The One and Nines came together during the summer of 2007 when a group of Jersey City musicians — including singer Vera Sousa and guitarist Jeff Marino — teamed up for a “soul”-themed warehouse party.  As they strung together tunes by the Meters, Irma Thomas, Etta James, Billie Holiday, and of course James Brown, the musicians and party-goers quickly realized that behind this pick-up band stood real talent and a passion for these specific styles of music. 

Marino, who began emulating guitarists such as Steve Cropper and Pops Staples at a young age, is quick to express why he is so attracted to the classic styles of rhythm & blues: “It's just great.  The wild singing, the playing, music coming from such a different world than the one we live in today, with that basic connection that is lasting and real. That energy is fascinating and inspiring to anyone.” Marino goes on: “We certainly aren’t attempting to recreate anything.  We just want to make music that we like, simple as that.”

While Marino’s songwriting and Sousa’s alluring vocal riffs fashion a driving creative force, the two gain solid support from the soulful instrumentation of their backing band, which includes organ and three-piece horn section. The subtle arrangements and production are rooted in the grooves and tone of their favorite recordings — Stax, Sun, Spector — while the songs are written and performed with a spontaneity and sincerity that make their own records undeniably current and personal. 

The One & Nines have been steadily building a buzz throughout the nightclubs and smoky dives they regularly perform at.  With their high energy shows reminding fans what a professional R&B bar band should be, The One and Nines strive to inspire fervor within their audience.  Sousa explains: “We love to perform.  The more we perform the more defined we become.  People are always telling us how much they love what we’re doing and asking what we call our brand of music.  All I can say is it’s The One and Nines.”