Jim Wilpula -
Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones/Arranger/Band Leader

Jim is a native of Ashtabula, Ohio and now calls the Metro Detroit area home. Jim graduated from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, where he majored in Jazz Studies/Music Education. In college, he played with professional groups that included The Don Burns Orchestra, The Angelo Lacivida Orchestra, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, The House Band and other various groups throughout Northeast Ohio. During the summers from 1995 – 2000, Jim could be seen at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, playing in some of the live shows that the park offered. After earning his degree from YSU, Jim toured with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra where he performed in 23 states, the Caribbean, as well as a six-week tour of Japan. Jim has written countless horn arrangements for bands around the Metro Detroit area, including Regular Boys, Stewart Francke, Huckleberry Groove and he is the primary arranger for Mainstreet Soul.

Luther Bird - Trumpet

A Michigan native, Luther's early musical development took place in the basement of his childhood home in Livonia playing along with the recordings of Al Hirt, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen and Stan Kenton. He started playing professionally in High School learning as much as he could absorb from the old-timers on the bandstand. While pursuing a Math Education degree at Michigan State University, Luther played in MSU's Jazz Band-I for four years under direction of the great Ron Newman. In addition to gigging around Lansing and the occasional jingle date, Luther spent his summers playing Dixieland jazz six nights a week in the Door County resort area of Wisconsin. Since then Luther has played as a freelancer working with Barry Manilow, Guy Lombardo, Little Anthony, The Association, Michael Carney, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, Steve Tyrell, Max Pellicano and many great local groups around the Detroit Metro area.

Brad Giaimo - Percussion/Vocals

Brad has been playing drums/percussion since his late teens. He has had the opportunity to study with some great drummers/percussionists including Paul Price, Sonny Igoe, Gary Chester, Glen Velez and Joel Rosenblatt. Passionate about all kinds of music, since moving to MI from the East coast in 2003, he has had the honor to play with many of the areas top musicians. When not playing percussion and singing backup with Mainstreet Soul he can be heard drumming for Barbara Payton, Bobby Murray and Michael King to name a few. In addition, twice a month he leads a band for the music ministry at Kennsington Community Church, Rochester Hills / Lake Orion campus.

"I grew up listening to Chicago, TOP, EW&F, James Brown, Sly...all the great funk/soul bands of the 70's and 80's and to get a chance to play that music now, in a band with this level of commitment and musicianship, is really a blast."  

Duane Harlick - Guitar

Duane Harlick is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who has performed, written and recorded all over various parts of the world with numerous artists both big and small. A truly passionate lover of the instrument, his unique guitar style pulls from a vast pool of inspiration including Rock, Jazz, Country, Fusion, R&B, Classical, Soul, Funk, Blues, Alternative, Reggae and on and on... In addition to his duties with Mainstreet Soul, Duane serves regularly as a member of the Kensington Community Church music team, and is an in-demand free lance performer and session player/writer/vocalist around the eastern US.

Sidi Henderson - Vocals

An artist with many talents, Sidi Henderson is no stranger to show business. Growing up in suburban Washington D.C., Sidi has been a performing musician and actor since the age of 10 and has been the voice for scores of TV and radio commercials nationwide. He can be seen co-starring as Sheriff Harvey in the movie, “Nevermore” starring Judd Nelson, Vincent Spano and Jennifer O’Dell now available on DVD.

You can also catch him on bass and vocals with original Power Pop band, The Callbacks.

Tony Jaworowski - Keyboards

a native of Warren, Michigan, began playing piano at about age 9. In high school he was invited to play in the jazz band and prior to his senior year he attended the Henry Ford Community College summer jazz studies program, as well as a jazz program at Interlochen. Shortly after high school Tony began playing professionally and has been working with various groups at a wide variety of venues for approximately 25 years.

In addition to playing with Mainstreet Soul, Tony also currently serves as keyboardist for the group Higher Ground and local artist Jeff Scott.

Pete Lewton – Bass/Vocals

A Detroit native, Pete has performed with a variety of rock, rhythm and blues and jazz groups throughout the metro Detroit area. His influences include great electric bassists like Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller and James Jamerson, as well as acoustic bassists Ray Brown and Paul Chambers.

"My favorite gigs have always been bands with horn sections playing all the great soul and funk tunes from groups like Sly and the Family Stone, Tower of Power, Average White Band and of course anything Motown. All that considered, Mainstreet Soul is a perfect fit for me.”

Andrew Nichols – Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxophones/Arranger

Andrew Nichols has been working in the Detroit music scene for the past six years. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, he has established himself as one of the most versatile musicians in the area. Andrew plays with various groups throughout Metro Detroit and has played for artists such as Kurt Elling, Diane Shuur, Joe Lavano, Wayne Newton, Eddie Daniels, and Walter White. Andrew just recently earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a Jazz Studies Minor from Wayne State University.

Pete Peltier – Guitar / Backing Vocals

Pete Peltier has been a familiar presence in the Metro Detroit music scene for the last 30 years as both an accomplished guitarist, bassist, singer and songwriter. His musical resume is impressively long and varied, including artists such as Regular Boys, The Gia Warner Band, Stewart Francke and (2000 DMA Award-winners) The Dungbeatles to name just a few. He has also been a regular cast member for over 10 years in the Detroit-area theatrical production of "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" as both the TNT band's bassist and guitarist. In recent years he has also become a mainstay on guitar as a member of the music team at Kensington Community Church.

Pete has honed his playing into an energetic, quickly-identifiable style that combines influences ranging from the heavy blues-rockers of the 60's and 70's including Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore and David Gilmour, as well as more modern contemporary blues, rock, country and jazz players such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Brad Paisley, Robben Ford and John Scofield. His sizzling style has attracted much acclaim and made him one of the more in-demand sidemen in Southeast Michigan over the years.

Pete considers it a great honor and a pleasure to share the stage with this outstanding Mainstreet Soul lineup and hopes to continue doing so for many more years to come.

Paul Raab – Drums/Vocals

Paul Raab, drummer, vocalist, audio and video engineer, has been working in and out of the Detroit area for over 30 years. His roots in drumming are inspired from groups such as Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu, John McLaughlin, Tower of Power, Steely Dan and many other high energy groups. Armed with this inspiration, through the years Paul has worked with groups and players such as Dan Schafer, Earl Klugh, The Bugs Beddow Band, Paul Finazzo, Greg Dokes, Jerome “T Bone” Hannon, The Hunter Brucks Band, Ralph Armstrong and a host of other Detroit musicians and session players.

“I’m excited to now be working with Mainstreet Soul as the driving force behind this horn driven band. Let the groove begin!”

Andy Wickstrom – Trumpet / Backing Vocals

Andy has been playing professionally in the Detroit area for over 25 years. Originating from a musical family where his mother and father were both singers, Andy started working as a musician right out of high school with big bands and other dance bands. He rounded out his experience playing in orchestras, and served as Principal Trumpet in the Lake St. Clair Symphony Orchestra.

An active free-lance musician, he has toured with the Temptations Review, Played First Trumpet for Victor Borge, Leslie Gore, and played for The Earl Klugh Orchestra, The Contours, and The O’Jays. Andy is one of the founders of Artistry In Brass, a successful brass quintet that features original arrangements and well-known transcriptions of standard repertoire. He is on several recordings with jump blues, commercial and sacred music groups, toured and performed at venues such as The Vatican in Rome, The Montreaux-Detroit International Jazz Festival, and Detroit’s historic Orchestra Hall. Andy keeps a busy schedule of performing and arranging throughout the year.