The OGeeZ

Lew Lew ‘Kanaka’ Witter is the golden-throated warbler and lyricist for The OGeeZ. Lew grew up in San Francisco after arriving from Hawaii at the age of five. At a young age Lew was introduced to a diverse collection of musical genres by his mother. He remembers listening to Hawaiian music, pop standards, rhythm and blues, classical, semi-classical, Broadway musicals and country and western. Lew’s mother was – in Lew’s words “an amazing singer and a dynamite hula dancer. Lew’s father was also a lover of music and although he did not sing or play an instrument he did appreciate all types of music, particularly jazz, boogie-woogie and the standards. This background had a significant influence on Lew’s varied musical tastes and is reflected in his work over the years. Lew sand lead, baritone and second tenor in ‘Doo Wop’ groups in his teens and early twenties. He was part of the duo ‘Denny and Lenny’ and cut his first record “Ghoul Love” in the sixties. After a long hiatus Lew is back on the musical track thanks to his pal Steve Gerick. Over the years neither Lew nor Steve realized that either had musical ‘chops’ since they rarely discussed it. It wasn’t until Steve mentioned he played ‘some guitar’ and Lew said “Hey, I sing a little” that The OGeeZ was born. Lew just celebrated his 70th birthday and lives with his wife in San Jose, CA. Steve Steve Gerick is the driving force by the new indie band called The OGeeZ. Steve had been a musician since he was 14 years old. His first guitar was an acoustic Sears Silvertone guitar he bugged his dad for weeks to buy for him. Steve dutifully went to Mel Bay’s music store in Florissant, Missouri. Steve played in a number of cover bands through his teens and early twenties in the Saint Louis area before moving to California in 1977. Steve played in a jam band upon first arriving in San Jose, California, but soon left music for a number of years to pursue a career in the computer industry. Steve stills works in this industry after almost 30 years and began playing guitar again in 2005 as a way to find a healthy escape from the pressure of life in Silicon Valley. In 2007 Steve began learning the world of Desktop Music Production and attended the Berklee School of Music Online in 2008. Steve leveraged in experience working with computers with the training he received from Berklee and built his first recording studio in late 2008. Steve launched VeeVeeVee Recording Studios that same year. VeeVeeVee is a reference an old musical buddy of Steve used to call him back in Saint Louis because of Steve’s signature flying-V guitar he played. Steve is the other O.G. in the group, is 55 years old and lives in San Jose, CA.