The Breakwater Band
Soulful, Swingin', Sassy & Rockin'
Chris Kuwamoto - Bandleader & Lead Vocalist
Chris Kuwamoto is the bandleader and lead vocalist for The Breakwater Band, The Breakwater Acoustic Band, and The Breakwater Jazz Trio. A self-described “closet singer” who didn’t start singing until her early 50s, Chris spent a decade producing and hosting a blues and jazz radio program, emceeing countless live shows, and curating private concerts with her husband at their home venue.
Music has been part of her life since childhood—her home filled with the sounds of jazz, big band, blues, rock, and country—so it’s no surprise that her repertoire spans them all.
After retiring in 2021, Chris decided to fully embrace her lifelong passion for music. On her 70th birthday in 2024, she officially launched The Breakwater Band and hasn’t stopped singing since. Today she performs alongside some of the region’s finest musicians, finds joy in blending harmonies with other vocalists, and has begun exploring her own songwriting in collaboration with fellow artists.
Joshua Donato – Lead Guitar & Vocalist
Josh Donato picked up the guitar at age 12 and was instantly hooked. Since then, he’s played nearly every day, developing into one of the most sought-after guitarists in the Cleveland area. In addition to guitar, he plays bass and drums, and has taught himself to sing both lead and harmony vocals.
Known for his versatility and ability to step in effortlessly with bands of any style, Josh performs with The Breakwater Band, The Breakwater Acoustic Band, Clockwork, Cuyahoga Slim, The Westies, and Mister Breeze. He also does session work, tours with Nashville recording artist Brian Bacon, and hosts two of the area’s most popular weekly jams at Spotlight Cleveland.
Shayla Sisco – Lead Guitar & Vocals
Growing up in a family of musicians, Shayla Sisco began singing in church choir and playing instruments at an early age. A natural multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, she first learned piano, then clarinet in jazz band, and picked up electric guitar at age 12 after falling in love with rock ’n’ roll. When her high-school band needed a drummer, she simply learned that too.
Inspired by The Beatles and Pink Floyd—and drawn to anything with a funky groove—Shayla’s musical curiosity knows no bounds. She fronts the all-female rock band Medusa, performs as half of Sisco & The Bearcat (Stutz), and leads her own project, Rainbow Captain.
When she’s not on stage, you’ll find her chasing sunsets, rocking flare pants, admiring lava lamps, and dreaming of following a pod of orca whales.
Sharon Telecky - Lead, Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Born and raised in Cleveland, Sharon picked up the guitar as a teenager and never put it down. Influenced by her musical family and mostly self-taught, she was also inspired by the soulful sounds of rock, blues, and jazz.
Sharon has decades of experience playing with well-known local favorites including the Frankie Starr Band, the Blue Steve Martin Band and the Bluecollar Band. She is also a vocalist and songwriter, and is known for her ability to sit in and play comfortably with different bands or at jams around the city.
In addition to music, Sharon is also a talented artist and is known for her fun-loving nature and ability to liven up any gathering with bubbles (giant ones too) and toys!
Darryl Burp (Burpo) - Bass
Darryl “Burpo” Burp began playing guitar at age 12 and studied music theory and multiple instruments for nearly three years at Cleveland’s Phyllis Wheatley Association. Though his primary instrument today is bass, he’s also an accomplished guitarist and keyboardist, performing with groups such as Burpo & The Boyz and 3rd Stone.
Burpo’s early influences include Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Ernie Isley, Miles Davis, Teddy Riley, and George Clinton—artists who shaped his wide-ranging musical taste and deep pocket groove. Known for his natural feel and ability to lock in with any drummer, Burpo has been teaching music theory, guitar, bass, and keys since the 1980s and serves as lead pianist at his church.
Offstage, he stays active and is an avid Cleveland Browns and Guardians fan—still as energetic as ever at his “ripe old age.”
Frank Musarra - Drums
Frank Mussara is a lifelong drummer who played in his first band at age 10 and turned professional by 19. Influenced early on by rock legends like Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, he’s developed a dynamic, versatile style that fits comfortably across genres. Known for his reliable, “in-the-pocket” groove and tasteful touch, Frank has performed thousands of gigs across the U.S. with artists and bands including Sonny Geraci, Buzzy Linhart, The Buzzards/Generators, The Secret, Mad Money, Moss Stanley/Nitebridge, Strange Blue, Blue Matter, and The Real Deal Blues Band.
While living on the West Coast in the 2000s, Frank became a fixture in the Los Angeles and San Diego music scenes, performing with more than 30 groups and even backing the legendary Chuck Berry for two shows. In addition to his extensive live work, he remains in demand for studio sessions and as a first-call fill-in drummer.
When he’s not behind the kit, Frank enjoys cruising on his Honda Shadow and spending time with good friends.
