The driving force behind electri-violet’s original music is guitarist/singer-songwriter John Plankenhorn and vocalist Carole Ferrara. For many years they’ve been captivating audiences with rich, passionate vocals, seamless harmonies and soulful guitar artistry. Grounded in Blues, R&B, and American roots music, they bring a fresh, original style that truly resonates with their audience.
Based in Milwaukee, John and Carole have played countless venues ranging from smaller clubs to large music festivals here and abroad. Locally, they’ve played Summerfest, Jazz in the Park, Lakefront Festival of Art, Chill on the Hill, Milwaukee County Parks Music Series, City of Sheboygan music festivals, and other area events. They’ve performed throughout the Midwest, including Chicago and Minneapolis, and have made several tours to Ireland including shows in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, and more.
Our Approach
Originally from Chicago, John Plankenhorn has been performing professionally for the past 20 years. He began his career playing in blues and rock & roll bands throughout the Chicago area. He went on to study both classical and jazz guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He’s been involved in numerous projects locally and nationally, ranging in style from reggae and world music to jazz and blues. He is a prolific composer of original music.
Our Story
Carole Ferrara has been singing professionally in the Milwaukee area for many years. Originally from Warwick, Rhode Island, she received classical voice training as a youth and has been singing publicly ever since. After moving to Milwaukee, Carole studied vocal jazz at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music.