Irene Cara returns to the music scene with a brand new band and a brand new sound. Having made an indelible mark as a youngster in the 80's with such world wide hits as Fame, and Flashdance... What a Feeling she is now embarking on a whole new musical career as the leader of a group of brilliant female musicians, song writers, producers and singers aptly called Hot Caramel.

The group's unique blend of hip-pop, R&B, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Dance and Soul is sure
to set them apart from the barrage of manufactured girl groups in today's market. Sprinkled with scrumptious ballads, the record is simply called "Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel". So stay tuned for the next chapter in this multitalented icon and
creative artist's life.

Born into a family full of musicians, her mother started Errica and her six siblings on piano and violin when Errica was five. As each child branched off into their instrument of choice, Errica decided to pick up the bass violin. Looking to her older brother, who is also a bass player, she learned quickly and started on her journey. She excelled through in the beginning classes and moved up into the junior orchestra. She joined the DC Youth Orchestra traveling to China, Korea, and Hong-Kong. Graduating with honors, she went on to college studying music at the Catholic University of America.

After realizing that Classical music was not exactly what she was looking for, she moved over to the University of the District of Columbia for jazz. Under the direction of Calvin Jones and privately taught by Steve Novisel, she received a Bachelor of Music. Not letting college be her only teacher, she picked up many different styles of music such as: Funk, R&B, Salsa, Merengue, and whatever else she could get her hands on. She has played with many prominent bands throughout the DC area and is an accomplished writer and producer who's original material will be featured on the upcoming Hot Caramel CD.

Reina Yvonne Poindexter, (Errica’s sister) was born and raised in Washington, DC where her musical gifting was apparent at an early age. Under the tutelage of her mother, an accomplished singer/songwriter and music teacher, Reina began playing the Violin at the age of 4. Her musical ability led her to study many instruments until she began to focus singularly on the Oboe. By the age of 17 Reina had extensively traveled throughout the United States, Canada and many countries, performing classical music.

Soon after her travels, Reina enrolled in the University of District of Columbia where she earned a Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts/Mass Media. Afterwards she went on to perform professionally in stage and film. On stage Reina proved to be a triple threat, showcasing her remarkable talents as an actor, dancer, and singer. These stage productions include: The Little Shop of Horrors, Dream Girls, where she was cast as Lorell Robinson, Black Nativity, Jelly’s Last Jam and the national tour of Ain't Misbehavin’. Reina has also performed with the likes of Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday, Jeff Majors and Mercedes Ellington, Irene Cara and many more. She has opened for Mary J Blidge, Latoya Luckett of Destiny’s Child, The Gap Band, and sang for Inaugural Balls.

Most recently Reina not only recorded with various legendary artists, but also contributed as a songwriter on their upcoming CD's. Reina's great talent has also been seen on national television, movies and videos.

"Caution to the Wind" is the perfect theme for this undeniable young artist named Audrey Martell. She has a child-like imagination and an incredibly insightful outlook on life that she pours into her music. Within only a few years in the music business, Audrey has built a successful career as a songwriter for such gifted legends as George Benson and Randy Crawford.

In addition to her talent for writing, her velvety, soulful voice can be heard on recent recordings by Celine Dion, Anastasia, and Mary J. Blige.

"A passion for music and her guitar" thoroughly describes this Orlando native. The daughter of Pastor and Mrs. Jimmie Hawkins, Donna Hairston discovered her passion for music at the age of six as a singer, and age nine as a bassist. Following in the footsteps of her God-sister/instructor, Donna quickly adapted to the bass and became an avid bassist during her childhood years. Donna also studied classical piano in high school under the tutelage of Edna Hargrett-Thrower, but could not deny her love for playing bass.

With an independent CD release titled, "Starting Out", Donna began her professional debut into the music business in 1998. She has recently graduated from the Atlanta Institute of Music, perfecting her musical education. She attributes her musical flavor to other bass masters such as John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, Fred Hammond, Marcus Miller, Me'Shell NdegeOcello, and Rhonda S.

A millitary kid with roots both in New York, and southern Georgia, drummer/composer LaFrae Olivia Sci devoloped her musical asthetic in the church, and while growing up in Tokyo, Japan. While studying political theory and economics in college, drummer extraordinaire Greg Bandy heard LaFrae play and took her under his wing. Since moving to New York three years ago, LaFrae has played, toured and recorded with jazz, hip hop, and rock groups including the Charles Eubanks Trio, jazz vocal innovator Urszula Dudziak, Virgin Records hip hop artist Kelis, Wynton Marsalis, Leni Stern, Ron Thal, the Rachel Z Trio, trumpeter Ron Miles, David "Fathead" Newman, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Dewey Redman. As a composer, some of LaFrae's work was recently featured by pianist Lafayette Harris in a concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Currently LaFrae is writing her own solo material, playing various gigs around town, and working on a new recording with vocalist Irene Cara.

This world-class performer and educator has "one of the warmest and most compelling tones of her generation", to quote jazz guitarist Adam Levy (GuitarPlayer August 1999) — Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (August 2001) considers Bailey to be "among the best bop guitar players — she comes to each performance with a fresh approach and something new."

Bailey is also committed to bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary improvisation. Since 1995, when she place third in Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition, she has performed with jazz masters such as George Garzone, Dwayne Burno, Billy Drewes, Dennis Chambers, Dena ReRose, Rob Bargad, and Gary Grainger.

Internationally, Bailey has toured Japan with Gary Thomas and bass virtuoso, Richard Bona. She spent two weeks as Artist-in-Residence at St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. In 1999, she toured South America as a Kennedy Center Department of State Jazz Ambassador — in honor of Duke Ellington. "Audiences abroad are so open — in South America I received so many positive comments from people who had never heard Ellington on electric guitar, they were so receptive and warm."

After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee in 1988, Bailey moved to Baltimore, Maryland and began teaching privately. She has taught at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus and the Towson University, where she developed the course of study for the Jazz Guitar major.

Today, Sheryl lives and performs in New York City and is teaching at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Current projects include a new release, "the. Power of Three!' —featuring lan Froman on drums and Gary Versace on Hammond B3 — this session is reminiscent of the Grant Green Trio with Larry Young and Elvin Jones — on her own Pure Music label. Sheryl also keeps a hectic pace touring with Richard Bona, David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness, and KJ Denhert — she is also in demand as a clinician at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, The Jazz Masters Workshop, and the National Guitar Summer Workshop.

Sheryl Bailey endorses Ibanez and Yamaha electric guitars and Evans amplifiers. Her two recordings "Little Misunderstood" and "Reunion of Souls" are available at: www.sherylbailey.com, www.guitar9.com, and www.emusic.com