The story of Jeanne and the Pianoman is actually a love story…of a different sort. Jeanne Behnke hails from the dairyland state of Wisconsin, where she was a Music/Voice Major at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jeanne is a trained vocalist who can perform everything from classical music to torch trilogies to big band to classic rock. Jeanne is also a pianist and plays the guitar. Career paths, hubby Rich, and children brought her to Pennsylvania.

Michael Filipelli hails from the snow-infested regions of upstate New York, and is a self-taught barrelhouse-style piano pounder who was greatly influenced by Elton John (at a time when liking Elton was very uncool), Billy Joel, and Jerry Lee Lewis. After a 2-week drunk and getting hopelessly lost, Mike settled in the Susquehanna Valley after school.


Both Jeanne and Mike spent time pursuing career and family goals, but actually it was their deep, abiding love of the Green Bay Packers that brought them together. Jeanne and hubby Rich were instrumental in starting the York Chapter of misplaced Cheeseheads, and, being a die-hard Packer-Backer, Mike found his way to their door. After attending his first meeting of the beloved Green and Gold, Mike knew he found himself a home, as well as a new playmate. As Mike explains it, “I would sit in the back, making up sing-songs during the games, and this woman would catch on to them, and sing harmony and sing it great!” That woman, of course, turned out to be Jeanne, who has lived and died with the Packers since her pre-natal years.


Jeanne says, “In addition to the Packers, we both found we loved the same type of music…the Beatles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and the like.” Mike suggested they meet and play some tunes. When they did, something clicked immediately, and from such auspicious beginnings, a collaborative partnership was formed. “There was never a lot of thought as to what to call ourselves”, says Jeanne. Mike adds, “We
were going to use Sonny and Cher, but that was already taken.” It seemed only logical that they present themselves as who they are, so Jeanne and the Pianoman were born.
“We played in our area a good bit at first”, says Mike. “We were having fun, and found that people liked what we were playing”. After a brief hiatus while Mike was forced to mop up after a messy divorce, the duo came back even stronger, and more polished. Jeanne says “It was almost like we needed a break, and we could pick right up where we left off. The Trash was really an accident in itself.”


While playing in the Stoverstown Inn one night, Mike tossed in a few off-color songs without knowing how the crowd would react. “We saw people howling, banging their hands on the table, and exploding with laughter”, reports Mike. According to Jeanne, “The owner booked us again, right on the spot, for every other week over the next four months. We knew we were onto something right there”. “I realized quickly we needed a lot more material”, says Mike. At their next appearance, a new ‘Trashfan’ (the proper term for those who follow these 2), recognizing Mike but forgetting his name hollered, “Hey, Mr. Clean (a reference to Mike’s shiny pate)! Gonna play some more of them dirty songs?” Never at a loss for words, Mike replied, “No, these are all CLEAN songs! You just have a dirty mind.” Both labels stuck, and became permanent parts of the show. Since adopting this new format, Mike has penned over 175 Dirty Ditties and Singalongs, or, as Jeanne and the Pianoman call them, the Clean Songs for People with Dirty Minds. It goes without saying that the crowd there, and ever since, has accepted these Trashy tunes, and the duo that performs them.


Mr. Clean is the outrageous off-color offender of almost everyone, and Jeanne and Mike want all to know that Mr. Clean says to relax...don't take any of this stuff too serious. No one gets out alive, so we might as well enjoy the ride. The material is supposed to be funny and wicked. Mr. Clean loves what he does, and he loves those of you that come out to see us and scream at us! Jeanne and Mike are here for the same reason you are...to have a great time, and sing, and laugh a bit. Audiences had always liked this unlikely pair, but the Trash has established them as a force to be reckoned with. After polishing their new format, Jeanne and Mike have taken their act on the road and have had success, and a whole lot of fun, along the way.


It would be easy to pigeonhole Jeanne and Mike as novelty artists, but few entertainers work harder at perfecting their sound. Both Jeanne and Mike are accomplished musicians, and they take great pride in not only bringing the house to near tears with laughter, but having the ability to follow up with powerful music that grabs their audience right by the lapels and throws them right into the fun. Their repertoire has expanded enormously as a result. “We have had great chemistry, right from the beginning”, says Mike, and that chemistry holds true today. No other entertainment act can bring to the table all the elements that make Jeanne and the Pianoman so unique. Whether it is classic rock, a singalong chestnut, dance music, a poignant ballad, outrageously funny ditties, or filthy singalongs, Jeanne and the Pianoman leave audiences gasping for air and begging for more.


Jeanne and Mike are still great friends, and have their families at home behind them. Happily married forever (with 2 grown kids), Jeanne enjoys a good book, good wine, and the good life with her immortal beloved. Jeanne’s interests also include Science Fiction, King Arthur, and her
ever-growing collection of dolls – Barbie’s included! Mike has found his happily ever after (finally!) and sound tech, with 5 rug rats of their own, all girls. Imagine that! An avid sports nut, Mike also golfs, but has retired from playing hockey (just too hard on the knees…). Mike also writes, and is a semi- serious artist when not scouring the trashcan for new material.


And, every Sunday during football season, you’ll find Jeanne and Mike right where they met - singing, swapping stories, screaming at the TV, and sharing the love with each other, and their fellow Packer fanatics.