Kay Miracle
Vocals, Guitar
They say that music is the language of the soul, and nothing could be truer for the songwriting and singing of Kay Miracle. Inspired by her eclectic mix of musical roots, Kay channeled her Outlaw Country Blues heroes with the influential roots driven songs by the pioneers of the folk-rock movement into her own Americana sound. From live performances to studio sessions, while supporting various causes through music, Kay continues to touch fans around the world with her distinct brand of songwriter backed by performances that embrace Kay’s passion for creating original music through real life story telling.
Kay Miracle began her singer/ songwriting journey at the knee of her grandfather Claude Wood who played upright bass with such notable artists as Hank Williams and Doris Day. Seeing Kay as a “chip off of the old block”, Claude bought her an acoustic guitar on which Kay, her sister Kim and friend Diane Thomas performed as the “Miracle Sisters” traveling state fairs, talent contests and local TV shows around the West coast. As a Senior, Kay competed and was a finalist in the Miss Washington Pageant in which she walked away with the “Best Talent” award, along with a college music scholarship for an original composition that she wrote and performed.
While attending college in Washington State, Kay played in various local country rock, folk roots and bluegrass bands while building a large portfolio of original material. Ready to take on the world, she was selected to tour overseas with the Pacific Air Force and USO military tours, entertaining troops stationed in the Far East and other points across the globe for 7 years. While in Japan, Kay met and joined a Syracuse based band and eventually made her home in Central New York.
As the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for the alternative country band ‘Reckless Driven’ Kay took home a total of 5 SAMMY’s (awards honoring Central New York artists); in which 2 awards went to her personally as “Best Country Vocalist”. The band released a CD that made the ‘No Depression Americana Magazine’s’ top 100 bands to watch, and opened up for National artists. Later, Kay was a founding member of ‘Kay & the Kavemen’ and the SAMMY nominated duo ‘Ghost Town Ramblers’, in which her distinctive brand of songwriting was featured on 3 Nationally released recordings from 2011 to 2021. Under the name ‘Kay & the Miracle Cure’, she released ‘Buck Naked Demos’ which aired on ‘Woman of Substance Radio’, ‘TeXchromosome Radio and Touring’ along with its affiliates, ‘Highway Woman’s Radio’, ‘Reverbnation’, ‘Song Ladder’, ‘Lady Lake Productions’, the ‘Rebel 105.9 Soundcheck’, and selected for the ‘Independent Music Awards’.
Both Kay and her passion project ‘Kay & the Miracle Cure’ have appeared over the years at the 'TeXchromosome’ music series during SXSW in Austin Texas, the ‘Last Honky Tonk’ songwriter tours, the ‘Stage of Nations Blue Rain Eco Fest’ as a Native American artist, ‘Americana Fest’ in Nashville, ‘Folk Alliance Showcases’ in Kansas City, the ‘Tucson Folk Festival’ and the ‘Tumbleweed Music Festival’ in her home state of Washington. Kay is an award-winning songwriter in which her song ‘8 Ball’ took 2nd place in the Americana category at the ‘SAW international songwriter contest’ in Washington D. C., 1st place at the ‘Tucson Folk Festival’ with her song ‘Down that Road’, and her song ‘Rebel Gene’ placed 3rd at the ‘Jane Titland Memorial Songwriter contest’ at the ‘Tumbleweed Festival’ in Richland, Washington.
As a lover of history and storytelling, Kay founded ‘The Americana Historical Songwriter series’ in which she paired a local Singer songwriter with a historical landmark or museum. The series was televised on Public Access TV at each site, and featured songwriters from around the Northeast. Knowing the power of a song, Kay completed her certification as a Creative facilitator to use her songwriting to heal through music. She founded ‘Blood to Ink’ using songwriting to help Veterans tell their story through music, and has performed across the country singing their songs. Kay also uses her music to help people find their authentic voice by telling their unique story through song, and her healing programs have been featured on ‘Inside the Story on PBS’.
In recent years, Kay is known as a ‘Train Troubadour’, traveling by rail to and from New York to Washington state, playing her roots laden originals from the places she has seen, and the people she has met. Recently, she relocated to Washington and is beyond excited to bring her songs from the road to her home state. Kay will be performing, and recording “authentic, original music from the heart” with her alternative Americana band ‘Desert Moondogs’, and are currently laying tracks for a new collection of songs this year.
Mike Torres
GUITAR, VOCALS
Mike comes from a very large family and tells the story of his dad managing and playing in a country western band. It sounds like his dad indeed laid down the families musical roots. As one of fourteen kids Mike, his brothers, and sisters all played and sang music. His older brothers played in the popular west coast band "The Checkers" in the late 50's and his three sisters and his dad had a singing group in the 60's. Also, Mike's closer brothers by age, were in a regional band, "The Plains Men," in the 70's. One can only imagine how much music came through the walls of that house.
Mike was a founding member of the popular Tri-Cities, WA rock band "Colorblind" and shares great memories of small and big shows including opening concerts for recording artist "Poco", "Pablo Cruise", "Todd Rundgren", and "Firefall" to name a few.
Mike has a natural ear and uses his pitch perfect vocal harmonies alongside his melodic guitar work to express his musical voice.
One thing for sure is that you hear his family roots influences when he plays and sings.
Paul Inserra
Bass Guitar, Vocals
Born in San Francisco, Paul grew up experiencing first-hand the blossoming rock and funk music scene in the 60’s and 70’s, alive with the local pioneers like Santana, Doobie Brothers, Commander Cody, The Tubes, Journey, Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane and so many more. It didn’t take long for Paul to swap out his clarinet for a guitar and form a rock and roll band with his high school buddies (“We were terrible, but it was still cool”). His first LP bought with his paper route earnings…. Meet the Beatles (1964); first real concert… Grateful Dead free concert in Golden Gate Park in 1969….now that was an experience!
It was the pursuit of playing rock and roll that influenced Paul to throw away a full-ride college scholarship (not at all popular with Mom and Dad) and try to make it in the local music scene ….so, guess how that turned out! Paul kicked around working warehouse jobs and playing guitar and bass with some LOUD rock bands and enjoying the partying life. All along he gained more appreciation for the sounds of the East Bay Funk of Tower of Power and Larry Graham. One door closed, another opened; along with a few old friends, Paul formed a Top 40 funk-rock-soul band complete with a dynamite horn section. Managed by California Talent Agency, his band Savory worked all the clubs and regional venues in Northern California, actually making a modest living doing so ..… Eight guys choreographed in crushed velvet suits, silk shirts and platform shoes … What a sight! But hey, the ladies loved it!
After a few years of playing the hits night after night and getting sick of that routine, it was time to get serious about making a sustainable living. In 1977 Paul sold all his gear and moved to Morro Bay, attending California Polytechnic University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Graduating in 1980, Paul put aside playing music altogether and took a job in Richland with WPPSS working on their nuclear power plants….and did that for the next 30+ years until retirement. All along, Paul expanded his musical taste to include Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion, New Age, Blues and Folk Rock.
And that’s how this story would have ended had it not been for a chance introduction to Colorblind’s drummer Buddy Bentz, who convinced Paul to get back into the music scene. A few months later Paul was up on stage as a guest with Colorblind after a 32 year hiatus……. and got that fever back. Since 2010, Paul’s been involved in several projects around the area, and for the last 10 years has been the bassist and co-manager of the Oregon-based classic rock – hair metal band Blue Tattoo.
Paul and Buddy always talked about someday being in a band together…… well here we are! Paul was the conduit to connect Buddy and Mike with Kay Miracle …. And the magic started.
Paul’s music roots might not seem to be well connected to the Desert Moondogs’ folk-Americana genre….. but a lover of most all kinds of music, Paul quickly recognized the brilliance of Kay Miracle’s songwriting and was drawn to being a part of the quest to entertain appreciative listeners with quality original music that tell interesting stories.
Having fun and glad to be here!
Buddy Bentz
Drums, Percussion
Buddy has been drumming since grade school. Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was in the heart of a music rich city, and recalls many performances in the streets marching through downtown New Orleans in Mardi Gras parades, in school bands and drum and bugle corps performances.
"It's New Orleans that gave me the thrill of watching people dance and groove to the drums". After that he was hooked and played drums throughout his school years, even competing in state honor bands in Louisiana.
In his later years he took notice of the Louisiana rooted music called "Zydeco" and it's those upbeat rhythms and syncopated grooves you will hear in his playing.
Buddy traveled from the east coast to the west coast over the duration of 12 years raising a family and working in the environmental engineering field, eventually he settling down in the Tri-Cities area and finished his career working at the Hanford Department of Energy site in 2021.
After moving to Kennewick, WA in 1993, Buddy started to get the itch again to play music. "Actually, I hadn't played for quite some time with the travel and family commitments, but my wife suggested getting back behind the drums". It took a few years with jam sessions and some not so good players he recalls, but eventually Buddy met Mike Torres and they formed the Tri-City band, “Colorblind” with a few other local musicians. Buddy managed, and held the drum seat with Colorblind for 24 years and recently left the band to focus on the Desert Moondogs. Buddy was also involved in several other Tri-City bands and projects from 2000-2024, including a hard rock band “Nasty Jack”, a country band “Cross Country” and some various local recording sessions including all the studio drum recording for the Tri-City movie "Turn It Up".
Paul explains very well how the Desert Moondogs came together, and it’s funny how things do work out. I am very excited about this band and the opportunity to play with a very talent singer songwriter like Kay Miracle. The music Kay writes is good and her stories are down to earth, real life experiences. She is true to her music and that makes my job so easy.