The Tuxedo Cats Approach
The Tuxedo Cats have always had a pretty simple philosophy: play great music, have a good time, and make sure the audience has one too.
We’re a three-piece band, but we cover a lot of ground — classic rock, country, blues, Motown, old standards and whatever else fits the room. One night may be a dance hall, the next a restaurant, private party or special event. We don’t believe the same set list works everywhere. We read the room and play for the people who are actually sitting in front of us.
Just as important, we keep our shows professional and family friendly. We want venues to be comfortable hiring us and audiences to be comfortable bringing their friends and families.
The Tuxedo Cats History
The Tuxedo Cats have been playing together for more than 15 years — longer than The Beatles! Todd and Mike first worked together in a Tyler band called Upscale in 2006, playing mostly jazz standards, dinner music and ballads. Steve Graham later joined Todd and Mike, and the chemistry stuck. Over the years, The Tuxedo Cats have played everything from restaurants and dance halls to weddings, corporate events, private parties and some pretty memorable stages.
From there, the band grew into what it is today — Todd Rinlee, Mike Harper and Steve Graham. Three guys with different musical backgrounds, different personalities and one thing in common: we love playing music together. After all these years, we still look forward to the next show, the next crowd and seeing where this thing takes us.
Meet The Tuxedo Cats
Todd Rinlee
Founder, CEO, Guitarist, Vocalist
Todd Rinlee is the bandleader, guitarist and lead vocalist for The Tuxedo Cats. Along with performing, Todd handles the booking, promotion and much of what goes on behind the scenes. A longtime guitar teacher, he brings decades of experience to the stage — but his favorite part is still the same: playing music with Mike and Steve and making sure the crowd has a good time.
Mike Harper
Drums, Percussion, Vocals and Co-founder
Mike Harper is the drummer, vocalist and resident troublemaker of The Tuxedo Cats. A lifelong musician with a quick wit and an even quicker comeback, Mike brings both the beat and plenty of personality to every show. When he’s not behind the drums, you might hear him on the radio, behind a microphone, or giving Todd and Steve advice they didn’t ask for.
Steve Graham
Bassist, Vocalist
Steve Graham is the bassist, vocalist and resident music encyclopedia of The Tuxedo Cats. With years of experience playing in local bands, touring and working in the music business, Steve brings a deep knowledge of music — and an uncanny ability to remember who played what, when and on which record. Around here, we call him Steveopedia. He also teaches guitar in Tyler and, most importantly, keeps Todd and Mike pointed in roughly the same direction.