Brian Nalepka started his professional career in music in 1974, while a senior in high-school, performing at the famous “Your Father’s Mustache” club in NYC, as well as traveling with its show band.

 

He was a founder of Manhattan Rhythm Kings-(1978- present). The MRK’s performed over 1000 community concerts under the auspices of Columbia Artists, performing in all 50 states. They shared the stage with Leonard Bernstein, Bob Hope, Bob Dylan, George Burns, Dom DeLuise and Mikhail Baryshnikov, to name a few. The MRK’s also appeared on the Emmy-Award winning “Celebrating Gershwin,” as well as their own PBS concert special for Nebraska Public Television. The MRK’s were symphony “pops” favorites, performing numerous times with over 80 orchestras, including the National Symphony, The New York Pops, the Philly Pops, and orchestras in Seattle, Denver, Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Houston, to name a few.

 

The Manhattan Rhythm Kings had a 32 year collaboration with 10 time Tony-Award winner, Broadway’s Tommy Tune, with whom they shared the stage with from Manhattan to Moscow. The act was featured on “Evening with the Pops,” with John Williams and the Boston Pops, as well as “Happy Birthday George Gershwin,” with the Dallas Symphony.

 

Brian created the role of “Moose” in the three time Tony-Award winning musical “Crazy for You,” and performing the role over 900 Times at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre

 

Brian can be heard both playing and singing on movie and television soundtracks including, “The Aviator,” Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society,” and “A Rainy Day In New York,” “Elf,” “Mixed Nuts,” “One Night Stand,””The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond,””Everybody Wins,”Trial and Error,” Television credits include David Steinberg’s “Inside Comedy” (Theme music), and the PBS children’s show “Peg+Cat,” and Michael Moore’s “The Awful Truth.”

He has performed with Leon Redbone, Melissa Manchester, Michelle Shocked, The Chapin Sisters, Lesley Gore, Barbara Cook, Deana Martin, Lucie Arnaz, Hal Linden.

 

Brian’s Bass, Tuba, Bass Sax, Accordion, and vocals can be heard on over 50 cd’s, on such record labels as RCA, Angel, Private Music, Sony, Rounder, Blue Thumb, Stomp-Off, and others.

 

He is a member of Woody Allen’s New Orleans Jazz Band, who are currently preparing for a European tour.

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