Starfish The Greatest Rock Band in the World... For Kids

"Looking for a true rock band with talented musicians and lyrics made for kids? You'll find it in StarFish!"
– Laurie Berkner, The Laurie Berkner Band

Kids and parents alike – get ready to ROCK! StarFish is changing the face of family-friendly entertainment and making the young – and young at heart - sing, dance, and play air guitar. This 5-piece band electrifies kids' music and gives parents the opportunity to share a real rock concert experience with their children. With such lively songs as "Stop, Drop and Rock and Roll," "Air Guitar," and "The StarFish Stomp," StarFish gives kids' music a classic rock makeover.
Based in Maplewood, NJ, StarFish consists of 5 live long musicians (who are also dads) who aim to bring a little bit of rock and roll to the little ones. The band performs original, energetic, classic rock-based tunes with kid-friendly lyrics covering such familiar territory as sibling rivalry, school rules, and fun times with friends. Parents are StarFish fans too, and enjoy musical nods to a wide range of rock influences, such as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Phish, and Tom Petty.
After playing music in various capacities for most of his life, Ray Leone (lead vocals) discovered a whole new genre after becoming a dad – kids' music. "When my daughter Emma was born, I would sing the usual lullabies for her, but I also started singing some Beatles songs, Billy Joel, you name it. Then when she started singing her first songs, she'd sing B-I-N-G-O – but she'd also sing Ob La Di, Ob La Da. How cool is that?"
Ray started bringing his guitar into his wife's Kindermusik classes and his son's preschool and combined the kids' tunes they all knew with "grown-up" jams such as "I'm a Believer" and "Yellow Submarine." "I also started checking out some kids' performers, and I always felt the kids (and their parents) wanted to let loose a little more. I could tell…they wanted to rock out!"
So, Ray recruited guitarist Marc Stern and drummer Dave Hartkern, dads/musicians from the Maplewood area, and StarFish was born. Later, bassist Antar Goodwin and keyboardist Mark Asch joined the lineup, and the 5 rockers mixed up some rock chemistry, combining fresh ideas with similar musical ideas and influences. Leone says, "These guys are awesome musicians. We've all been playing in bands forever and now that we all have kids, we're learning from them and bringing their experiences into our music. It's great to get the whole family together and sing and dance and, well…you know, rock and roll too."

The Band

StingRay

Ray Leone "StingRay" (lead vocals, guitar) is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and has been a playing music and singing for most of his life. After becoming a Dad 7 years ago, Sting Ray began teaching and performing for children. After playing guitar for many years in the New York club scene, these days Sting Ray works the Saturday morning birthday party scene (free cupcakes!) To this day, one of his favorite foods is still peanut butter and "as far as I'm concerned, it goes with everything". StingRay is Dad to 11-year old Emma and 7-year old Nicolas.olas.

Grateful Dave

Dave Hartkern "Grateful Dave" (drums, vocals) has had the music in him all his life. Son of New Jersey-based jazz trombone legend Bud Hartkern, Grateful Dave entered life into a musical family, studying voice, trumpet, percussion, and acting. Playing in bands since college, Grateful Dave has performed actively on the NJ/NY club/bar circuit, including Asbury Park's legendary Stone Pony. Most recently Grateful Dave has been spied sneaking small percussive instruments into his daughter's toy box. Grateful Dave is Dad to 7-year old Camryn.

Dr. Yes

Mark Asch "Dr. Yes" (keyboards, vocals) studied Jazz piano, voice, and composition at the University Of Miami, NYU, and The Julliard School, and plays keyboards and sings with rock and funk bands all over NJ and NYC. As a piano teacher, he combines rigorous theory and technique with improvising, recording and being extremely silly. Fascinated with modern music technology, Mark is also quite happy banging rocks together and howling at the moon. Mark is Dad to 2-year old Miller.

AntFarm

Antar Goodwin "AntFarm" (bass) spent the early part of his life trying to play music. By the time he was 7 he was playing drums, piano and violin. Around the age of 13 he picked up the bass and everything changed. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Antar formed the Antar Goodwin Group playing a style that combines jazz, world and soul that is still winning critical acclaim today. Antar's bass lines have accompanied the likes of Sting, Patty Smythe, Lauren Hill and Ruth Brown to name a few. Antar is Dad to 7-year old Isa.

Moose

Marc Stern "Moose" (lead guitar) has been tearing up the fret board for years all around NYC and has most recently been seen locally as a performing guitarist on the Maplewood/South Orange music scene. Moose is often compared to one of his guitar heroes, Bullwinkle…who actually never played guitar but who cares. Moose has an extensive air guitar collection and is Dad to 12-year old Malcolm and 9-year old Mason.