Mike
Visaggio
Keyboards,
Vocals
Mike Visaggio is the founder of Kinetic
Element and has been involved in music since 1962. He began
playing the accordion, which was inspired by his uncle and in 1968
was over heard playing Beatle songs on the accordion then asked to
join his first band. Mike has played in a number of New York
City cover bands and progressive rock groups such as Randori
(early ‘70s), Innervision (early ‘80s), and also recorded several
albums with noted singer-songwriter Billy Falcon’s “Burning Rose”
from 1977-1981. Mike also played with Richmond's legendary
band The Strokers in the early 2000s. The veteran keyboardist
began his first foray back into the realm of progressive music,
after a long hiatus, with spiritually tinged neo-symphonic
music and produced a solo CD called STARSHIP UNIVERSE (2006). That
sentiment carried over into the project POWERED BY LIGHT (2009)
which musically reflects Hammond B3 organ and synthesizer giants
like Keith Emerson and Tony Kaye as well as Rick Wakeman and Geoff
Downes. [Q&A with
Mike]
Michael
Murray
Drums,
Vocals
Michael's dad is a drummer who started while he was in
school and has been playing gigs around the Norfolk area since he was
a teenager and is still playing to this day. Michael really
got started in 6th grade with the school band. Michael would
jump on his dads drums and play them every chance he got, so he's
been playing since he was a kid. Michael has played off and on in
his spare time since with many bands doing blues, rock,
country/southern rock and more. He enjoys blues, jazz, rock,
and especially progressive rock. Michael helped Mike Visaggio
with three tracks on his solo project "Starship Universe" and joined
Mike in September 2006 to form Kinetic Element, and came up with
name for the band, KINETIC ELEMENT.
Todd
Russell
Guitars
Todd is a classically trained
musician from the Richmond area. He joined Kinetic Element in
November of 2008 and has been working into the music. He is on the
recording of Powered by Light that the band has recorded and has
transformed KE's sound by his playing. Todd is a big fan of Steve
Howe and after playing classical and jazz for many years is in his
first progressive rock group. [Q&A with
Todd]
George
DeCola II
Vocals, Guitars, Keyboard
George is from Utica, NY and has
been singing since elementary school where he, his father and sister
would sing “Goin’ To The Chapel” in 3 part harmony while cleaning up
the dishes after supper. He taught himself to play guitar and
keyboards in 1989, so he could write songs. George and his father
started a Beatles Tribute Band called Abbey Road, telling the
history of The Beatles and their influential music. They played many
great venues in front of thousands of people. [Q&A
with George]
Len DuPilka
Bass
Len was born in NY and started
playing music at age 15. He began his formal training under Norm
Irvine, bassist for the Richmond Symphony and studied jazz under
Herb Smith at NVCC. He completed his undergraduate studies with a BS
in Music at Austin Peay State University under Dr. Solie Fott and
also playing with members of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He
also studied the Double Bass under Roger Spencer at the Nashville
Jazz Institute. Len has also taught, composed, performed and been a
studio musician playing all types of music in all different
genres. Len has been inspired by the Fretless Electric Bass
where his biggest influence has been Jaco Pastorius. He moved
to Richmond, VA and joined Kinetic Element in the summer of
2011. [Q&A with Len]