Core Musicians
At Vintage Vinyl, we collaborate with a wide variety of skilled musicians and local artists to deliver memorable live music experiences. Our goal is to offer meaningful music events that engage audiences regardless of their age or background.
Chris Oliver - Keys/Vocals
At the young age of 8, Chris attended St. Michael’s Choir School where he learned piano and got comfortable performing on stages like Massey Hall.
Following high school, Chris auditioned and was accepted to McGill University in the performance piano program. While studying at McGill, he took a 4- year summer job at Canada’s Wonderland as a singer, vocal captain and Music Director.
Since then, Chris has played & performed around Toronto for over 30 years in various bands. He’s a mainstay in the Durham Region music community and often lends his time and experience to the many upcoming young musicians in the area. You can find him jamming with his brothers in The Spitfire Kings, or playing with CeCe Pastor among the many other artists he supports on the keyboards.
Jim Manolakos - Electric Guitar/Vocals
With over 40 years of playing experience, Jim brings unmatched energy and professionalism to his performances, be it in the studio or on the live stage.
Jim has contributed his musical talents to several successful bands, among them, YYZ, Cold Shot, Loonie Tunes, and Forever Seger, as well as original acts, The Stellas and The House Call. He has also shared the stage with legendary artists such as Jeff Healey, Johnny Reid, John McDermott, Pavlo, Gordon Lightfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Zac Brown Band, and countless others.
Gordon Lightfoot described Jim’s playing as “a fusion of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Carlos Santana”, and Jeff Healey hailed him as “a great player”.
Here’s a little fun fact about Jim, he’s not just a musician, he’s a “Fishin’ Musician”, participating in professional bass tournaments for many years, with an impressive record of 24 first-place finishes.
Mitch Starkman - Bass
Mitch is an accomplished bassist with a professional career that spans over 45 years. He has played on major label and Juno award winning albums and has appeared on big stages, arenas, and soft seat theatre level tours. Some of the artists he’s played with include Zappacosta, Belinda Metz, David Bendeth, European pop star SANDRA, Michael Hanson (Glass Tiger), The Carrie Armitage Quartet, and more. He has also shared the arena stage with the likes of Pat Benatar and Red Rider etc.
Mitch is also an endorsing artist for exclusive bass gear manufacturers like FBass, Alleva Coppolo, Bergantino Audio Systems, and LaBella strings.
Jonathan Dobson - Drums
Jonathan Dobson is a highly accomplished professional drummer and musician with over 40 years of experience in the music industry. He has not only performed in studio recordings, but also in live concerts across multiple countries, including Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, United States and Canada.
Throughout his career, Jonathan has had the opportunity to collaborate and perform with renowned national and international artists such as Sammy Hagar, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Hootie & the Blowfish, Edwin McCain, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw, among many others.
But Jonathan's contribution to the music world goes beyond his performances. He has also been a leading figure in music education, heading up prestigious music instruction seminars and schools such as Drummer's Institute, DI DVD series, and the Bermuda Drum and Percussion Institute. He has served as a mentor to many young and aspiring drummers, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation.