b. 1951, Los Angeles, California, USA. After studying, Kubis began playing alto, tenor and soprano saxophones with various bands. He also played piano for Bobby Vinton. However, Kubis’ chief interest was in writing and his arrangements were in much demand, especially from big band leaders. He formed his own big band expressly to play his charts and this attracted the attention of Jack Sheldon who became an informal co-leader of the band. Apart from writing for the band, Kubis continues to provide charts for others, including Bill Watrous, the BBC Radio Big Band, and his work is also performed by youth and college bands in the USA and UK. His writing is always lively and entertaining, often difficult but never simply for the sake of being hard to play. His own recording career has been relatively meagre, beginning with Dimitri Pagalidis and only in later years has his own big band been heard and appreciated by fans of contemporary big band music around the world.