Morris School Teacher's Band to Debut CD

Teacher by day, musician by night. Three teachers are debuting their CD with a release party at the Dublin in Morristown on May 24.

Brad Marullo is a teacher at Thomas Jefferson and Sussex Avenue and plays guitar, keyboards and lap steel in SteppingSTONE BAND. He's looking forward to their release party because many in the Morristown community will be attending to support their debut CD, I'll Be Coming Home.

"We are mostly teachers in the band," said Marullo, who was on Morristown's Got Talent! in 2011. At Thomas Jefferson, Marullo leads band practice on stage with his students, playing along on his guitar, and answering questions from the budding musicians after class. "We are a five-piece band with three teachers." 

The band has been through many experiences together, good and bad, that inspired much of the CD. During the time they were creating the songs for their CD, two spouses of the band members became cancer survivors, a child was born, friendships created and jobs were lost or found. 

"What great fun we had recording these songs," said the band. "'I'll Be Coming Home' seemed like such a fitting title to us when we listened to the rough mixes on the long autumn and winter drives back home over the Delaware River from the recording studio. These songs captured a timeline of us creating something collaboratively that we poured our time, hears and souls into week after week during our highs and our lows."

Here's a look at who's who in the band:

• Ryan Schutz - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar - Singer/songwriter, young entrepreneur 
• Brad Marullo - Guitar/Keyboards/Lap steel  - Musician and Morristown instrumental teacher for 4th and 4th graders at Sussex Avenue and Thomas Jefferson school
• Thomas Casperson - Drums - Art teacher in Morris County at Mountain Lakes
• Eric Schaberg - Violin, Cello, Mandolin - Strings teacher at Randolph High School
• Jonathan Presnell - Bass/ Vocals Booton Firefighter (Morris County) and veteran in the music scene since 1985

"Throughout our lives, these stepping stones are placed before us and we are constantly progressing towards our life goals," said the band. "Along that journey, we may encounter many people who inspire and support us along the way."

For more on the band, go to their website at  http://www.steppingstonebandnj.com or check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/steppingSTONEbandNJ