Zack Poelwijk
Zack was clasically trained as a pianist but came to love soul/R&B music. After attending Barlow High School in Gresham, he studied gospel music with the University of Oregon Gospel Singers who won multiple national championships with Zack at the keyboard. In 2017 he married Claire who also sang with the UO group. In addition to N Touch, Zack plays with Oregon Music Hall of Fame Soul singer Andy Stokes and Grammy Winner Thara Memory, and he is the organist for Emmanuel Church of God in Christ United. Zack’s Website
Torry Ward
Torry is a bassist who maintains a love of keeping the bottom moving. He began playing bass at Jefferson High School, played and recorded with several artists, later to find himself in the midst of Portland’s hip hop scene as a producer. Today the husband of Sheila and father of three can be found playing bass with N Touch and New Song Community Church and finding his way back into the studio from time to time.
Jonathan Schuler
Jonathan makes the guitar sing with his blues licks. Originally from Hawai’i, he studied music at Warner Pacific College where he joined the band of Rwandan soul singer Enric Sifa. After graduating, he began playing with Embrace, a gospel music group led by Mike Dean, Zoulful Music led by Alonzo Chadwick, and N Touch. He is a regular player at Imago Dei Eastside and in the Portland gospel music community.
The Drummers
Anthony Jones
One of the founding members of N Touch, Anthony is Eldon’s younger brother who Eldon inspired and encouraged to play music. He studied architecture and music at Portland State with pianist Darrell Grant and performed with the flamenco group Al Andalus. He played with N Touch until joining Pink Martini in 2011, and he recently returned to Portland to be with his wife Portia. Anthony has toured the world and performed at Carnegie Hall, but considers playing with N Touch “like coming home” and performs with them as often as possible.
Artists who have graced the stage as part of N Touch include:
Patrick Cooper, keyboard
Chris Turner, keyboard
Darius Fentress, percussion
David Allen, guitar
Donovan Fairley, bass
Tracey Harris-Woods, singer
Matthew Minnieweather, keyboard
Ben Jones, bass
Erick Hailstone, guitar
Terry Taylor, percussion
Jeffrey Andrews, bass
Tomo Maruta, guitar
and recent special guest singers:
LaRhonda Steele
Ronnie Wright
Alonzo Chadwick
Charles Tellis
Charles grew up listening to his second cousin Anthony play drums and began performing in town as a young teenager. He got the call up to play with N Touch and has also performed with Farnell Newton. Charles currently also plays with Zoulful Music, Embrace, and at Kessid Church, where he and his wife Ashlei pastor.
Steve Holt
Steve also was raised on the soulful tunes of N Touch. He played with Gretchen Mitchell and The Love Loungers before joining N Touch in 2016. He provides a solid foundation for the music of the group as he does for his wife Mori and their three children. Steve also drums at Kingdom Nation Church.
