The Band
Lead Vocals
Dolly knows a thing or two about Moms that Rock! She is a Chicago coordinator of Mamapalooza (www.Mamapalooza.com ). “My involvement with Mamapalooza has given me the opportunity to meet and work with many talented Mom artists who are passionate about their art while dedicated to their families.” As a lifelong singer and now, proud Mom, it didn’t take long for Dolly to get back in front of the microphone herself. “Mamapalooza’s mission is to empower Moms by bringing them up on stage and into the spotlight. I was inspired by how much fun these Moms were having and it empowered me. I wanted to ‘play’ too!” In early 2005, a phone call inquiring about guitar lessons for her son led to a new adventure for Dolly. Always up for adventure and trying new things, Dolly accepted the invitation to sing with what would soon become known as the band Playdate!
Bass and Backup Vocals
Bea grew up mostly in Pakistan and Argentina, and speaks 4 languages. She now lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband and her 2 kids (ages 12 and 8). She loves to travel, scuba dive, golf, paint, and do anything creative. Bea has a Masters in International Business, and worked for 18 years in international logistics. When her company’s division was sold and moved to Houston, she decided to switch careers and follow her dream to start a decorative painting business (www.BeaCreative.com). In 2005 Bea decided to finally take up bass guitar after years of putting it off. She loves playing music by Jimi Hendrix, Ben Harper, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, and Concrete Blonde. Her bass teacher convinced her to join a Rockin' Moms ensemble that was later to become the Playdate band. She has been hooked on rockin’ out ever since!
(aka Trixie)
Guitar
Trish Cook is a freelance writer who lives in the suburbs of Chicago (but often lies and says she still lives in Chicago) with her husband and two daughters. She's obsessed with Green Day, Led Zeppelin, her pink paisley Fender strat, not acting her age, running, and rock 'n roll memoirs. Her debut novel for young adults, So Lyrical, was published in May 2005 as the lead title for NAL's Jam line. The sequel, Overnight Sensation, followed in February 2006. Trish is currently working on both a new YA novel as well as a Chick Lit novel about an early female mid-life crisis reminiscent of the one she had herself a couple years back (hence, the tattoo, band, twice-failed belly piercing, etc). A late bloomer, Trish didn't start writing fiction, running marathons or playing guitar until her mid 30s, proving it's never too late to make your dreams come true.
Sharon Jaffess - Drums
First appearing with New Jersey’s punk-country band The Kises, Sharon became a regular on the NYC club circuit with a number of punk and grunge bands, including: The Bathroom Guys, Sprinkle, and Virgin Naugahyde. In the mid-1990’s, the women of The Kises reunited and formed the power pop trio, Sinde Kise. In 2002, one member of the trio became a new mom, ending Sinde Kise’s ability to tour. Sharon then joined up with NYC punk rocker and more experienced mom, Black Flamingo, whose children were already in school. In 2004, love, like a magnet, pulled Sharon across Route 80 to Chicago. In addition to Sinde Kise and Black Flamingo, Sharon has played with The Swimmies, The Catholic Girls, Martine Locke, Pea Green Genie, Trina Hamlin, Tari Follett, and Zrazy. Sharon, godmother to Laura and Jennifer Gilman, has most recently joined up with Chicagoland’s Mom’s that Rock band, Playdate. Sharon’s work can be found on compilations including: “Hoboken: Stop and Smell the Locals,” “Fake Chapter Eleven Presents,” and KCRH’s “Girl Power Flower Hour” as well as on Sinde Kise’s 1998 EP, “Wet Nurse,” produced and mastered by Scott Hull (Masterdisk, The Hit Factory). Sharon also co-founded Plantlife Records/Plantlife Midwest, an independent record label and booking agency.
