THE ORIGIN STORY: Sixth & Third started in 2017 in the living room of Lorraine’s brother, actor/director Tom Amandes, when the two of them got together to “run through some songs for fun.” With him on piano, her at the mic, they started with a repertoire of original rock, R & B, and singer/songwriter tunes Lorraine had accrued over decades of singing and songwriting with various bands, and it didn’t take long before they decided there was something special there, enough to make the collaboration official.
Riffing on their sibling birth order—she’s the third, he’s the sixth—they named the band Sixth & Third, and played their first gig at a house party with Tom’s talented son, Ben Amandes, on cello, acoustic guitar, and cajón, and longtime friend, Jeff Brown (the bass player in Lorraine’s original ’80s band, DEVON) on rhythm and lead guitar. With a setlist of originals and handpicked covers, that first gig was a smash success, convincing them to make it a regular event.
Over the next couple of years, they continued playing various house parties and Democratic fundraisers around LA (including an event with noted character actor, Troy Evans, who opened the show with his famed “Montana Stories”), adding Tom’s originals and collaborations between him and Lorraine to their repertoire. When the decision came to fill out the band with bass and drums, it was both natural and karmic when Jeff’s son, Jeffrey Brown (who was a toddler when DEVON was playing in the ’80s!) came in on drums, and, with even more of a legacy behind him, Erik Krogh, who recruited Lorraine for her first pro band back in Illinois in the ’70s, Lonnie & the Lugnutz, stepped in as bassist.
When Ben eventually moved to New York, the band coalesced around the four players and Lorraine, and while they were ready to “keep on rockin,'” the pandemic hit, grinding all potential gigs to a halt. Starting back up in ’24, Tom had to step away for the bulk of that year to play the iconic “Gandalf” in a Chicago/New Zealand production of Lord of the Rings, a Musical Tale, but when 2025 rolled around, they were ready to “get the band back together.”
With Lorraine’s most recent novel, Chick Singer, focused on a “former ’80s rock singer,” it wasn’t a stretch when the manager of a local Los Angeles bookstore, The Book Jewel, suggested they bring Sixth & Third in to accompany her book presentation with a set of her original ’80s music. The gig was such a success, the store ultimately hired the band to play their 5th Anniversary party, a wild event that included all the band’s songs from both then and now.
They recently played a Democratic fundraiser, “Rockin’ for Democracy” in Long Beach, CA, raising a substantial sum for Midterm candidates supported via ActBlue, with another event on the books in Spring ’26’ for political organization, Sisters in Outrage, in collaboration with LA Voice’s “Love Fund,” supporting families, businesses, and individuals adversely impacted by ICE.
Sixth & Third looks forward to continuing to provide entertainment for various and supported fundraisers throughout this unfolding election season, as well as parties and events looking for original, quality entertainment.
PRAISE FOR SIXTH & THIRD:
“A wonderful group of people with a common purpose on a beautiful night under the stars with your incredible voice reaching the heavens! Love love love Sixth & Third!” Debbie Zipp, Sisters In Outrage
“Thank you, Lorraine!! You and the band blew it out of the park last night! Thanks to all our friends and family who donated, and with your help and generosity, we raised A LOT!” Tufty Productions
“Everyone is still raving about about how amazing your event was!” The Book Jewel Bookstore
“We loved that you did original music! Really appreciated that your songs were meaningful AND entertaining! We actually got up and danced!” Fan mail from Tufty Production fundraiser guests
“Sixth & Third and Troy Evans on the same bill is just a knock–out win/win!” The Hiner House
“You guys are the BEST!” The Book Jewel Bookstore
If you have an event, party, or fundraiser, and Sixth & Third would be a great fit for your entertainment needs, please send a message through the contact form below and we’ll be in touch!
To listen to a selection of songs included in the band’s playlist, click HERE.
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Lorraine Devon Wilke 