Bios
Members of The Filthy 5th
Chris Cootsona (Keys, Vocals, Guitar)
Chris grew up in Puyallup, WA. His influences span a wide range of styles including Classical, Hip Hop, Rock/Classic Rock, R&B, Blues, Funk, and Reggae. He began singing, teaching himself piano, and composing music at the age of 12, creating his first band at “Plaid Sheep” at 15 with brother, Craig. During his 20s and early 30s, Cootsona took a hiatus from music and worked in sales while raising his son, largely on his own. During that time, he learned to play bass and guitar. As a multi-instrumentalist, Chris composed the framework for a few original songs; the resulting demos eventually attracted guitarist/vocalist, Nick Fair and later, vocalist/lyricist, Lauren Santi. The trio wrote many more songs and Chris eventually recorded and produced the 2018 studio album, “Mercury Retrograde” with TüN, building momentum and a fan base until March of 2020. Emerging into the post-pandemic music scene, Cootsona and Santi reconnected in the summer of 2022, joining forces with Chris’ new rhythm section (Craig, Jeff, Rene) and The Filthy 5th was born. Chris’ Stated mission is: “to influence the industry with music played on real instruments and record our voices authentically, without the use of autotune.”
Anika Padwekar - Vocals
Anika grew up in the Bay Area. She began singing at the age of 8 and draws from a wide range of styles, including pop, jazz, R&B, soul, blues, and classical. A naturally talented performer, dancer, and vocalist, Anika has a background in musical theater. She moved to Seattle to attend college at the University of Washington in 2017, where she led the the competitive a cappella group, Furmata. Padwekar joined The Filthy 5th in summer of 2022, combining forces with Cootsona and Santi to create three-part harmonies and share lead vocals.
Craig Cootsona (Drums/Percussion)
Craig Cootsona started playing drums at 11 years old. He began with an interest in progressive rock and played his first gigs in “Plaid Sheep” with his brother Chris. In middle school, high school, and college Craig learned jazz and orchestral music. He played every gig that came his way to help pay for college and graduate school, where he earned a masters degree in forest pathology. While in school he began playing jazz in “Size 4” with Syd Potter, Steve Munger, and Bill Duris, and shortly afterward he joined Bert Wilson's “Rebirth.” From there Craig connected with many musicians to develop a broad network of lifelong friends.
Rene Lemesnager - Guitar
Born in San Francisco, grew up in Los Angeles. Currently living in Tacoma Washington. Rene began playing guitar at age 10. His early influences were the Beatles, Hendrix, Stones, and later, R&B with Earth, Wind and Fire, Aretha, Chaka Kahn, Marvin Gay, Temptations, and Motown in general as well as Jazz and Blues (George Benson and BB King).
1976 - Toured with ‘The Main Ingredient’ whose songs ‘everybody plays the fool’ and ‘Just don’t want to be lonely‘ were million sellers. Met and played with musicians and mentors such as Scotty Harris (drummer for Bill Withers) and Smokey Robinson. Tee Tucker (bassist for the Temptations). Miles Loyd (keyboardist for The Main Ingredient). Welton Gite (bassist). Rene studied music at Los Angeles City College and played in the jazz bands at both UCLA and Los Angeles City College and attended Musicians Institute (G.I.T.) in 1984-85. Currently studying with Peter Farrell (Brazil) who teaches the ‘George Benson Method’. He has performed in Japan multiple times including the grand opening of Tokyo Disneyland. Performed in South Africa with the Main Ingredient and Dobie Gray, in Korea on a USO tour, here in the U.S. and Hawaii.
Jeff Fiorini (Bass)
A seasoned professional, Jeff been a long time fixture on the Seattle music scene.Growing up in South Seattle, his early musical tastes where influenced by mostly R&B and Soul music. Over the years evolving to Funk , Latin and Jazz. After mostly playing in various Jazz bands for the last decade or so, Jeff, the newest member of the band, is excited to get back to his roots playing in the pocket finger-style funk and bringing his many years of experience to help take Tun The Band to the next level.
Leilani (Vocals)
Leilani, the enchanting songstress, is a musical marvel renowned for her ethereal harmonies and the soothing, mellifluous tone. Hailing from the valley of Boise, Idaho, she’s inspired by the likes of Norah Jones and Harry Connick Jr. Leilani's artistic journey has been illuminated by her role as a member of the dynamic funk band, Filthy Fifth.