Our Musicians

(in no particular order)

Debra Thornton
Lead Vocals

Debra has performed, recorded, and toured nationally and internationally as a professional signer, dancer, and actor since 1981. Credits include Washington D.C. Opera, Bronx Opera, Caramoor Opera (NY), New York Ensemble for Early Music, Bachworks Chorale, and Maryland Camerata.

Debra is on the administrative team for the Brevard Renaissance Fair, producer, director, and co-editor for Bard Lite Condensed Shakespeare Company and owner/director/instructor for Youth in Harmony.

Debra has a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Maryland. She also trained and served as a Psychiatric Specialist with the United States Army.

Vashti Saint Germain
Harmony

Vashti Saint Germain grew up in Cambridge, MA. and studied music and art, particularly focusing on vibrational energies.

She attended Longy School of Music, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Berklee College of Music, and Massachusetts College of Art.

Vashti toured the US as a vocalist/keyboardist playing for audiences of thousands in the 1980’s and 1990’s and has recoding credits on 10+ albums.

She is an entrepreneur, mother of one grown son, and continues working on music and art projects throughout the US.

Stoney Copelin
Piano, Vocals, and Leslie Hammond Organ

Stoney Copelin is a professional piano player, piano technician, and vocalist with over 30 years of experience. Studying under Dr. Allen Chow, Fran Shuler Ellis and Lanny Wolfe made it possible for him to perform throughout the United States and foreign countries.

After studying at the Genesis School of Music in Moscow he worked hand in hand with artists such as Shirley Caesar, Amy Grant, Marvin Hamlisch, and Ronnie Milsap.

Stoney has several recording credits as pianist and vocalist. His repertoire includes a full range of classical, religious, jazz, and pop music. He has held the position of Music Minister for several religious organizations and is currently performing locally throughout the Space Coast as well as Unity of Melbourne.

Nikki Helton
Piano and Vocals

Nikki Helton is an award-winning pianist and songwriter. She has worked as a music director, vocal coach, and music teacher over the past 25 years. Nikki is a proud mother to 3 grown children and enjoys her community through volunteerism.

Picture of a smiling drummer Nick Nicolas

Ron Cobb
Bass

On drums   ‘Nick Nicholas,’ playing since his teens, going on to have national touring credentials, musician/songwriter/actor work. Florida resident for half a century, Oh yeah !

In Memoriam

Fred Goodnight
Drums, Percussion, Artist, Teacher

Fred Goodnight made his transition on Friday, June 2, 2023, letting his spirit free to soar.
Fred left one note behind….and it was love.

“I often think of the beauty of a single musical note I just try to play my part on my ‘instrument’ in the symphony of life.” Fred Goodnight

William Fred Goodnight was born on June 18, 1937 to Thelma and Fred Goodnight, Sr. in the Sewickley, Pennsylvania hospital. He lived the majority of his youth in the neighboring community of Coraopolis.

Fred is preceded in death by his sisters: Betty Goodnight, Letty Jones and Lenora White. He leaves to honor his life Ruth Statt, his loving life-partner of 13 years; daughter, Rachael Lee LaVonne Strader and grandchildren; son, Jamil S. Goodnight; nieces, Jada Goodnight-Gilbreath, Deborah Eley, Mia Griffin, Heather White, Harla Williams, Laurita Mclean; nephews, Melvin Maxwell (deceased), Calvin Jones and Emcee Jones, Jr. and a host of other relatives and friends.

Fred was an elegant and gentle man with impeccable manors, an open heart and inquisitive mind embracing a myriad of philosophies. The scope and breadth of his musical and artistic accomplishments are breathtaking. Multifaceted in his talents, Fred was a professional Jazz musician who held his audiences in the palm of his hand with his light playful humor, a selection of extraordinary musicians and classic jazz. Fred was an acclaimed, prolific award-winning artist as well. He enjoyed elegance in every aspect of his life and for those who knew him, HE was an art form.

Fred lived a life of service and conducted over 50 drumming workshops and seminars nationwide. His inspiration changed the lives of children and adults alike. He conducted life-changing children’s drum classes, drumming circles and many consciousness-raising  speeches and classes in art and music through local and international organizations. He was a former member of the United States Marine Corps Drum & Bugle Corp. and traveled the world as a Music Goodwill Ambassador with the world acclaimed Fleet Force Pacific Drum & Bugle Corp (Hawaii), playing for dignitaries in Tokyo, Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Manila,  Alaska and China. His personal travels took him to South America, Brazil, Peru, West Africa, North Africa, India, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

Fred was involved in many associations, among them The Jazz Society and Peace Weavers organization, which promotes peace and equality throughout the world and where he was a respected and wise elder and also gave many talks, had dinners and conversations with Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi, and met Ruth Statt, his life partner.

Music impacted every phase of Fred’s existence. He felt that his life-force connected him with the lifeforce of John Coltrane and even more closely with James Moody. Fred was well respected within the music community. He was a professional jazz percussionist who also liked the challenge of playing guitar, saxophone, flute, trumpet, valve trombone, electric bass and piano. Fred played with many top names in the Jazz world.

His educational accomplishments includes:
Art Institute of Pennsylvania Graduate
Applied Psychology United States Armed Forces
Music Theory U.S. Navy School of Music
Music Theory Akron University
Field Music School United States Marine Corps

To his family and friends, he gave unconditional love. He accepted and valued them as uniquely themselves and empowered each for who they were.

You will be greatly missed Fred, you were a gift.