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BIOGRAPHY

Amy Manette band features Amy Manette (pronounced "Ma-nay") on lead vocals, Brad Holmberg on electric and acoustic guitar, Andrew McNamara on piano, David Urness on bass and Marvin Topp on drums and vocals.

AMY MANETTE BAND 
 Amy Kuch, Brad Holmberg, Andrew McNamara, Dave Urness and Marv Topp

Amy Manette has an amazing dynamic range unmatched by most singers. She has a powerful, soulful voice but can also sing with great tenderness. Her previous acting experiences have helped to develop her powerful singing voice.  Amy has performed in the MN Fringe Festival, MN Shorts Play Festival, Merely Players Community Theatre, Merely Murder Mysteries, sings on Worship Teams, and has done commercial and television modeling in Minneapolis.  She is employed as the National Sales Director at All American Foods.

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Brad Holmberg DDS is a retired dentist from Eagle Lake Family Dentistry. He has played guitar since his youth including rhythm jazz guitar for the Southern Minnesota Real Big band. He was in that band for 13 years.  Brad has been playing for the worship band at Crossview Covenant church for 20 years. He has also played in various musicals. He enjoys playing guitar, outdoor activities, and traveling to visit his adult children and grandchildren.

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Dr. Andrew McNamara is an orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty interest in the upper extremity and currently practices at the Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinic in Mankato.  He has played piano since a young age and received a music scholarship for piano performance at Luther College.  He toured the Carribean with the Luther College Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Juan Tony Guzman and also studied jazz performance with Tom Bourcier. He occasionally plays piano and organ at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato. His knowledge of jazz runs deep and comes through in his superb playing. 

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David Urness taught Orchestra at Mankato East High School for 39 years. He also taught at Prairie Winds Middle School and related elementary schools. Teaching grades 5-12 had him in charge of the string program, teaching beginners all the way through to experienced orchestra members at the high school.  In 2015 Dave received a recommendation for the Golden Apple Award and was sponsored by KEYC TV and Bethany Lutheran College. Dave retired from full-time teaching in the Mankato Public School District in 2018.  He currently teaches cello and bass lessons at Bethany Lutheran College and Martin Luther College. Dave was bass sectional coach for four years helping out the Minnesota All-State Orchestra. Conducting the orchestra at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Mankato and playing in the Mankato Symphony also keeps Dave busy.  Playing in several jazz, rock bands and orchestras in college was a great experience for Dave.
The Winona Symphony, Lacrosse Symphony, St. Teresa Orchestra, The Mankato Symphony, and several musicals have been a blessing.
Dave is excited for his new adventure making music with The Amy Manette Band.

 

Marvin Topp is Amy's drummer and band manager. Marv started out playing drums in school from 5th through 12th grade under the direction of John Berg. Marv also studied drum set performance under the tutelage of jazz drummer Jerry Udelhofen. He has worked with The Moonlighters Dance Band, The Echoes Big Band, The Cedar Paddle Folk Band, The Jim Lawrence Orchestra, Sonny Bryant, Ed (Doc Merlot) Thorpe, The Platters Tribute Band, The Schell's Hobo Band, and The Mary Guentzel Jazz Quintet. Marv utilizes mostly jazz, big band, funk, and Latin rhythms. His philosophy as a drummer is to never overpower, what he describes as, the melody makers in a band, but rather to tastefully provide a good rhythm that will enhance their sound. 

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Amy Manette Band - Jazz and Blues
Amy Manette Band - Jazz and Blues
Amy Manette Band - Jazz and Blues
Amy Manette Band - Jazz and Blues
Amy Manette Band - Jazz and Blues
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