Meet D.P.E.

Meet D.P.E. (Dance Party Explosion, a 9-piece band featuring a high powered horn section and a wide range of vocals stylings. Covering the most popular party classics from every era & genre including Funk, Rock, Dance, Top 40, Disco, and much more!

Come down to experience D.P.E. and have the time of your life.

Angel Salerno

Lead Vocals / Back Up Vocals

Angel has worked in the private music sector for 30 years on the front line for a wide variety of popular wedding bands.

She has graced the stage of many original venues with her creative works such as "No Threat" and "Deep Inside," which are available on all platforms.

While singing as a freelance singer and song writer; Angel occasionally enjoys lime lighting with Club dates in both Citi-Lites and Dance Party Explosion.

She says that it is a newfound joy finally getting sand between her toes and sun in Long Islands’ hottest venues!

Steve Beach

Lead Vocals / Keyboards

From a town known as Wantagh, Long Island. Steve grew up in East Meadow, in a home filled with music.

Steve’s first band “Delta T” was formed back in high school. Of course, as bands sadly do, they broke up a few years later as everybody needed time to ‘grow up’.

Fast-forward to 1998 when Steve added his keyboards to a then 3-piece band called “The Generators” which filled the musical void that was missing for so many years. Steve gigged with The Generators for 16 years, playing 837 shows until the end of 2013. The band added immensely to Steve’s catalog and performance experiences.

Joey DeAngelo

Lead Vocals / Trumpet / Percussion

Joey was musically influenced at an early age by his father who played trumpet. His love of music continued through school playing trumpet in bands and marching bands. He excelled in band so well that he was promoted to Drum Major in the marching band. He then continued playing trumpet in the Pep Band at Rutgers University.

Since then Joey has played trumpet in numerous bands and orchestras across Long Island. Besides trumpet he also enjoys singing all styles of music. Joey works diligently in capturing the phrasing and nuances of singers from the songs he performs.

In between singing and/or playing trumpet, Joey plays congas and various percussion instruments to help get the proper groove going.

With such an eclectic music background, Joey DeAngelo brings an energy and performance that helps make Dance Party Explosion a powerhouse band.

Dr. Neil Brodbeck

Lead Vocals / Lead / Rhythm Guitar

At age 5 Neil did an impersonation of Elvis Presley singing ‘Hound Dog’ at his Aunt’s wedding and the ‘music bug’ hit him hard.

Beginning with piano lessons he soon switched to guitar and the started his first band in 8th grade, “The Blue Horizons”. Playing Beatles, surf music, Ray Charles and early British invasion tunes at all the local school and church dances.

He’s played many gigs along his musical journey including a stint on Broadway in the mid 70’s in the show “HAIR”.

Neil continues to play professionally most recently with Jukebox Explosion, LI Rewind, and Citi-Lites. DPE is thrilled to have added him to the group. A pro’s pro.

Steven O’Leary

Lead Vocals / Trombone

Steve has a Ph.D. in Music Composition from the CUNY Graduate Center and has taught at Adelphi and Hofstra Universities. He has had works sponsored by the Long Island Arts Council and Hofstra University; he was also Music Director for several Off-Broadway productions with the New Punctuation Army ("...the large cast is in very good voice under the musical direction of Stephen O’Leary."--The New Yorker, 12/17/2001).

Steve has played with the bands Fuzz, The Funky Godmothers, The South Shore Syncopators, Big Squid, and Big Al & the Eruptions.

Steve is currently a Systems/Security Administrator at New York Life and has been the Music Director of New York Life Singers for over 20 years.

Ken Walden

Guitar / Back Up Vocals

Ken has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old.

Growing up there was always music playing in his house from all genres. Ken’s first serious guitar lessons were studying jazz with Joe Monk, a well known jazz guitarist in the tristate area. He studied with him for many years. Early on Ken knew he wanted to make music his career. Because he loved teaching private guitar students, he went to college and studied music education. He received a Bachelors Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in Education (with a concentration in computer technology). Soon after he earned a Professional Diploma in Education Administration.

While in college Ken played in local rock cover bands and wedding bands. An original band named “The Works” performed at CBGBs several times in New York City and on the television show “The Joe Franklin Show” on W.O.R. Ken worked for the Levittown School District for 36 years where he taught classes in guitar, piano, recording technology, and music theory. He created the recording technology program and music lab. He also was the Chairperson for Music and the Adult Education Supervisor.

Ken’s own band FUZZ has been playing on Long Island for many years, but he is very excited to be joining this talented group of musicians.

Gail Walden

Drums / Back Up Vocals

From her first gig at New York’s CBGB she was bitten by the performance bug! Early in Gail’s career she played punk rock, performed in an Off-Broadway pit orchestra and was a member of the country band Three Penny Opera.

Gail is proud to have been the drummer for the hard rock band The Poison Dollys (a Gem recording artist).

She is excited to be playing with DPE

Frank Mirrodi

Saxophone

Frank has been playing the Saxophone, Clarinet & Flute for over the past 35 years performing in many different musical groups from Duo’s to Big Bands including Foghat and Lionel Hampton.

Being well versed in many different musical styles and genres has provided Frank the opportunity to travel throughout the US and abroad to Europe, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

He has enjoyed performing on all the major cruise lines with numerous singers and entertainment acts but is most at home performing locally where he can meet up with friends.

Gary Hyatt

Bass

Gary started playing guitar and singing at the age of ten. He performed in various talent shows at summer resorts his family attended, as well as singing in many Long Island Karaoke contests.
Not long after Gary was married with three children, came his introduction to bass guitar.
He was asked to play bass in the country band Sidewinders. As he continued to play bass over the years, Gary’s love for music grew.

He now plays bass in four of his own bands. Stagecoach (pure country), Citi-Lites (rock band), Groovin’ Blue (a tribute band to Linda Ronstadt and The Young Rascals), and Dance Party Explosion (a 9 piece high energy horn band).

Gary also manages all the bands and continues to book the bands across Long Island and the tri-state area.