Sharon Benson is a multi-talented musician whose background includes a stint with the all female group Token Angel. These days she primarily performs with her group Soul Dogs, which blends rock, jazz, blues, soul and funk into an exciting performance guaranteed to reach your emotional backbone.

Sharon began playing violin at age eight and still has an excitement for performing that is genuinely contagious. She also plays guitar. The Los Angeles Times recently called Sharon "a fine singer, who writes interesting, well-crafted songs" and called the group's performance full of "creativity and energy." Lewis Wolfe co-produces the group and plays bass. Jesse Wright normally plays drums for the group, but for our more acoustic setting the band had Chris Calouhoun on percussion and keyboards.

Soul Dogs is based in the San Fernando Valley and has been featured at many benefits and festivals around the southland. Sharon also performs with the group Innuendo, which is a mostly acoustic band that recently performed as part of the Pershing Square Lunchtime Concert Series. Innuendo features Mark Ratkovic on guitar and Rob Lowry on recorder and Mark Ratkovic joined Soul Dogs for their concert here.

More information on Soul Dogs can be found at www.souldogs.com, while more information on Innuendo can be found at www.chiligraphics.com/biheart/innuendo.

Special thanks to the Coffee Junction in Tarzana, California for donating coffee for the evening.