THRILLING FANS SINCE 2004
ABOUT US
Since 2004, hundreds of thousands of fans have witnessed the excitement of Who's Bad Music productions on stages around the world.
Dedicated to recreating authentic live experiences, Who's Bad was originally founded by Vamsi Tadepalli in 2003 as a tribute to Michael Jackson's musical legacy. Now, as an umbrella organization, Who's Bad Music boasts a stable of three shows: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, 20/20: The Evolution of Pop, and Who's That Girl, a celebration of the greatest divas in music history.
Each individual show is designed and constructed through unparalleled study of the artists' original performances, and infused with new energy, so that they can be brought to life for fans by some of the finest entertainment professionals on the planet.
From Motown to MTV and CDs to mp3s, the musical landscape has changed dramatically over the last half century. Who's Bad Music draws from the most iconic stars and smash hits spanning generations to embody the expression "Seeing is Believing."
Innovation is the key element in the DNA of Who's Bad Music, dedicated to putting on the baddest shows on the planet.
MEET THE TEAM
As the producer and founder of Who's Bad Music, Vamsi Tadepalli invests all of his musical pursuits with a confluence of creativity, professionalism and versatility.
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Tadepalli is the first American-born member of his family. His parents, scientists by trade, placed a high value on the arts and on music in particular. Accordingly, he was exposed to Indian Classical Music and Dance from his earliest years. Although it wouldn’t be until high school that Tadepalli would study sitar, his early exposure to Indian Classical Music had a broader impact: its emphasis on improvisation undoubtedly contributed to Tadepalli's affinity for jazz, America's improvised classical music.
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Tadepalli studied jazz at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving both academic and music scholarships and majoring in Jazz Performance. He also studied with outstanding altoist Justin Robinson and sought out the expertise of legendary bebop guru and exponent Barry Harris, participating in Harris’ workshop at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He has shared the stage with Harris, Slide Hampton, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Antonio Hart, Vincent Herring, and Jamey Aebersold, and has appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival and Smoke Jazz Club in NYC.
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In 2003, Tadepalli founded Who’s Bad, a group dedicated exclusively to performing the music of pop icon Michael Jackson. As manager, arranger, saxophonist, keyboardist and choreographer of the group from 2003 until 2011, Tadepalli has had the opportunity to employ his full range of skills, performing saxophone and dance routines at 100+ shows per year worldwide. At the end of 2011 he got off the road and continues to manage the business, residing in Los Angeles.
James Times III was born and raised in sunny Miami, FL and has always been a student of the art of music, dance and general entertainment. The core of his musical abilities began at Miami Springs Senior High School with his involvement in Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Choir, Music Theory and Music History throughout high school.
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After graduating and being accepted into Florida International University’s School of Music, James also became a member of Drum Corps International’s Phantom Regiment and Bluecoats from 2007-2009. It was the Drum Corps activity that shaped James into the person and perfectionist that he has become today.
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A die-hard fan of Michael Jackson knowingly since the age of 3, James didn’t realize his unique gift of dance until August of 2009, the year of MJ’s passing. James’ dream of performing as MJ on stage became a reality when he made an email inquiry to MJ LIVE and was accepted to perform with them in Las Vegas in 2015. His time performing with MJ LIVE served as the ultimate preparation for joining the ranks of Who’s Bad.
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Like Michael, James is a self taught and innate dancer. It has been said by most people that James captures effortlessly the mannerisms, uniqueness, and deep soulful dancing of Michael Jackson. That is the result of the countless hours of studying MJ’s every hand, foot, finger, head, upper and lower body placement and angle in each song/performance, along with his natural similarity to Michael Jackson’s height, weight, and body type. An absolute true perfectionist, James has set a strict standard and motto for himself and that is, simply, “If it’s not the way Michael did it, it’s not right”. James has never had the great honor of meeting Michael himself, but through his music and dance it becomes clear that the two souls are connected when James takes the stage as Michael Jackson, A.K.A. ”Light”.
Taalib York Singer, dancer, and well-known songwriter, started singing and dancing at the young age of 7, mimicking his lifetime idol Michael Jackson. He began developing his voice, singing in Arabic and English, also mastering the art of dance. By the time Taalib graduated high school he began working in the music industry, writing and recording his own music and singing hooks for hip hop artists and backgrounds for various musician. In addition to singing,
Taalib also choreographs dance routines professionally, leading award winning dance teams. But when it comes down to it, actions speak louder than words. You'll watch Taalib perform, seeing the influence Michael Jackson has had and you’ll agree: the similarities between the two are simply amazing.
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As one of the original members of Who's Bad since its founding, Taalib brings a wealth of experience and know-how to the stage.
Jenny Kidd is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter. As a seasoned session singer and live performer, she was selected to perform on the, Live! With Kelly show and has been heard singing on the Disney Channel’s, Sofia the First and Tangled. Some of Jenny’s most memorable moments are recording at Capitol Records and performing at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards with Live It Up Productions. You can regularly find her entertaining at the Disneyland Resort and performing with many differing live cover bands and production companies. She hopes to release her second original studio album, following her first EP “SunKissed”, soon! Catch her on stage with our newest production, Who's That Girl!
Aaron McCoy Jr. (saxophone), graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, with a BA in Music performance and production and a concentration in Alto Saxophone. Aaron is the Music Director at Mitchiner’s Grove Baptist Church in Franklinton, NC. He has been a woodwind instructor at South East Raleigh High School, Knightdale High School in Raleigh, NC and he was also the announcer and student instructor for Platinum Sound Marching Band. While at Shaw University Aaron was a member of the Concert Band, Jazz Band and Pep Band, where he became the Pep Band Director. After graduation Aaron recruited for the Jazz Ensemble for the University.
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Aaron was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His early schooling was in Virginia Beach, VA, where he fell in love with music and most notable, the saxophone. His craft was enhanced during his high school years at Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, VA under the direction of Mr. Elston Fitzgerald.
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Aaron has performed with such artists as Psychodelic Soul, Liquid Pleasure and his own band Mixed Water Band which was the house band for Zydeco Downtown owned by the two time Super Bowl star Antwan Harris. Other groups include Soul Blues Singer Lacey, The O’jays’s, The Foreign Exchange, Peabo Bryson, The North Carolina Symphony. He'a also shared the stage with Yolanda Adams, recording artist Coco McMillan, Gerald Hinton, North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, Joey Holloway Project, Donald Lawrence, LeeAnne Faine, Shirley Caesar, Melvin Williams, and others.
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Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, there is no shortage of flavor for MOELLE. A talented and versatile singer, songwriter, and dancer who’s stage presence is undeniable, MOELLE is the modern day pop star. Growing up singing and dancing, she took to the female powerhouses of her teen years such as Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga studying their unparalleled vocal abilities simultaneously coupled with high energy choreography and stage production.
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After high school, MOELLE moved to Nashville, TN where she officially began to work professionally as a performer. From dancing in the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, to touring as a lead background vocalist with Darius Rucker and Kid Rock, to being featured in a National commercial for Match.com, there is simply no one box you can put her in. The now Los Angeles based artist has spent years of her career contributing to other artists’ projects and is now officially taking centerstage to bring her own story to the world. On her upcoming project set to debut early next year, MOELLE weaves her jazz and R&B influences effortlessly with her pop cadences and melodies paired with hard hitting 808s that’ll keep you moving. See her live in action with Who's That Girl!
Marty Taylor, based out of NC, is one of the top go to audio engineers in the country. With over twenty years of experience, Marty is a two-time Grammy nominated engineer who mixes front of house and monitors. He also is a live recording and studio mixing engineer. His ability to paint artists own unique sound and properly present it to their fan base has him in high demand.
Marty has been working with Who's Bad Music since 2012 and leads a team of engineers who are easy to work with and help bring our vision to life. His favorite Micheal Jackson song is Heartbreak Hotel.