Lucky Chops is a band from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, which formed in 2006 and has performed professionally since 2014. They achieved prominence through performances on the

New York City Subway The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in New York City serving the New York City boroughs, boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It is owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Tr ...

which were filmed and shared on the internet.

History

The band was founded in 2006 at

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, often referred to simply as LaGuardia or "LaG", is a public High school (North America), high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, near Lincoln ...

sousaphone The sousaphone ( ) is a brass musical instrument in the tuba family. Created around 1893 by J.W. Pepper & Son, J. W. Pepper at the direction of American bandleader John Philip Sousa (after whom the instrument was then named), it was design ...

player Raphael Buyo along with trombonist Josh Holcomb and saxophonist and clarinetist Daro Behroozi. The band was originally formed for a parade of Filipino culture that Buyo wanted to participate in; after that they began busking on street corners and in subway stations. During their time at college, they decided to take their band to a professional level. The name "Lucky Chops" was proposed by the band's original trumpet player, Daniel Rutkowski, during a word-association brainstorming session and refers to the fact that all of the players' primary instruments (except the drums) are wind instruments. Their early music was mainly covers and mash-ups of other songs. Their original works are influenced by the vast mix of cultures in NYC. The band performs a wide variety of musical styles and is not bound by a single genre. The band began by playing in the New York Subway for commuters. They gained brief internet fame from a 2016 YouTube video showing their rendition of " Funky Town" and "

I Got You (I Feel Good) "I Got You (I Feel Good)" is a song by the American singer James Brown. First recorded for the 1964 album '' Out of Sight'' and then released in an alternate take as a single in 1965 and included on the compilation album of the same name, it w ...

" featuring Leo Pellegrino, which helped to significantly boost their popularity. Around this time, they released their first album, ''Lucky Chops NYC''. The band has seen over 50 musicians play with them over the past 14 years, including

Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), also known as Grace of Monaco, was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage on April 18, 1956, until her death in 1982. ...

and Sunny Jain. They are also the live house band of the MTV show '' Girl Code Live''.

Discography

*''Lucky Chops NYC'' (2015) *''2016 World Tour'' - EP (2016) *'' Walter'' - EP (2017) *''Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 1'' - EP (2018) *''Lucky Chops'' (2019) *''Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 2'' (2020) *''2014'' (2020) *''Live in L.A.'' (2021) *''New Day'' (2022) *''Virtue & Vice Sessions, Vol. 3 (Live)'' (2024)

Members

''Dates cover period of professional performance from 2014 onwards''

Current

* Joshua Gawel - trumpet (2014-present), rotary flugelhorn, piano, vocals * Josh Holcomb - trombone (2014-present), baritone horn, piano, percussion, vocals * Rogerst Charles - alto saxophone (2022-present) * Daro Behroozi - tenor saxophone (2014-2023), baritone saxophone (2017-18, 2023-present), clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, vocals * Nora Nalepka - sousaphone (2021-present), vocals, percussion * Ben Holcomb - drums (2021-present), percussion, vocals

Former

* Raphael Buyo - sousaphone (2014-18) * Leo Pellegrino - baritone saxophone (2014-17) * Jesse Chevan - drums (2014-15) * Kevin Congleton - drums (2015-2016) * Charles Sams - drums (2016-18) * Adrian Condis - baritone saxophone (2019-23) * Dr. Reginald Chapman - contrabass bugle (2019-20) * Patrick Simard - drums (2019-21)

Touring/Alternate

* Timaine Bryant - sousaphone (2014-15) ''(alternate for Buyo)'' * Harry Phillips - sousaphone (2018-19) * Matt Olsson - drums (2018) * Eric Trudell - baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone (2018-19) * Attis Clopton - drums (2018-19) * Corey Wilcox - sousaphone (2019, 2020-21) * Rogerst Charles - alto saxophone (2022-23) ''(became band member in 2023)''

Gallery

Lucky Chops (ZMF 2017) jm40171.jpg, Daro Behroozi in 2017 Lucky Chops (ZMF 2017) jm40439.jpg, Joshua Gawel in 2017 Lucky Chops 2016.jpg, Josh Holcomb in 2016 Lucky Chops 2016 - 28120594162.jpg, Leo P in 2016 Lucky Chops (ZMF 2017) jm40354.jpg, Raphael Buyo with his sousaphone "Walter" in 2017 (Background: Joshua Gawel) Lucky Chops (ZMF 2017) jm40132.jpg, Charles Sams in 2017

External links

Official Website

Official YouTube Channel

References

{{Authority control Musical groups from New York City