Meet the Props
So who are all these fine musicians that make The Props the great band that they are? Read a bit about the interests and experience of each of The Props below.
Eric Olsen
Guitar and Vocals since 2010
Founding Member
Career media professional and serial entrepreneur Eric Olsen has an enviable track record of quality, leadership, influence, and success. He created and hosted the syndicated alternative music radio and TV show Cool Tunes in the '90s; and was a pioneer of internet radio in the '00s.
He is creator of the America's Most Haunted brand and co-author of the AMH book (Berkley/Penguin 9/30/14). Olsen is also author of NETWORKING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RECORD PRODUCERS, and is guitarist/singer for popular and crazy Cleveland cover band The Props.
Dawn Olsen
Vocals and Percussion since 2010
Founding Member
Alife long music fan, world renowned car and shower singer, and all-star roadie. Sometimes plays tambourines and the bongos. In her spare time she does IT stuff and attempts to stay young at heart.
Kristen Kantounatakis
Vocals and Percussion since 2010
Founding Memeber
It struck Kristen to take a more serious look at singing professionally in 1990 with the release of Disney's "The Little Mermaid." Six year-old Kristen knew in her heart-of-hearts that she was the ACTUAL little mermaid, and thus began her journey. Luckily, a singer's instrument is extraordinarily portable, and so every car ride, every shower, morning routines, grass cutting and various other mundane activities included singing.
Kristen loves covering GREAT songs from the past and present across many genres. It's even more satisfying to watch the audience light up with each song (ideally). She loves the energy she shares on stage with her fellow PROPS members that she has been proud to play and grow with for eight years.
"You can't fake this music. You might be a great singer or a great musician, but in the need, that's got nothing to do with it. It's how you connect to the songs and to the history behind them." Etta James
Mike Black
Keyboards since 2013
A banker by trade, Mike has never given up on his dream of being a rock and roll star. Realizing that the window for that has probably closed (sigh) he has set his sights on bringing crowds the best covers of hit songs that he can.
Mike has been playing live in front of crowds since the late 1990's and has played and programed synthesizers for over 35 years and has a studio full of them. He knows that with a lot of songs it is not just the notes being played, but also the sound itself that defines it. Think of 'Let's Go' by The Cars, or 'Just Dance' by Lady Gaga and you probably hear a distinct synth line in your head. Mike, being an experienced sound designer, won't give you a sound that is "close enough" he will give you the real deal.
Mike is always willing to help a fellow musician, if you need help learning how to program a particular sound drop him a line at michael.black@propsband.com – he’d be happy to help you out!
Dave Patterson
Drums since 2018
Dave began taking drum lessons at the age of ten, which technically means he has been playing for over 40 years. He attributes his playing to all of the lessons and practicing, which he is a proponent of. He has had about ten different teachers over the years, starting with a big band jazz drummer, who taught him to read drum music, the 26 rudiments of snare drumming, and introduced him to Buddy Rich’s playing. “Imagine being 12 years old and (trying to) play along to ‘Big Swing Face’; talk about setting the bar high.” But that’s all he knew, and his love for jazz music and the shuffle groove, which is popular in modern blues, has never wavered.
In addition to playing in high school and college jazz bands, he progressed into rock and roll, and has never stopped playing. In 2005 Dave recorded drums on Kat Criswell’s “Do It Again” LP, a great experience featuring country/rock rhythms. In 2012 he performed with the Relatively Jammin’ Blues Band featuring Gary Oliver and the “Queen of the Blues”, Marilyn Oliver. Many bands later he is a proud member of The Props. His day job is within the energy industry in financial analysis.
Eric Farnan
Bass since 2018
Eric Farnan enjoys a varied musical career as the electric bass player for the Props and as Orchestra Librarian at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is in demand as a classical performer on the double bass, having performed in Ohio with the Canton and Firelands Symphony Orchestras and Heights Chamber Orchestra. Since moving to Cleveland in 2015, Eric has performed in numerous chamber and orchestral performances in the area, taught private electric and double bass lessons, organized and planned public performances, and appeared as a speaker in multiple concerts with Chamberfest Cleveland that included a live broadcast on WCLV and a performance at the Chautauqua Institution.
As an electric bass player, Eric is influenced by the music of legendary bass players Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, and James Jamerson. He was first drawn to the electric bass after trying his grandfather’s instrument and eventually spread his interests from rock to blues, jazz and classical music on the double bass. For several consecutive summers, Eric studied with David Overthrow, author of the Alfred Electric Bass Method and other well-known electric bass books, at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford, CT. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA where he studied classical double bass with Donald Palma.
Mr. Farnan is the Access and Public Services Manager at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Robinson Music library, where he manages a collection of over 55,000 books and music scores and connects the CIM community with library resources from other institutions around the country. As Orchestra Librarian he procures and prepares sheet music for large-scale performances of major works by the CIM orchestra. He also serves as Music Librarian and Ensemble Manager for the choir at Blessed Trinity Parish.