow, Los Angeles and Tokyo. He has appeared in print and television commercials for brands including Giorgio Armani, Laura Biagiotti, Versace, Tissot, Cerutti, Diet Coke and Toyota. In 1999, he began his acting career with a part in a popular Italian television series, going on to appear in further television programs and several Italian films.

In 2007 Costa took control of Beatrice International Models, an agency with forty years experience in the fashion industry on a par with Ford Models, Elite and Next. Former models include Iman and Stephanie Seymour. The venture catapulted Costa into the international spotlight. The modeling agency also recently began a formal dialogue with The National Eating Disorders Association and its CEO, Dr. Lynne Grefe. Beatrice International Models will be the first international modeling agency that will work together with the association to spread awareness and positive prevention about the diseases that have plagued the industry for decades.

In 2007, Costa also opened The Actor’s Academy Milano. Inspired by his experience at The Actor’s Studio, Costa began one of the first schools in Europe to exclusively recruit Lifetime Members of the Actor’s Studio as well as teachers from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, all of whom specialized in method acting using the system created by Constatin Stanislavski. The Actor’s Academy Milano hosted acclaimed actors such as Academy Award winner Martin Landau and Oscar nominated actor Mickey Rourke. The Actor’s Academy Milano has asked Gary Swanson to play a pivotal role in its development. Swanson was one of the first teachers to start “Inside the Actor’s Studio” hosted by James Lipton. Swanson was among the few personally chosen by the executive committee that includes the late Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, and Arthur Penn.

Costa began charitable work in the mid 1990s while still a model. Through a friendship with Quincy Jones, Costa has used his celebrity to support projects in Afghanistan, Brazil and Africa. Costa states that it was Nelson Mandela who encouraged him to become more actively involved in philanthropic work.

Masood Ali Khan Bio

Masood Ali Khan has a unique musical performance and voice that inspires a meditative experience with his mesmerizing combination of the ‘Hang’ (drum), hand pans and sacred mantras. Masood’s soul spirit songs are infused with the power of the heart and mind to help humanity.

Masood was born in London into Indian/Muslim heritage and is a musician of eclectic qualities. He has been practicing yoga for over 25 years, and embodies an innate spiritual desire to continue his soul mission to help humanity with every talent possible.

Masood studied and practiced Acupuncture and homeopathy and received his PhD at the Open International University of Complementary Medicine in Colombo, Sri Lanka where he was also was head of the faculty for Universal Energy from his Universal Energy teacher ‘Master Luong Minh Dang.

Masood is a Foundation Training Student Instructor trained by Dr Eric Goodman. “Through a series of postures, poses, and movements, Foundation Training activates your posterior muscle chain, anchors the hips, decompresses the spine, and teaches you to take the burden of supporting the body out of your joints and put it where it belongs: in your muscles.” Dr Eric Goodman

Masood also is a Certified Teacher for the Heather Lyle Vocal Yoga Method® Incorporating vocal exercises and postures to strength to the sounding vessel ( the whole body) . Great for beginners to overcome their fear of singing and their first steps to singing.

V I N N Y

A P P I C E

AND

BROTHER CARMINE APPICE

PAY TRIBUTE TO

RONNIE JAMES DIO

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VINNY APPICE

A special Ronnie James Dio tribute video By Carmine & Vinny Appice will be releasing soon. This Dio video celebration will commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the passing of the late, great singer, who died on May 16, 2010 from cancer. The video will be released on Sunday, May 16, 2020 on YouTube and on the Internet in general.

Besides being a close friend, Vinny Appice was also a longtime musical sidekick of Dio’s, performing with him in Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell.  Vinny also performed with Rick Derringer and, as a sixteen-year old in 1974, met John Lennon at the Record Plant Studios in New York during the recording of Lennon’s classic Walls and Bridges album, adding background hand claps to the hit single Whatever Gets You Through the Night.  And he and his original bandmates from the first Dio lineup reformed in 2012 as Last in Line to record and perform live. A consummate performer and drummer, Vinny also is a brilliant clinician, performing clinics and master classes all across the globe as well as making appearances in films and television.

 He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over 2 decades resulted in selling millions of records!

Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks including Wayne's World 2, Heavy Metal, Iron Eagle and Bedazzled. Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques" has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe also. Numerous books have been written about Black Sabbath and Dio with the authors always mentioning Vinny's unique powerful drumming style!

Some of the boys that got Vinnie’s drumming blood flowing......John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham and Mitch Mitchell.

For more information about Vinny Appice

Carmine Appice

And Ronnie James Dio

visit … 

Vinny Appice website - https://www.vinnyappice.com 

Carmine Appice website - https://www.carmineappice.net

Ronnie James Dio website - https://www.ronniejamesdio.com

Discography

with

John Lennon...Rick Derringer...

Black Sabbath and DIO

John Lennon

Walls and Bridges (hand claps on "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"; uncredited) (1974)

Rick Derringer

Derringer (1976)

Sweet Evil (1977)

Derringer Live (1977)

Black Sabbath

Mob Rules (1981)

Live Evil (1982)

Dehumanizer (1992)

Black Sabbath: The Dio Years (2007)

Live at Hammersmith Odeon (2007)

Dio

Holy Diver (1983)

The Last in Line (1984)

Sacred Heart (1985)

Intermission (1986)

Dream Evil (1987)

Strange Highways (1993)

Angry Machines (1996)

Inferno - Last in Live (1998)

Matthew Landis

Born July 22, 1969 in Ramapo, New York, just north of NYC. 

Played college basketball for Springfield College, MA. 

Served in the USAF during the Gulf War period in the early 1990s.

Have 3 beautiful daughters and 3 grandchildren. 

Had a great sales career but was suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety and ADHD. 

Got involved with some bad decisions and needed help. 

Became homeless in 2014 in Georgia.

Lost everything and then the VA in Wyoming picked up a really broken man, and offered help. I went through the treatment program here twice, and on my 3rd attempt, I decided to do something different. I needed a  change...I wasn’t sure what that meant but I met a counselor that had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and a month later I was in Washington, about to hike 2,653 miles south to Mexico. Along the journey...the course of my life began to change. I met other veterans on trail who were also not well, and are now life-long friends. After the 2018 hike, I decided to hike it again. Another 2,653 miles...but by then, I knew I needed to help other veterans experience what I just did. So in 2019 I hiked the PCT again. And that's when the calling for suicide prevention became what I'm doing now.

Jeffrey C. Hall, a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, was appointed National Employment Director for the more than 1 million-member Disabled American Veterans (DAV) on March 31, 2014. From the DAV National Headquarters located in Cold Spring, Kentucky, Hall oversees special employment initiatives and works with private and public sector entities to develop and build partnerships to address joblessness and underemployment as well as facilitate job fairs and lead efforts to connect veterans and employers.

A native of Goodland, Indiana, Hall earned an associate’s degree in fine arts from Vincennes University, Indiana in 1986. He also earned certification in the lawyer’s assistant program from Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois in 1994. He graduated from the management and leadership training program at Prince George’s Community College, Largo, Maryland in 1996.

Hall enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1988 and served as a member of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, Tiger Brigade, 2nd Armored Division. On March 11, 1991, while serving in the Persian Gulf War, he was wounded when his vehicle struck an Iraqi anti-tank mine, resulting in concussion blast injuries to his lower and upper extremities. Following medical treatment and intensive physical therapy, Hall returned to duty and was honorably discharged in 1992.

Hall joined DAV’s professional staff as a national service officer in 1993 at the Chicago, Illinois, DAV National Service Office. In 1996, he was assigned to the position of National Appeals Officer at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals office in Washington, D.C., and was appointed Assistant Supervisor in Louisville, Kentucky in 1997. In 1999, he was appointed supervisor of the Chicago, Illinois, DAV National Service Office. In 2004, he was simultaneously promoted to Supervisor of the New York, New York, National Service Office and National Area Supervisor of Area 10. He was appointed Assistant National Legislative Director in 2010 and served in that capacity until his current appointment. He is also a member and former President of the National Guild of Attorneys in Fact, Inc.

Hall is a life member of DAV Chapter 19 in Cold Spring, Kentucky. He lives in Union, Kentucky, with his wife, LeeAnne, and their three children.