Bios

Leslie Darwin O’Brien is a versatile actress, singer, and entertainer whose career spans performances from Off-Broadway stages to The Havana Jazz Festival. A former featured member of the acclaimed LA improvisational troupe The Village Idiots, she brings a dynamic blend of musical and theatrical artistry to every performance.

Leslie recently recorded vocals for the film Renfield at Skywalker Studios and is the author of With Love From Here in My Kitchen, a collection of reflections designed to inspire connection and comfort.

Passionate about empowering young people, she founded GirlPower, a program dedicated to building self-esteem and community among girls in grades 6–12. Leslie holds a B.A. in Communication from Stanford University and has contributed as a writer for TIME Magazine and PBS.

A devoted advocate for youth and the arts, she serves as Board Chair for Terry’s Kids and as Administrator for the Music Unites Foundation. 

A beloved Bay Area performer, Deborah Del Mastro is a versatile singer, actress, musician, voice coach, and entertainer. Her impressive career includes performing trumpet and vocals with the U.S. Navy Show Band at Treasure Island, as well as studying Italian opera in Italy under Maestro Carlo Bergonzi.

Deborah has performed Motown, R&B, rock, jazz, and American Songbook repertoire in multiple Bay Area bands and has enjoyed a decades-long professional theater career, touring, recording, and appearing alongside notable television and film actors. She is also honored in the memoirs of legendary performer Kaye Ballard.

A powerful vocalist and dynamic stage presence, Deborah brings exceptional skill and energy to every Just Friends performance.

Bassist and producer Terry Miller has recorded and performed with an impressive roster of internationally renowned artists, including The Zac Brown Band, Amy Grant, Stan Getz, Barbara Hendricks, The Doobie Brothers, Debbie Harry, Michael McDonald, Paul Anka, Dave Grusin, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett, and many others.

Terry has served as an instructor at the University of Minnesota, University of Colorado Boulder, and Monterey Peninsula College. For over 25 years, he has also been deeply involved in the Music Ministry at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

He is the founder and director of two nonprofit organizations:

• Terry’s Kids – https://www.tkids.org/home

• Music Unites Foundation – https://www.musicunitesfoundation.org/home

A proud Rossmoor resident, Terry is dedicated to using music as a force for good in the community.

Dr. Walter Barr is an esteemed trumpeter, educator, and conductor with degrees in Music Performance and Music Education, including post-doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music. He is an Emeritus Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Walter’s extensive conducting credits include engagements with the Jefferson Symphony, Ultraphonic Jazz Orchestra, Denver Jazz Orchestra, and collaborations with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Clare Fischer, Bobby Shew, and Patrick Williams.

As a performer, he has appeared with Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Henry Mancini, Lou Rawls, Dave Brubeck, Mel Tormé, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more

Originally from Boston, pianist and composer Mark Rossi has spent a lifetime immersed in jazz. He has performed with small groups and big bands across the country and composes in styles ranging from R&B to experimental jazz. His composition “B.H.F.J.” climbed the indie pop-jazz charts, and his recent solo piano and trio albums are available on major streaming platforms.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Mark spent decades as a software engineer in California’s tech industry. He worked at Oracle and PeopleSoft, where he helped design one of the first enterprise portal products and earned multiple software patents.

Mark also contributes his technical expertise as a consultant and designer for the nonprofits Terry’s Kids and the Music Unites Foundation.

Peter Graves is a seasoned Bay Area saxophonist with a long history of performing in clubs, casuals, studio sessions, and regional ensembles. Known for his versatility and dependable musicianship, Peter performs regularly with local groups and has appeared as a sideman alongside nationally recognized artists. His professionalism and warm sound make him an ideal fit for the Just Friends lineup.

Eric Thompson is a longtime Bay Area drummer and educator whose performance career includes appearances with Marian McPartland, Richie Cole, Bob Hope, Tex Beneke, The Coasters, The Ink Spots, Howie Mandel, Frankie Laine, and the San Francisco Symphony. His Broadway show credits include Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Show Boat, Man of La Mancha, The Sound of Music, and Grease.

Eric recently retired from teaching middle school Band and Orchestra in Contra Costa, and he now brings his deep experience and dynamic style to Just Friends performances.