FUNKTAPUSS

Funktapuss traces its roots to the late 1990s, when three high school friends from Cape Cod -- Ryan Tivey, Brian "Beek" Vanderbeek, and Chris Santos -- started playing together under the name Purple Monkey Dishwasher. Inspired by funk and soul icons like Stevie Wonder, Parliament Funkadelic, Maceo Parker, and Victor Wooten, the group was performing at local bars before they had even graduated, including regular sets at Harry's Blues Bar and Cajun Restaurant in Hyannis. The band rechristened themselves Funktapuss -- a name drawn from artwork on jazz bassist Victor Wooten's 2005 album Soul Circus, depicting Wooten playing bass with eight arms like an octopus. The name came with Wooten's personal blessing; the band had developed a close relationship with him through bass lessons and the Cape Cod funk scene. Ryan Tivey went on to study music education at Berklee College of Music under Grammy-winning Blood, Sweat & Tears member Fred Lipsius. Chris Santos earned a full scholarship to Berklee for musical performance. Brian Vanderbeek was mentored by Wooten directly. When Vanderbeek joined the U.S. Navy, the original group went on a seven-year hiatus before eventually reforming and expanding into a larger ensemble. Powerhouse vocalist Latez Crawley joined in 2009 -- a singer with gospel roots, all-district and all-state vocal competition credits, a theater music degree from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and experience in major musical productions. A full horn section with baritone and tenor saxophone sets them apart from the typical bar act. Today Funktapuss is recognized as one of Cape Cod's most trusted live acts, delivering 2+ hour sets with a repertoire of over 80 songs. Drawing on influences spanning Stevie Wonder, Parliament Funkadelic, Tower of Power, Soulive, Maceo Parker, and Victor Wooten, they have entertained crowds of over 2,000 at venues including The Chatham Squire, Wellfleet OysterFest, Outer Cape Music Fest, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and venues as far as Buffalo, NY.