The MSH Story

The Moroccan Sheepherders was born in 1996, a very different creature from the band you know today. For the first 12 years, founding members Scott Burton, Craig Smith, Kyle Spendiff, and Steve Warendorf were a quartet dedicated to pure improvisation. We spent three to four hours a week in Scott's studio, lost in a creative flow that was nothing short of cathartic. We released two CDs, now streaming everywhere, and left behind a trove of 150 unreleased albums' worth of music.

Then came 2008, a pivotal year that would change the band's trajectory forever. We started bringing in new singers and players including Mike Choi on lead vocals and Rob Pucciarello on keys and, to the purists' dismay, began playing some covers. Our fans were thrilled, and the size of our crowds and paychecks grew with every show.

The herd began to grow. In 2009, Alan Manzo joined us to masterfully channel The Doors, and Laura Johnson, a pint-sized powerhouse, sang with us for the first time. The band's ranks soon swelled with Darren "Cobraman" Johnson, whose magnetic stage presence and sweet voice added a new, vibrant layer to our sound.

After singer Mike Choi’s departure in 2013, Herbi Freeman stepped in to fill the void as our lead vocalist. Around the same time, we finally listened to Jesse Ribyat's persistent pleas and brought in a full horn section: Jesse on trombone, Chris Allen on sax, and Jeff Starr on trumpet.

When Herbi needed to step away from some shows due to his health concerns, we found a perfect fill-in in Pat Murphy, whose powerful, high-register vocals rounded out our sound. The angelic voice of Rich Kelly soon joined the mix, solidifying the singers and completing the vocal lineup.

In 2017, drummer Mike Sakowski went on tour, and we brought in a young talent named Anthony Flora as his replacement. At around the same time Arne Wendt joined us to play keyboards. The second incarnation of the band was now fully formed.

A year later, in 2018, fate brought us to a young trumpeter named Alicia Rau. She was playing in an oompah band when Steve met her, but with Jeff Starr on temporary leave for his new baby, we offered her the full-time spot. She was a natural fit.

The band faced a terrible  sadness in both 2018 and 2020 when we lost both Jeff  and Herbi. Both passed away after bravely fighting their illnesses. Through the uncertainty of the pandemic, Pat finally committed to the band. After 28 years of me being the only guitarist in the band we finally added another one! Not just any guitarist.  Mike Beach joined us to sub and allow us to play some two guitar songs and fully form the "V" formation. Early in 2025 Anthony left the herd to join the Gab Cinque band. Lucky for us we had an ace up our sleeve in Dave Anthony, a killer drummer who we had used as a sub in the past.  And this brings us to year 30. :-)

Steve Warendorf and Scott Burton