McFadden Brothers

http://www.themcfaddenbrothers.com The Mcfadden Brothers (American entertainers) are: Lonnie McFadden - trumpet, voice, tap dancing and Ronald McFadden - alto saxophone, voice, tap dancing. Born in Kansas City, MO, the McFadden Brothers are the sons of the late James "Jimmy" McFadden, a well known tap dancer who taught Lonnie and Ronald about the art form from a very early age.

After the McFadden Brothers entered junior high school, they completely quit tap dancing, largely due to peer pressure as Lonnie recalls, “They weren’t too fond of tap dancers at the school we went to.” So they decided to concentrate more on playing the trumpet (Lonnie) and the alto saxophone (Ronald). Instruments that were more accepted by their peers.

As a teenager, Lonnie traveled with one of the regional R&B and Top 40 bands playing trumpet and singing before starting his own band, “Lonnie and The Band” that included Ronald on the alto sax. It was during this time that Lonnie became a song writer and arranger. After Lonnie and The Band had run its course, the McFadden Brothers were born. By the 1980s the McFadden Brothers paralleled their father’s career by performing with the Count Basie Orchestra. They played major jazz festivals in Europe and Japan, appearing on the same bill with such jazz greats as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.

Lonnie and Ronald have made many local and national television appearances including “Incredible Sunday’s” the result of a recommendation from Ben Vereen. The McFadden Brothers have also performed with some of the biggest names in show business, like Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando and were the featured act with Wayne Newton for over 2 and a half years.

Lonnie and Ronald still reside in the Kansas City area where they can be found performing at the major music venues in the area, as well as teaching the art of Tap Dancing.