Welcome to the Habitat

About The Band

Meet the Gators.

Currently located in Cape Coral, FL. the band started in Montrose, Colorado in 2013. The Blue Gators bring their own Blues, Rock and Americana songs to the stage. With two albums released and a third in recording they have a full lineup that you will love! They have been featured at The Aspen Wine Festival, The San Juan Film Festival, Joe Cocker's MadDog Ranch, Arrowhead Music Series and Music on the Green and the Montrose Music Festival. When not playing exclusively they have opened for National acts including Angela Perly, Ori Naftaly and Moreland & Arbuckle. The Blue Gators are sure to please a variety of musical tastes. The band defines themselves as blues fusion. Fans have compared their sound to Eric Clapton, Pink, Floyd, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Steely Dan and Orleans.

• 

  Joe Scherben

  Vocals & Guitar I spent my younger years with my family and friends in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I am addicted to Vinyl and listen to classic rock, blues and Funk. My notable influences include Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, James Taylor, Joe Perry, Neal Young, Keith Richards and Martin Barre to name a few. I enjoy the challenges of song writing in a band situation and my goal is learning and adding teeth to the Gator music as we progress together. After many years of searching for tone nirvana , I have settled in nicely with dynamic picking on the Strat, acoustic, finger, slide, tunings , and variety are for me. 40+ years of playing and still learning and having fun.

• 

  Kalena Scherben

  Vocals & Keyboard The thing I like most about writing and playing music is the freedom of expression. While playing in bands I've had an opportunity to play keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a good feeling to look out at a crowd when they are feeling the music with you and have that sense of unity with them. Joe and I have played together for many years and we have played in many cover bands but our time with the Blue Gators has been a perfect culmination of all our experience.

• 

  Dave Tepper

  Vocals & Drums Dave Tepper is a professional drummer and percussionist that has recently moved here from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He grew up in northern New Jersey and studied in New York City with well-respected educator Sam Ulano. He went on to attend Rowan University and studied percussion with Dean Witten (Frank Sinatra). During that period he also studied vibes with Dave Samuels (Spyrogyra). He graduated with a BA in Applied Percussion & Commercial Music. He has worked with headlining acts up and down the northeast coast, including well known venues such as the Atlantic City Showrooms and New York's Westbury Music Fair, as well as performing in Europe. In addition, he continues to record and/or arrange as the long time staff percussionist for Joey Casella Productions. His versatility has also allowed him to play with anything from the Joffrey Ballet, to jazz artist's Eddie Daniels, George Young, and Al Grey. He currently resides in Fort Myers FL and can be heard performing or recording with local artists.

• 

  Gary Donabed

  Vocals & Bass Guitar Gary “The G-Man” Donabed is a bass playing banker. He’s from Cranston Rhode Island and he’s been around music for most of his life. In Rhode Island he played in various garage bands, and worked as an in-house roadie, setting up stages for dozens of major acts at the Providence Civic Center. He was also the door-man for the historic Station Nightclub in West Warwick. He moved to Florida in 1999. He has played in local bands and works as a banker for Synovus Bank. He is married with a total of 5 kids and 6 grandkids. He goes by Garo, G-Man and Grampa G.