Music at the Mansion
Nobody’z Bizzness band to perform at the Lanier Mansion in Madison
Band members say they like to get
their audiences dancing
(July 2019) – When Nobody’z Bizzness performs, Leo Night, the lead vocalist, doesn’t stop dancing. He absolutely loves to have a good time,” according to band member Eddie Emily.
In July, the Louisville-based band will perform for its first time in Madison, Ind. The family friendly music includes R&B, Motown and a great variety of favorites. They know most of the hit songs over the years and can readily play special requests.
The popular band is scheduled to perform from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 20, for Music at the Mansion on the lawn at the Lanier Mansion. Guests are urged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy an upbeat musical show.
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Photo provided Nobody’z Bizzness band includes (from left) Hank Wiley, David Borgel, Richard Malone, Leo Night, Eddie Emily, Douglas Thompson and Kevin Reese. |
In addition to Night, band members include Rick Pendleton, lead guitar and vocals; Hank Wiley, keyboard and vocals (Wiley has performed on stage with Gladys Knight and with Jerry Lee Lewis); Richard Malone, saxophone and vocals; Douglas Thompson, bass; David Borgel, drums; Eddie Emily, guitar and horns; and Brooke Mellington, sound tech.
“Leo has the most energy, but each of the performers is a true artist,” Emily said. When they are not performing together, each one is able to do his own thing, musically.
Night has been performing professionally for more than 40 years. He said he never planned to be a musician. However, as the youngest of six children, he was thrust into the role of an impromptu drummer. His older brother’s small band needed a drummer for an event. The boys sat in a trailer, practicing the songs together while drumming with pencils. Night didn’t get to try the real drums until the performance started.
His first band was a three-piece blues band that traveled locally in the Carrollton, Ky., and Madison, Ind., areas. He was still the drummer, not a vocalist. However, even when drumming, he couldn’t help singing along with the music.
It wasn’t long until the band members noticed his voice and pushed Night up front to sing. “I was so scared to be out there, that while singing, I was air-drumming,” Night said. “My wife, Brenda, finally told me the air-drumming just looked silly and I had to stop.”
While Leo Night, is his stage name, the 67-year old performer is really Leo Mason. He retired after working 23 years (18 years in Purchasing) at Ichikoh Manufacturing in Shelbyville, Ky. He attended Morehead State University on an art scholarship and completed an Associates Degree at Watterson College in Louisville. He continues to serve as a City Council member in Eminence, Ky. It is a role he has held for the past 12 years. However, no matter what he was doing or where he worked, he came back to performing as a musician.
Speaking about the band members of Nobody’z Bizzness, he said, “I am so proud to play with these guys. I am the weakest link. We are a fun band. We love each other.”
He explained that the main focus for each performance is the people because “if nobody comes, we’re nothing. They make us! It has been my pleasure to meet so many great people over the years.”
Malone is also retired. Emily, 54, handles the bookings. He lives in Salem, Ind. In his “day job,” he works as a material damage appraiser of cars and trucks for Farm Bureau Insurance. The youngest band member is Borgel, the 40-year-old drummer.
Emily laughed and said, “All of the other band members live in Kentucky and are between 67 and 40 years old. The band is a very professional group of individuals who have been together over eight years. In the band business, that is rare.”
However, this band operates as a team. The result is that they have stayed together and they have fun together. Emily added, “It comes out in the show. You’ll see it. Bring your dancing shoes, you’ll have a great time.”
“Music at the Mansion has been our longest running event,” explained Joe Kent, Interim Site Manager at Lanier Mansion who was initially hired as its Program Director. “It continues to be popular with locals and tourists alike. It has been a great way for us to both promote regional musicians and interact with members of our community who may not otherwise visit the site.”