Bios
Marshall Oakman - Keyboard & Lead Vocals
Marshall Oakman is a prolific, New York-based performing Singer/songwriter.
At about six years of age, he first fixed his eyes on a piano. Pressing down on the black and white shapes, he discovered a timbre and texture that revealed magical keys to open doors that never close. As time passed, songs were born, flowing with a life of their own. Over the years, Oakman has honed his craft, creating a vast catalogue spanning a lifetime.
Vibrant, iconic pop/rock shimmers with Beatlesque harmonies, blending timeless themes, thoughtfully embraced and melded to magnetic melodies. Listeners find themselves hitting repeat and play, over and over again.
Marshall has energetically driven his skills as a spirited performer in regions along and beyond the East Coast such as the New York metropolitan area, upstate New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
His recorded songs include top musicians who have performed and/or recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall, Madonna, Hall & Oates, Steve Winwood, Jennifer Lopez, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Richie Sambora, Indigo Girls, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, Blue Oyster Cult, Todd Rundgren, Patti Smith, Meat Loaf, The New Cars, Alicia Keys, Gary U.S. Bonds, and Mitch Ryder.
In line with the positive spark of his song Nothing’s Holding Me Back (which is part of the soundtrack for the independently produced film,Townies, from Marshall’s album entitled 24/Seven), Marshall is hopeful his music will encourage and inspire fans to appreciate and enjoy the gift of life every day.
Cyndi Hazell - Vocals
Cyndi Hazell was born in Woodhaven and raised in South Ozone Park Queens. She is one of 10 musical siblings. Her mother Rose Izzo, played six instruments and her father played two instruments. Both parents sang, and her 6 brothers and 3 sisters all sing and play instruments as well. The oldest, Vincent Izzo is a classical pianist. The family grew up singing genres of Opera, Classical, Broadway Oldies, and everything in between.
Cyndi's first public appearance was in 2nd grade singing “How are Things in Glocca Morra” from the Broadway show Finnian's Rainbow. She went on to sing solos throughout her school days at assemblies and shows. She performed in all of the High School musicals with her siblings.
During her college years, Cyndi performed in wedding and cover bands, while at Adelphi University. In 1981, Cyndi moved to Manhattan and her dream was to perform in musicals and plays in the city. She did work as an extra for Coca Cola, AT&T, Ghost Busters, and Goodfellas.
In 1985, Cyndi performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland in two shows - ‘Working’ and ‘Uncommon Women and Others’. In 1987, she returned to Europe to tour with the musical Hair, playing the leading role of Sheila to audiences of 1,000 to 15,000. In 1988, Cyndi performed in an original Cabaret using the lyrics of Dorothy Fields, and the pianist John Todras.
In 1999, while living in St. Maarten, Cyndi sang with a Latin band from South America. When she moved back to Long Island, New York, she sang with local bands. She and her sister and two brothers sang as The Topsingers, a family A Cappella Group from 2008 up until 2015, singing oldies and standards at the Boulton Theater, Patchogue Theatre, the Lead East Convention in Parsippany, NJ, and restaurants around Long Island. In 2016, Cyndi performed the Star Spangled Banner at Citi Field.
Cyndi loves singing all genres of music. Since joining THE PROJECT in 2016, she has enjoyed playing with the group’s talented musicians, and performing lead vocals from classic rock artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, Annie Lenox, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Jett, and Tina Turner.
Andy Prager - Guitar
As a child, a gift from my mother “The Beatles’ Second Album” created a spark that attracted me to music from that point on. From guitar lessons at age 8 to garage bands in Jr. High – the momentum was in place.
Growing up in the 70’s was a great time to be musically influenced by The Doors, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Humble Pie, Cream, and Credence, just to name a few. At the time, I had no idea that Classic rock’ would survive well into the turn of the Century….and so many years later, I’d be playing rockin’roll music in a live audience setting.
I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to my long-time musician friend John Callahan – who encouraged me to play in bands again, in 1995. Back then, John hosted monthly jam sessions at his home in NJ. The core members of the group The Seoul Brothers, had gotten together for many years to play classic rock tunes from our heroes. In 2011, we played at a benefit where we were among many acts at The Crossroads in Garwood, NJ.
The origins of The Mayberrys began in 1999. We performed a wide range of past and current music from the 50’s on, that we liked to call Classic Rock Plus: from Elvis Presley, The Guess Who, Tom Petty, and Gin Blossoms….to Bonnie Raitt, Lady Antebellum, Grace Potter, and Gretchen Wilson, as examples. The Mayberrys’ debut performance in 2005 was at Cano’s Swiss Tavern. Since then, we played at places such as Madison Hall, The Backstage, Artana’s Rock Saloon, The Wild Hog Bar & Grill, and The Fishery.
In tandem, Andy’s Basement was formed in 2002 and concentrated on covering music from NRPS, The Dead, The Eagles, Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Pure Prairie League, and CCR. Our playing was limited to the ‘basement’ where we had jam sessions instead of practicing for gigs, until we first played-out at the beloved Cano’s Swiss Tavern in 2004. Musical acquaintance and well-known late Freddy Frogs had invited us to open for him.
Andy’s Basement ended and [for me] was replaced by The DelRockits in 2007. I had a notion to seek out and find most of the original members of the group from Malverne, that I played with in 1971. In being somewhat successful in getting the guys together, it was a blast to be on stage with them some 30-years later – playing a thin slice of hard rock between the late sixties and mid-seventies, artists like Bad Company, Zeppelin, The Stones, The Kinks, The Zombies, James Gang, Thin Lizzy, Humble Pie, The Who, and Ten Years After. Venues were The Fishery, Tequila Murphy’s, and Micheals Porthole.
And that brings us to the start-up of THE PROJECT. It’s been over 13 years (December 2010) since its inception. Our style of music reaches out to many artists that I have always longed to cover. Over the years we have been very fortunate to still be together, playing mostly in western Nassau County venues.
Mark Gotkin - Drums & Vocals
My love of music started when I was 3 to 4 years old listening to Do Wop music on the radio, and watching American bandstand on TV. My interest in becoming a drummer started when I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show…I was immediately drawn to Ringo Starr on drums, and knew I wanted to be a musician.
When I was 11 years old my cousin (a drummer) who was in a band and played in Lake George NY, visited me after a gig. He set-up his drums in my house and gave me my first pair of drumsticks and told me that I was a drummer. I never looked back. I was in my first band when I was 17 and played with some High School friends.
My first real gigging band was in 1972 when I played with Broken Arrow, we covered the Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, and other great bands of the 1970's. Then in 1977, I joined The Slugs, a band with some of my childhood friends. We did all original music along the lines of Punk & New Wave. We played top clubs in Manhattan which included CBGB'S, Max's Kansas City, and Great Gildersleeve's.
After The Slugs broke up, I started jamming with many other musicians playing all types of genre music. Before I joined THE PROJECT, I played in a band called The Haze for a few years, until I was asked to play with THE PROJECT - a group of talented musicians who share the love of playing live music.
Elliot Liebner - Bass & Vocals
It all started at an early age, when listening to DJ Cousin Brucie playing 60’s music on AM radio. Some favorites were Elvis, The Four Seasons, and Jimmy Dean. But all that changed for me on February 9th, 1964. This is when the Beatles were introduced on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Shortly thereafter, my Grandfather bought me a 10-dollar guitar. I took guitar lessons, then played with some friends and I played “I Want To Hold Your Hand” for our 5th grade class. After organizing a few bands throughout Jr. High and High School, my group won a Battle of the Bands and proceeded to play at the Senior Prom. This led into seeing many concerts at the Fillmore East in the early 70’s, where I was greatly inspired from The Allman Brothers Band and was learning to play their songs.
While attending CW Post, I worked at WCWP radio station. I had the fortunate experience to assist with broadcasting live from the CW Post Dome. The Dome had headline bands such as Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, Jefferson Starship, Hall & Oats, Todd Rundgren, and Fleetwood Mac. The education was priceless and their examples of musical perfection live with me today, many, many years later.
In the year 2000, the Inner Soul was formed from a group of musicians during a large jam session where I played. This 9-piece group eventually dwindled down to 3 and played a full spectrum of classic rock and oldies at local establishments for many years. It was known as the L.I.E. band, and the initials are for Larry, Ike, and Elliot.
From 2007 to 2011, I was the bassist for The DelRockits. Andy Prager had asked me to join them after knowing me from the Tuesday Open Mic at The Fishery in 2007. In 2011 THE PROJECT was formed. This band has all the ingredients for having fun while working towards being successful.