Aniya: Bio
Delbert Boyer - Guitar
Delbert Boyer has been playing for over 20 years. He grew up and performed in the Philadelphia area, including Delaware and New Jersey. Delbert has opened for major acts such as B. B. King, Pieces of a Dream, Houston Person as well as many familiar local artists and bands. Delbert influences include George Benson, Carlos Santana and the late Wes Montgomery and Jimi Hendrix just to name a few. Delbert attended Temple University as a guitar major. He studied with Tom Giagabetti, Ed Flanagan and Larry McKenna. Delbert later moved to San Diego where he was exposed to the Yellow Jackets, Fattburger and Spyro Gyro. Exposure from these groups would be the food that led his career into Smooth Jazz. .
Monty Pollard - Keyboards
Monty Pollard has been playing for 40 years. Monty originally hails from Washington, D.C. and grew in an artistic and talented family, where music was always played. His father, a conga player for the late Maria Rodriguez, instilled within him a strong sense of rhythm through Afro-Cuban music. Monty began playing the congas and later migrated to the piano, and began to teach himself to play by ear. He later studied piano while stationed in London, England during his tour in the U.S. Marine Corps. Over the years, he has played with several groups including, Special Delivery, who once opened for Natalie Cole. His influences include Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, George Benson, Ramsey Lewis, and Miles Davis to name a few. His interests include the Jazz, and Gospel genres. While Monty enjoys playing jazz, his real passion stems from his fulfillment of playing Gospel music. His conversion as a born-again Christian led him to dedicate his talent to the Lord. He has released a solo project to his credit and additionally is a composer and arranger.
Robert Nelson - Drums
Robert Nelson has been playing for 5 years. He is from West Palm, Florida and Pittsburg, PA but currently makes his home in Downingtown, PA. He is a self-taught musician, with influences, that include; Beauford Carter, David Garibaldi, Chris “Daddy” Dave, and Buddy Rich. His styles included; rhythm & blues, jazz, gospel, reggae, and alternative. He has performed with the gospel group True Mode, who’s highlight was performing at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. Additionally, he was a member of the rhythm & blues group, Intimate Affair. He currently freelances with the Christian Faith Fellowship Church Choir ensemble.
Albert "Deet" Morton - Bass
Albert "Deet" Morton has been playing for 30 years. He is originally from Coatesville, PA where he currently makes his home. He initially began as a self-taught musician, but later studied with jazz bassist, Gerald Veasley. His influences include; Gerald Veasley, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clark, Jaco Pastorious, Adam Nitti, and Victor Wooten. His styles include; rhythm & blues, jazz, and gospel. He performs with the gospel group, Exhortation as well as freelances with a variety of chorus and jazz ensembles.
Mark Mitchell - Saxophones
Mark Mitchell started playing 30 years ago. He grew up in Philadelphia and was introduced to instrumental music within the school system, before studying at Settlement Music School. During his early teenage years he had the opportunity to be mentored along with such notables as; Pieces of a Dream, Robert Landam, and Pam Williams. He was mentored through the Mount Airy Cultural Center (MACC), by the likes of Tony Williams, Gerald Price, Tommy Grice, Odean Pope, Eddie Green, and Al Jackson to name a few. He has studied with saxophonist, Tony Williams, Willie Williams, and Larry McKenna. His influences range from Charlie Parker to Kirk Whalum.
Glenn Williams - Keyboards
Glenn Williams has been playing the piano over twenty-five years. The piano actually is his second instrument with the saxophone being his primary. What began as a tool for theory and improvisation became a significant musical voice for him. Glenn is primarily a jazz instrumentalist who obviously received his talent genetically from his father, saxophonist, Tony Williams. Glenn was exposed to jazz at an early age as well as Philly's famous jazz musicians. Names such as; Shirley Scott, Trudy Pitts, Mr. C, Bootsy Barnes, Gerald Price, Eddie Green and to name a few. During his youth he had the opportunity to participate in groups along with members of the group, Pieces Of A Dream. To his credit he has been a band leader, a sideman for several groups and recorded a solo CD. Glenn has had the distinct priviledge to perform with the earlier mentioned individuals that mentored him including Donald Byrd and Buddy Rich.
Tyrone "T-Bone" Blanford - Bass
Tyrone "T-Bone" Blandford has been playing bass for over 25 years. Having started out as a huge lover of R&B, Tyrone eventually became a popular gospel bassist in the Philadelphia area after hooking up with the late Ernie Saunders while they attended Lincoln University, PA. Tyrone was also featured in Bass Player Magazine’s (Feb. 96) scouting report.
Through our drummer Nate Jacobs, Tyrone met guitarist Delbert Boyer. All of whom had a background at Lincoln U.
Tyrone has several gospel recordings to his credit and explores his love for jazz with the group Aniya. He is still primarily a gospel musician and you can catch him in action at Victory Christian Center located in Phila. PA