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Back To The Garden: A Collective Of Musical Top Guns

The musicians of Back To The Garden are among the most accomplished performers in the industry.  Their careers have taken them from Abbey Road Studios and the Royal Albert Hall to The Tonight Show, and they’ve shared stages and studios with artists including Johnny Cash, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins, America, Chris Isaak, Kim Carnes, Ricky Skaggs, B.J. Thomas, Billy Ray Cyrus, Albert Lee, and many others.  Most recently, members toured with Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco.

“Cactus” Jim Soldi

“Cactus” Jim Soldi

The list of artists that Jim Soldi has played with is a Who’s Who of country music.  It includes Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Paycheck, Waylon Jennings, Skip Ewing, Brooke Shields, Kenny Loggins, Billy Ray Cyrus, and many more.

A native of San Diego, Jim began his musical career at the age of five with piano lessons, and taught himself guitar soon after. Vocal Harmony Specialists

A veteran performer, songwriter, and sought after studio musician, Jim is a recipient of the CCMA Musician of the Year Award.  His touring schedule has taken him to over 40 countries throughout the world and he has performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry, the Forum, and Royal Albert Hall. 

His T.V. appearances include:  Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Nashville Now, the Wogan Show on BBC TV, the Pat Sajak Show, and the Joan Rivers Show. 

Johnny Cash said it best:  “Jim Soldi is the best guitar player in the business.”

jim with johnny

Marc “Twang” Intravaia

Seven-time San Diego Music Award winner, Marc is long regarded as a 'top gun' guitarist.

He is proud to have been a member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Richie Furay's band (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther Hillman Furay), alongside his Back to the Garden bandmates.

He has performed with America, Kenny Loggins, BJ Thomas, and Kim Carnes.

He is a sought-after songwriter and producer as well as a session guitarist.

He resides in San Diego with his wife Paula, son Sam, and Sugar the wonder dog.

marc 3

Sharon Whyte

Sharon Whyte

Sharon has been playing and singing professionally since 1986, backing artists such as Kenny Loggins, Eric Johnson, America, Kim Carnes, Juice Newton, BJ Thomas, Chris Hillman, Billy Ray Cyrus, Suzy Boggus, Dan Seals, Jamie O’Neil, Albert Lee, Ty Herndon, Collin Raye, Jordan Pruitt and others, as well as touring with original groups and playing corporate events throughout the US, UK and Canada.

With a background starting in classical piano, her teaching and playing styles encompass all music genres, from Celtic and Zydeco to Rock.

Long established as a go-to player for sessions and live performances, her studio credits include numerous CDs, movies, commercials, and compositions for music libraries.  She was most recently featured on the “Gypsy Swing Allstars” CD, featuring John Jorgenson (Hellecasters, Elton John).  She also charted, transcribed and performed in “Primal Twang – The History of the Guitar,” featuring multiple world-class guitar greats.  It is currently available on DVD and won the Rome International Film Festival for best documentary.  

Sharon also plays the accordion and challenges anyone to tell her an accordion joke she hasn’t already heard.  The first one she heard?  “Use the accordion, go to jail."

sharon whyte

Rick Nash “El Magnifico”

Sharon Whyte

An unsung hero in the San Diego music scene, Rick Nash has been playing bass and backing a diverse roster of artists for over 40 years.

Hailing from Coronado, this graduate of Hollywood’s acclaimed Bass Institute of Technology (BIT) is a master of a wide range of music styles including jazz, rock, R&B, funk, blues, and country.  He is equally at home in the studio or on stage.

Rick has toured extensively throughout the U.S., U.K. and Canada, backing artists as diverse as Chaka Khan, Art Neville, Albert Lee, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Vaughan, Sir Harry Bowens, Eddie Harris, Walter Trout, Jimmy Forrest (Night Train), as well as local artists, Eve Selis, The Soul Persuaders, and many others.  He has also shared the stage with Crosby Stills and Nash, Edgar Winter, The Doobie Brothers, Bad Company, UB40, Southside Johnny & the Ashbury Jukes, Lee Ritenour and Michael Brecker.

Any musician who has the pleasure of playing with Rick will tell you, “This gig is gonna be a good one.”

rick nash

Larry Grano

Sharon Whyte

“Unlike most drummers that just lay down a groove...Larry has a great understanding of playing to the artist’s feel, lyrics and vocal melody. I don’t think there are any styles he can’t play. I would compare him with the great studio drummer Jim Keltner--this community is very lucky to have him.”

-- Alan Sanderson
(Grammy Award Winning Producer/Recording Engineer to The Rolling Stones, Burt Bacharach, Elton John)

San Diego has many top-notch musicians in its geographic boundaries, but few could match the schedule of drummer Larry Grano.  A multiple threat, Grano is a mainstay of the San Diego music scene, a larger-than-life musician known for his percussive skills, soulful voice, and razor-sharp wit.  Grano is responsible for laying down the rhythm at countless great nights of music in San Diego over the decades. 

Though he is San Diego based, he travels the world touring and recording with artists and supports a vast array of musical styles and genres. Known for his precision and versatility, the artists that work with Larry know that his percussive contribution to their music takes it to a consistent pinnacle of artistic innovation.

larry grano

Bob Sale

Sharon Whyte

Bob Sale has spent a lifetime behind the drums, building a remarkable career that has carried him from his hometown of Oakville, Ontario, through the vibrant music scenes of Toronto and Chicago, and ultimately to San Diego, where he now lives with his family.

A versatile and highly respected drummer and percussionist, Bob has shared the stage and studio with an impressive roster of artists, including guitar legends Eric Johnson and Albert Lee, chart-topping acts America and B.J. Thomas, Broadway icon Ben Vereen, British Invasion favorites Peter & Gordon, and acclaimed artists Vince Martell, Juice Newton, and Rick Elias, in addition to performing on the soundtrack of the Tom Hanks film That Thing You Do!.

For a decade, Bob toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada with PFX: The Pink Floyd Experience and The Simon & Garfunkel Story, bringing the music of two legendary acts to audiences across the continent.

Today, Bob remains a sought-after freelance musician, bringing his experience, versatility, and musical instinct to concerts, recording sessions, festivals, and live productions throughout the U.S. and Canada.

With an impressive range of musical credits and a career spanning decades, Bob remains a highly respected and sought-after drummer, bringing energy, versatility, and seasoned musicianship to every performance.

bob sale