Meet The Stray Tones
Two longtime friends, a couple of guitars, and a whole lot of music.
Sherry Tauber and Deno Langel have known each other for more than 40 years. But becoming The Stray Tones? That part came much later.
From Friends to Bandmates
Sherry and Deno first crossed paths through the Huntington music scene. Deno was playing in bands, while Sherry was often out seeing live music. Over the years, they became close friends, with music always somewhere in the background.
About 25 years ago, before moving from New York to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, Deno gave Sherry a guitar. She promised herself she would learn how to play it—and she did.
Years of lessons, practice, and a growing love for guitar eventually led to what they’re doing now.
“He gave me a guitar, and I promised myself I would learn how to play it.”
-Sherry
It Just Clicked
About four or five years ago, they reconnected musically while Sherry was living in Montauk. Deno brought a guitar out, they played a song together, and something clicked.
After that, they played every week sometimes seven, eight, even nine hours at a time.
“We just played every single week for hours.”
Meet Deno
The Roots
Deno’s love of music started early. He grew up in Brooklyn, moved to Long Island as a teenager, and spent years playing in local bands.
His musical journey eventually took him to Berklee College of Music, years of playing in Boston, and performances in Manhattan and Long Island.
Through it all, blues, especially Delta blues, has remained at the heart of his sound.
“I bring the roots.”
Meet Sherry
The Voice and More
Music has always been part of Sherry’s life. A longtime guitar player, she has continued to deepen her passion and dedication to playing over the years.
Today, she brings lead vocals, rhythm guitar, ukulele, kazoo, and a more modern musical influence to the duo.
A Little Bit of Everything
The Stray Tones don’t fit neatly into one genre—or one decade.
Their sets move between old blues, rock, country, folk, Irish music, and artists ranging from Amy Winehouse and Nirvana to Billy Strings, Nancy Sinatra, Hank Williams, and The Rolling Stones.
They aren’t trying to recreate the originals. Instead, they choose songs they love and make them their own.
“We never try to be the artist. We take what the artist has given us and put our own flair into it.”
Why “The Stray Tones”?
“The Stray Tones” eventually felt right because it reflects the way they approach music. They don’t follow one genre, one era, or one particular sound. They stray between songs and artists they love and reinterpret them in their own way.
No one genre. No one decade. Just songs they love playing.
From Long Island to Florida
The Stray Tones feel most at home in places where people can genuinely enjoy the music—restaurants, brunches, happy hours, farmers markets, private parties, and local events.
They’ve also played casually in parks around Huntington and Northport, where passersby sometimes stop, stay awhile, and even join in.
Today, they’re building their performance schedule around Huntington and Northport in New York, as well as Delray Beach, Florida, with hopes of taking their sound even farther south.
What Keeps Them Doing It?
They simply love playing music together.
After decades of friendship and years spent developing their individual musical styles, Sherry and Deno now spend several days a week sitting down with guitars, discovering songs, and figuring out what sounds good.
Two friends. Two different musical backgrounds. One shared sound.
And a whole lot of songs still left to play.
HEAR THEM FOR YOURSELF
Words only tell part of the story.