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Barbara Unger-Wertico: Composer & Keyboardist
Bio:
Drawing on her years of classical training at the University of Illinois, Barb performed live with The Buckinghams in the early 1980's and later worked as a soloist prior to joining the band, R-Gang. She also appeared around Chicagoland with bands such as Better Off, Under Fire and Red Siren. In 1993, Barb toured with renowned jazz guitarist Pat Metheny throughout Europe, Israel, South America and the U.S., playing rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion and vocals on Metheny's "Secret Story" tour. Her keyboard work can be heard on the song "Wildest Dreams" [Listen] in the 1991 movie "Delirious" starring John Candy. She's also played keyboards on jazz guitarist John Moulder's 1993 CD "Awakening", on her husband's (drummer Paul Wertico) 1993 CD "The Yin And The Yout" and 2004 CD "StereoNucleosis"; on Mecca's 2002 self-titled CD; on Greek guitarist Lefteris Christofis' 2004 CD "Nous Icons"; on Allegra Rosenberg & Talia Wertico's 2004 CD "Songs For The Swing Set" featuring Paul and Barb's daughter's, Talia; and on a 2005 CD entitled "The Magical Makeilah" by the Beth Emet Youth Choir, a vocal group that Barb leads.
Barb also co-writes music with bassist Bill Syniar and Jim Peterik (leader of the famed bands, The Ides of March and Survivor). Their initial effort, entitled "Under the Spell", appeared on the 1991 Doobie Bros. "Brotherhood" CD. Their most recent efforts appear on a CDs by the bands, Mecca, and Khymera. Barb and Bill also appeared on Paul's CD "The Yin And The Yout". In addition, their music has been used commercially, including being used as the theme song for the Sport Channel's "The Doug Buffone Show". Barb and Bill are also mentioned in the new book "Songwriting For Dummies", which was written by Jim Peterik.
Barb and Paul also compose together and their songs appear not only on Paul's CDs "The Yin And The Yout" and "StereoNucleosis", but also on a 1999 CD entitled "State Of The Union" by the award-winning jazz trio, Union, and on a 2002 CD entitled "Nastroje" by the legendary Eastern European progressive rock band, SBB.
Barb currently has been busy doing session work, playing keyboards on recordings for such artists as The David Carl Band, Ondavon, Shakshuka, Doctor Doug & Bobbie Stuart, Jeffrey Klepper and Ronit Ben-Arie.
Barb became a certified Pilates instuctor in 1999 and she is certificated through Romana Kryzanowka, who is a direct disciple of Joseph Pilates. She continues her studies taking courses through the Upledger Institute in CranioSacral Therapy and Dialogues in Contempoary Rehabilitation in myofascial techniques. For more info about rehabilitation and fitness, visit Re:fit, Inc.