Stephanie Pettis and Rio
Stephanie Pettis and “RIO” originally based out of Atlanta, Georgia have been playing together for the past twenty years. Their music has evolved in a truly original, dance-able sound that encompasses different styles ranging from Jazz, Blues, Latin, Reggae and smooth listening rock. “RIO” consists of Vocalist/flautist and piano, Stephanie Pettis. On keyboards Gene Howell of Atlanta, living in Panama City and Sean Dietrick of Santa Rosa Beach. Guitarists include Ron Rogers of Freeport and Steve Cosper of Panama City; Main drummer is Charles Pagano of Panama City, Steve Ferry of Pensacola and Steve McCraw of Atlanta, Georgia. Tom Latenser from Niceville plays electric and upright bass, while James Medina from the Northeast plays percussion and conga drums, and Destin’s Sal Salaz on timbali.
They have toured in the East and Southeastern United States as far as Key West and have completed several U.S.O. tours of Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Turkey and Egypt (Sinai Desert). Stephanie Pettis and “Rio”, have played yearly at the “Piedmont Arts Festival” the “Atlanta Jazz Festival” and the “Martin Luther King Fest International”, and have been opening acts for such artists as Dave Valentine, Aierto and Flora Purim. They were selected as runner up for the “Henessey Cognac National Music Awards”, performed concerts for the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, and have finished production of their C.D. entitled “We Were Dancing”.
In Panama City and the Panhandle area of Florida, “Rio” can be seen performing in Seaside Beach, Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Sand Destin, Destin, Ft. Walton, Pensacola, Henderson Park, Pier Park, McKenzie Park, St. Andrews Park, as well as Lynn Haven Park, Mexico Beach and Tyndall Field Air Force Base.
Stephanie Pettis and “Rio” together create an energy on stage that demands attention from your heart to your dancing shoes. We invite you to be a part of this fusion of energy.