It all began at a Mexican restaurant just outside of Nashville around Franklin, Tenn., in 2007. A group of talented musicians from varied backgrounds had a regular gig there, playing standard American favorite songs.
Nothing stirred up the restaurant crowd too much, but then the four members started to think to themselves, “We all love The Beatles, why don’t we play The Beatles?’
Trying out some of their favorite Beatles tunes was a rousing success, band member Dennis Scott recounted, and they approached the restaurant owner about making it part of the regular nightly roundup. The owner approved in hearty agreement for, “The Beatles and fajitas” and soon The WannaBeatles was formed.
“We saw the way that people reacted to us, and thought, ‘Well this could work,” said Scott, vocalist, guitarist and bassist for the band, who grew up in Long Island and performed on Broadway as a youngster. “There are a lot of Beatles tribute bands out there. We knew we’d have to go where no Beatles bands have before and bring something new.
“Basically, we’re not afraid to be ourselves and bring our personalities to it.”
The Grammy Award finalists, who walked the red carpet for the awards ceremony in 2012, said playing at Nashville hot spots proved to be a springboard for higher profile shows, which included appearances with such renowned artists as Wynonna Judd, Phil Keaggy, and Jonny Lang. Their performances at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, The Music City Bowl, and Georgia’s New Year‘s Eve Peach Drop earned them enthusiastic reviews and standing ovations for their creative medleys, comedic timing and lively stage presence.
Next weekend, The WannaBeatles are excited to return to the Holland Theatre in concert for the third time, set for a performance of favorite Beatles hits, along with a number of other top songs from the 1960s and 1970s at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.
The Holland Theatre is special to The WannaBeatles and Dennis, as his wife is Bellefontaine native Lori Jenkins, a fellow professional musician who also sang at the Holland in her younger years and performed in Bellefontaine High School’s production of “Hello Dolly” as a high school student. The couple met through friends in Nashville, where she previously worked in the Opryland Theme Park, and she also was a performer in Disney World’s Hall of Presidents feature in earlier years.
A daughter of former longtime Examiner employee Harold “Scoop” Jenkins, Lori will be helping behind the scenes with the band’s performance at the Holland Theatre. Beatles aficionados and other fans might remember The WannaBeatles’ previous performances at the Holland in September 2013 and October 2016, Scott said.
Scott is a two-time Grammy and Emmy award winning composer and producer. His songs have been recorded by such artists as Ray Charles, Faith Hill, Alison Kraus, Sugarland, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant, The Muppets, and many others.
His music has been featured on shows such as Sesame Street, Fame, Who’s the Boss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Magic School Bus and others. Dennis has also served as musical director for The National Child Safety Council and the PBS children’s TV series, Noddy.
In addition to Scott, fellow members of The WannaBeatles are classically trained pianist Nathan Burbank, vocalist, keyboardist and bassist; David Toledo, who “brings the fire” as a native of Cuba, a vocalist, drummer, guitarist and keyboardist; and the group’s newest member Quinten Bianchi, a recent graduate from Belmont University’s College of Entertainment and Music Business.
“Quinten brings our average age of the band down a few decades,” Scott said with a chuckle about the 23-year-old. “He’s not afraid to jump of the stage and sing to the ladies. He’s very charming.”
Bianchi is a vocalist and plays the guitar, saxophone and the electronic wind instrument (EWI), which has amazing capabilities to produce all types of woodwind and brass instruments, with Bianchi using his breath work and fingering to play the instrument.
“Nashville’s sacred singing drummer,” is Toledo’s nickname, and he adds authenticity to the group’s covers of Beatles songs with Latin influences. A graduate of the prestigious University of Miami Jazz program where he received his Master’s in Jazz Writing/Arranging and a Bachelor’s in Music Education, he has been an active musician from childhood, professionally active since the age of 14 and a teacher from the age of 17.
While he was growing up in Vermont, Burbank said his classical piano teacher didn’t like The Beatles, so he had to hide his Beatles albums when his teacher would come over. He moved to Nashville in 1986.
In addition to the WannaBeatles, Burbank plays for the Woodmont Baptist Church in Nashville, and works as a freelance pianist, composer and arranger. From Bach’s “Toccata & Fugue in d minor” to the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout,” he loves all types and styles of music.
“We’re all living out our dreams, being able to work as musicians and being on the road together, traveling the country,” Burbank said. “The group has a great chemistry together, too.”
“Dennis is like a big kid on stage, who has never grown up,” Toledo agreed. “We consider ourselves pretty lucky and we’re loving sharing the music of the Beatles with their longtime fans and new fans alike.”
Watch The WannaBeatles’s personalized video greeting for their return to the Holland at the link below: