Bio

Karey Nickel

Karey has been performing as an actor, singer, songwriter, and pianist for several decades.  Holding a masters degree in classical piano, Karey has performed all over the country and recorded over 25 CDs and recording projects. Among other awards over the years, he won First Place in the Vocal Duet division in the Gospel Music Association talent contest. 

Karey has been seen as Harold Hill in a summer of performances of The Music Man at a local dinner theater, and has been a featured piano performer/entertainer for several years at the Fresno International Airport.  Karey currently plays and sings at local restaurants and teaches piano at Steinway Piano Gallery of Fresno.

Karey sings lead vocals for Uptown and plays piano and keys and provides the essence of the Uptown sound.  He is known for his soaring vocals on power ballads and subtle nuances on softer tunes.

Contact karey
“My husband and I have gone to listen to Uptown twice now. Their music draws you in — you want to sing along, dance, or just sit and enjoy! We will definitely be following them!”

— Tricia N.

David Casuga

David has been playing and directing music in the Fresno areas for quite a few years now.  Among his many musical accomplishments is conducting and directing the band for a production of Newsies.

For Uptown, you'll hear David playing energetic, creative and funky bass lines, adding interesting extra instruments like harmonica or digital xylophone and adding soaring trumpet solos.

Contact David

Don Telian

Don currently plays in a variety of settings and teaches drums in his music studio near Yosemite National Park.  He has given more than 15,000 private lessons to students of all ages, and has been published in Modern Drummer Magazine. 

Don began playing drums professionally at age 17, and won 1st place in the Percussive Arts Society’s Western States drum set competition the following year.  Before moving to the mountains Don performed with various bands and orchestras in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaii, including the legendary Stickband. 

Proficient in all styles of music, he brings an infectious groove to Uptown that will make you want to move!

Contact Don