Janna Brunner was born and raised in the city of Orange, where she continues to reside today. When she was a little girl, her dad – Bob Brunner, began teaching her to play drums. Being a musician himself, Bob always played his favorite music for Janna, including Rush, Led Zeppelin, Dio and Jethro Tull. Bob enjoyed sharing the music he loved with her, thus setting the foundation for Janna’s influences and inspiration to become a musician as well.
During her grade school years, Janna took a few years of tap, jazz, and Irish dancing classes. Dancing along to music and performing for audiences became natural to her. Dance laid the foundation for Janna’s impeccable rhythmic ability. While watching and listening to her dad perform, Janna developed the desire to play drums. Janna’s early musical influences included Neal Peart, John Bonham, Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland, Alex Van Halen, Bill Ward, Clive Bunker, and Barriemore Barlow.
At the age of fifteen, Janna’s first public performance was playing drums at her high school in her first band, Reign Bird. Reign Bird later became “Funky Monks” – a tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Over the years, Janna has played in several bands including Short Final, Centaur, Harmsway, Beyond the Groove, The Groove, Sonic Park, Janna and the Giants, The Undercover Girls and Phoenix Rising.
Janna’s first appearance as a lead singer was with Short Final, featuring Janna’s dad on drums. Bob always loved Janna’s voice – so naturally, when Short Final needed a singer, Bob encouraged Janna to take on that role.
Janna enjoys the wide variety of music genres that The Groove includes in its eclectic repertoire. She loves that The Groove can skillfully transition from playing The Beatles to Motely Crue in one set. Janna particularly enjoys singing songs like Led Zeppelin’s “The Wanton Song,” The Pretender’s “Middle of the Road,” The Beatles “With a Little Help From My Friends,” Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song,” The Beatles “Ballad of John and Yoko,” Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason,” as well as others – all while playing the drums.
Janna has enjoyed playing with Mark and Phil since 2011, and she looks forward to expanding their musical repertoire by continuing to spin their own unique versions of cover tunes, writing more music, and sharing exciting times with the band and their growing legion of fans.
