Most of them have high-powered jobs at Johnson Controls Inc., but when they practice in Matt O’Rourke’s basement, all they’re concerned about is high-powered pop.
O’Rourke, vice president of planning and development for Power Solutions at Johnson Controls, wrangled together a five-man band this winter called “Total Control Band” with the help of friend and co-worker Grady Crosby, vice president of public affairs and chief diversity officer.
The band is made up of four Johnson Controls employees and the husband of a co-worker. Together, the five will play a show at Summerfest on June 30th at the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.
“I’m a guitar nut from way back,” O’Rourke said. “I wanted a Johnson Controls band because I thought that would be a great thing for our company, too, to have something for folks to rally around at different events and all that. The hardest thing to find in a band is a drummer and a singer. Without a good drummer and a good singer, the band is never going to be good.”
O’Rourke found a singer in Crosby, whom he heard sing one day during a skit put on by employees during a strategy planning session. Jesus Nañez, the spouse of a co-worker, joined the band as the drummer. Nañez is no stranger to the stage— he played at Coachella and President Barack Obama’s second inauguration with the band Vic and Gab.
Two other co-workers, Craig Rigby, advanced market & technology strategist for Johnson Controls Power Solutions and Samuel Kaswan, executive director of integrated talent management for Johnson Controls Power Solutions, also joined up.
“We play everything,” Crosby said. “I like to consider us a sing-along band. We play everything that has been a top hit: from Santana to Bruno Mars and everything in between. If it’s a song that will make you tap your foot and sing along, it’s a candidate for our playlist.”
