Band Biography

Better Together

Made up of exceptional musicians coming from a variety of different backgrounds, the members of Muskoka River Band share a mutual passion and love for music. The band works together day and night preparing for performances in order to make sure their recordings and live performances are in full harmony. Check out the faces that make up Muskoka River Band below.

Drummer 

Jason Cookson has been with Muskoka River Band from the very beginning. As the heartbeat of the band, he is truly a shining star. Crowds always love seeing him in full performance mode.

Although he didn't start playing drums until he was 16, he was always a fan of the drums. With a considerable late start to playing his chosen instrument, he certainly made up for lost time. He was fortunate enough to have very supportive parents that encouraged him to play; they built some insulated, sound resistant walls for him to play freely at home.
His first band included Steve Woitas where they had the support of the teachers at the high school, namely Dave Whiteside and Keith Stratton. They were set up with access to the school PA system and a portable to use at their will. They practiced and rehearsed every night to prepare for their first short tour on the road. 
Over the years Jason has had the privilege of playing with many talented musicians. He's had the opportunity to open for bands like David Wilcox, The Spoons, Frozen Ghost, Sass Jordan, and April Wine.
"Muskoka River Band is a joy to play with; everyone is so easy to get along with and so talented. It's alot of fun every time we get together to either rehearse or perform; we always strive to get better and I always look forward to it.

A band wouldn't be complete without its Bassist, and Muskoka River Band couldn’t have asked for a better one than the talented Steve Woitas. He plays an instrumental role in the success and musical progression of the band.
Steve’s passion for music was evident early in life. At 10 years old he cried when he received a small colour TV for Christmas instead of the acoustic guitar he had been asking for. A few years later, he started his first band with some neighbourhood kids. “My friend had a bass as well as an electric guitar which he preferred to play so by default I became the bass player,” says Steve. The first band was just the spark that lit the fire that he carries to this day. After taking lessons in Toronto, Steve moved to Bracebridge where he took lessons from local bassist Mike Lazara. The social isolation of living in Fraserburg had Steve spending hours and hours with a cassette player rewinding and playing Rush, Zeppelin, The Police to name a few. Upon returning to Halliburton/Muskoka Steve reunited with Jason Cookson to form the rhythm section for Muskoka River Band.

This talented musician started from an early age. Mike started to play the guitar at the age of 8, studying at the Ontario Conservatory of Music for 5 years. He formed his first band with friends while in grade 5. Mike played in several bands around the Toronto Mississauga area during his young adult years and turned down a couple of opportunities to go on the road full time, opting instead to keep it a part-time endeavour. Mike also has a passion for audio recording which he has dabbled in as a hobby since his teenage years. Since moving to Muskoka he has stayed busy playing with a number of bands, and is now the talented lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the Muskoka River Band.

Steve's impressive talent on the Keyboards is a result of being classically trained AND self-taught. Journeyman keyboarder and Lead Vocalist "Jonesie" is just that, fashioning tones from the day he was born, in a multitude of genres. Forced to take conservatory lessons from the age of 7, despite asserting he would be outside playing with his friends, daily practice was nevertheless undertaken with resolve. First class honours ensued, supplanted eventually by girls, rock and jazz.  Formative collaborations with Margo Davidson of the Parachute Club back in the day (her candle burned out far too soon), fostered an ongoing passion for "music". Muskoka River Band is honoured to have such a talented Keyboardist and Vocalist.

Barb studied vocals at the Ontario Conservatory of Music, where she developed a solid musical foundation upon which to build her career. Music was always a huge part of her life. In her childhood years, Barb tried various instruments, including the Clarinet, Saxaphone, Flute, Trumpet, French Horn, Baritone, Trombone, and even the Tuba. She decided to hone in on her vocals. At a very early age she was a soloist soprano in various choirs in Toronto, and performed in a musical entitled "The Rose". "Back when I was 15, in the days when you could get into a bar if you were with your parents, my father would ask the band to allow me up on the stage; they would hand me a mic, and I'd be singing Kenny Rogers and Ann Murray." As an adult, Barb has played in various bands in Cambridge/Kitchener and Guelph, and since moving to Muskoka, landed a vocalist position alongside a group of talented musicians. "Singing has always been my true passion, and always will be. I love getting lost in the music".