Rhode Island Blog Rhode Island Real Estate, Events, Restaurants, Vacations, Local Beer, Breweries, Directory and more!
Rhode Island-based band The Free Downloads appear in the highly anticipated DeNiro movie “The Comedian,” due out on February 3rd, 2017. The movie stars Robert DeNiro, Danny DeVito, Leslie Mann, Edie Falco and is directed by Taylor Hackford (known for his work on renowned films including Ray and The Devils Advocate.
DeNiro plays an aging insult comic who attends his niece’s wedding. During a scene in which he gives a toast/speech, The Free Downloads are the chosen wedding band and have a solid 7 minutes of screen time in which their music can be heard. They play the Jewish wedding dance song “Simon Tov Mazel Tov” that accompanies the traditional Horah dance. The band also plays a number of cover songs featured in the motion picture film.
The Free Downloads are a seven-piece band that performs current top 40 music, dance pop, rock, hip hop, Motown and classic rock. With a list of more than 250 songs, their music spans across genre and ages. Selections range from current artists Bruno Mars and Meghan Trainor to fan favorites from Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, to timeless classics from Journey and Stevie Wonder and much more. The band performs private events including weddings, corporate functions, college events and other social gatherings in the New England region. From an intimate cocktail party to a large scale university event, The Free Downloads can accommodate (almost) any venue or gig request.
“We’ve worked hard over the years to become a great band, fine tuning our sound while providing exceptional service to our clients and their special events. To be cast in a major motion picture feels like recognition of not only that collective effort but also the individual talents within the band,” said Band Leader George Leonard, III.
Link to the movie trailer where The Free Downloads can be heard playing at 1 minute and 28 seconds.
The Free Downloads are led by vocalists Sheree Dunwell and Neil Letendre. Neil, a Rhode Island native, has had a broad array of experiences in the music industry. As a producer/engineer, he has worked with Grammy winning artists Ken Lewis and the Gospel singing group Trinity 5:7. As a performer, he has opened up for major acts such as Patti LaBelle, Cece Peniston, and Lisa Fischer. In 2003, he had the opportunity to sing at fellow Rhode Island College graduate Viola Davis’ wedding ceremony. Sheree Dunwell hails from Boston, MA where she has won a number of vocal competitions, most recently being named the 2015 North Shore Star champion. Sheree has an extensive background in opera and musical theater, and was selected as one of three vocalists to perform with the Pittsburgh Pops during her studies at Carnegie Mellon. The rhythm section of the band is made up of Rhode Island natives George Leonard III (guitarist/bandleader), John Wilson (Bass), Riccardo Pearlman (Drums), Greg Takemoto (saxophone), and Marc Trachtenberg (Keyboard), who readers may recognize as the founder of Rock-A-Baby, an interactive music program for infants and toddlers.
The Free Downloads have been working together for more than 7 years. Learn more at Thefreedownloadsband.com call 401-617-8378 or email thefreedownloadsband@gmail.com.
