Talk about a talented family: Jerry Teters is a professional drummer, art teacher and painter who lives in New Paltz. His wife, Betty Marton, is a writer who just started a business specializing in personal histories of organizations and individuals called In Your Own Words. Their daughter, Joanna, is a sophomore at Berklee College of Music who also performs with her neo-soul band Mad Satta. Son Ben, who is graduating from Berklee this year, is a drummer and percussionist, singer, songwriter and graphic artist, who plays in several different bands. Youngest son Adam, who attends the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, plays upright bass and guitar. Ben and Joanna often perform together in Boston, and all three Teters kids have played together at 36 Main in New Paltz.
In the next few weeks, the Teters family talent will be evident throughout the region. On April 28, Ben’s Blue Mountain Bustdown performs at Backstage Studio Productions (BSP), located in Uptown Kingston. Tickets cost $15, with all proceeds supporting the Queens Galley (see related piece in this week’s Almanac). The eclectic sounds of Ben’s band incorporate reggae, the Allman Brothers Band and “a good dose of rock ‘n’ roll,” according to Jerry, who’s proud that his kids like music that encompasses many styles and crosses the inter-generational divide. He himself is a Springsteen fan: He grew up in Monmouth County, New Jersey, home of the Stone Pony, where Springsteen got his start. The music scene “was very rich back them,” said Teters, who started out playing in funk bands and “Earth, Wind and Fire-type groups” before getting into jazz.
Meanwhile, Teters will be showing his paintings in May at the Unison Arts & Learning Center, located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. The exhibition features abstract paintings by Teters and David Skillicorn, who early in his career created large pixillated portraits. The opening takes place on May 5 from 5 to 7 p.m., but things will really hop on May 19, when there will be a special celebration of Brazilian culture, with performances by Jerry and Joanna. Joanna will sing Bossa Nova and samba, accompanied by her father on percussion and fellow Berklee student Balam Garcia on guitar. The music starts at 8 p.m., followed by a food break sampling classic Brazilian dishes, including caldo verde, pao de quejo and mousse de maracuja, and dancing to the sounds of the Forro Trio, featuring Scott Kettner on percussion, Rob Curto on accordion and Liliana Araujo on vocals. Tickets cost $20 general admission with a reservation, $15 for Unison members and $22 if you buy your ticket at the door. Call (845) 255-1559 to reserve.
Then, on May 17, Joanna will perform with Mad Satta at Market Market, the popular club in Rosendale. Teters credited exposing his kids to live performances when they were young as a factor in their continuing creative vitality. To experience the full panoply of these distinctive but blood-related sounds, mark your calendar for April 28, May 17 and May 19.
Join the family! 
