Karen Carr

Karen Carr has not only been heard by audiences all over New England, but over national airwaves as well. If you’ve ever wondered who the voice behind famous radio jingles such as
“1-800-M-A-T-T-R-E-S”, and “Cumberland Farms”, that’s her!

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Karen’s talent has led her to a very successful recording career in Nashville, TN, as well as recording the lead vocal for the theme song to the “Joan Rivers Show”.
Karen is currently a faculty member in the voice department at Berklee College Of Music in Boston.

As the lead female vocalist for Beantown, Karen is a compelling peformer and entertainer. Her infectious energy, versatility, and love of music will draw the audience in from start to finish.

Jeremy Ragsdale

Vocalist, pianist, and vocal arranger Jeremy Scott Ragsdale is an instructor at Berklee College of Music where he teaches beginning, intermediate and advanced vocal jazz improvisation techniques. Called the “freshest jazz singer I’ve heard in years” by Michael Brecker, Jeremy has studied, performed, and/or recorded with such notable artists as George Benson, Patti Austin, Esperanza Spalding, Lalah Hathaway, Hiromi, and Susan Tedeschi. In addition to Beantown, he is also a member of the vocal jazz group “Syncopation”, having toured internationally with the band numerous times.

From 2006-2011, Jeremy served as the vocal jazz director at Towson University, where he directed both the vocal jazz ensemble and the pop music ensemble. He has been a coach for college and professional-level acappella groups across the country, and appears frequently as a choral clinician and arranger for high school vocal ensembles. He is an alumnus of New England Conservatory and graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he received the Berklee voice program’s two highest merit-based scholarship awards.

Willie J. Hollingsworth

Willie J. Hollingsworth, Jr., nicknamed “Chill Will,” is one of Beantown’s two front male lead vocalists. He has a BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music. He has worked in Germany, England and Greece. Willie has founded a small production company, 4 Score Productions, along with two other partners, both graduates of Berklee has written and/or produced various freelance projects including a background music spot for the nighttime drama show ER, radio jingles and songs for up and coming artists. Originally from Atlanta GA., “Chill Will” now resides in the Boston area.

Anita Connerty

As co-leader of BEANTOWN, Anita Connerty wears many hats. She is the band’s drummer, one of New England’s best, but also sings lead and handles the majority of the band’s Master Of Ceremony duties. Anita also works closely with the Beantown clients assuring that their needs, wants, and vision for every party is carried out successfully. Anita’s education includes studies at Salem State Universaity in education and music and studies with noted instructor Bob Guilatti.
Anita also owns and operates a music school called MUSIC ELEMENTS, offering Professional instruction in drums, percussion, piano
and guitar.

Scott Tarulli

Scott Tarulli, the guitarist of Beantown, is a graduate of SMU. In 2000, Scott was brought on board at the Berklee College of Music where he is an instructor, teaches privately and conducts labs. His credits are impressive: he has been written up in Guitar Magazine, has done various jingles including Dunkin Donuts, Boston College and American Express. He has played on various singer/songwriter CDs and has performed with Bob Marly’s “Wailers”, Peter Wolf , “Meatloaf,” and has shared the stage with “The Fixx”. Scott has recorded on numerous demos with album credits including Lois Greco “Surrender,” and Drew Ambrose’s upcoming album and has now launched his own project. As a top-call Broadway show player he has worked in every major theater in the Boston area.

Joe Raia

Joe Raia has been the featured saxophonist for many top New England bands before joining BEANTOWN full time in August of 1999. Joe also crafts the tight horn arrangements Beantown is known for. When not performing with Beantown, Joe keeps busy as one of the area’s top woodwind teachers and music educators.

Christine Fawson

Beantown Trumpet player Christine Fawson is a gifted vocalist and trumpet player who has performed at numerous jazz festivals and conventions all over the world, including the Darling Harbour Jazz Festival in Sydney, Australia, the Tri-City Jazz Festival in Cleveland and the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention in Long Beach, CA. In addition, she has performed with such artists as Paquito D’rivera, Christian McBride, Phil Wilson, Tim Hagans and Joe Lovano.
After attending Brigham Young University-Hawaii for two years where she was a featured trumpet and vocal soloist with the international touring jazz ensemble, she transfered to Berklee College of Music, acquiring her degree with a full-tuition scholarship.

Ross Hill

Beantown Trumpeter and violinist, Ross Hill received his Bachelors degree from the University of Alberta, Canada and his Masters degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. He has been a member of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, worked for Princess Cruises and performed throughout the United States and Europe with the Klezmer Conservatory Band. He has performed on three motion picture soundtracks for Miramax Films, recorded television commercials for Nike and Pearle Vision and plays solo violin on the theme music for the television program “Great Chefs” on the Discovery Channel. Mr. Hill was a soloist with the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra in November of 1996 and has appeared in concert with such notable performers as Itzak Perlman, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Donna Summer, The O’Jays, The Temptations, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Big Apple Circus Orchestra and The Woody Herman Orchestra to name a few. As a top-call Broadway show player he has worked in every major theater in the Boston area.

Tim Wilson

Co-leader, pianist, and musical director of BEANTOWN, Jay Timothy first studied piano at the famed Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. Jay later relocated to New England where he graduated from Berklee College Of Music, Magna Cum Laude, in 1985. During his time at Berklee, Jay was a staff writer and arranger for FIVE STAR MUSIC and has been a member of ASCAP since 1982. With partner John Stevens, Jay founded a Jingle company & recording studio which later evolved into Wilson Stevens Productions. When performing with Beantown, Jay quadruples on keyboards, guitar, steel pans, and harmonica, shares the arranging duties, and is one of the band’s seven lead vocalists.