Eight To The Bar (ETTB) was founded in 1975 by Cynthia Lyon, principal songwriter and arranger, and keyboardist. The band is known for its swing, boogie-woogie, and close vocal harmonies, but they also perform country, pop, and jazz. They were voted Best Overall Band in the CT NOW 2018 Readers’ Poll.
Colin Tilton, sax & flute, played on Van Morrison’s classic album Moondance. He also played with the Etta James band, and opened for the Rolling Stones on their Some Girls tour in 1978. He joined ETTB in 1989 and has recorded and produced the band’s last eight CDs at this own Barnone Studio in Northford, Connecticut.
Cynthia Lyon, band leader, vocals, & keyboard, founded and leads the band. She has also played with Amyl and the Icons and the Dirty Blondes of New York City.
Shawn Meehan, drums & percussion, a graduate of the Berklee School of Music, teache drums in Boston. He has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe, and has played with a number of swing and classic R&B bands, including Tony Lynn Wshington, Eddie Kirkland and Johnnie Marshall.
Brinna Jones, vocals & percussion, began singing professionally in 2002 in the Boston area. In 2005 she sang big band and jazz numbers, opening for the Bob Newhart Show. She then joined Souled Out and opened for The Drifters, The Pointer Sisters, and The Temptations. Brinna has written some songs for ETTB.
Ralph Delucia, guitar & vocals, is well known throughout New England for his performances with many bands, including The Dogs, Little Anthony, Think Ice, Christine Ohlman, and Colin Hay.
Eric Kuhn, bass guitar & vocals, the newest member of ETTB, has been performing and composing in Connecticut since the late 1970s. In 1988 he founded The Bus, a beloved Middletown rock trio, with Michael Cleary and Paul Bozzi. Eric is known for his vocal dexterity, which can range from do-wop bass to swing soprano as part of the vocal trio.