Milford Resident Plays Big Part In Cyndi Lauper’s Sold Out Shows

MILFORD, CT — A local resident with ongoing ties to the city of Milford is a big part of Cyndi Lauper’s current sold out tour in Japan. Former Milford resident Caitlin Kalafus is a drummer for Cyndi Lauper. She attended the Milford Public Schools and her father is a middle school teacher in Milford.

Kalafus is performing with Lauper, who is an ’80s icon and LGBT activist. They are currently touring Japan. Lauper is most well-known for hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun, “Time After Time,” “She Bop," “All Through the Night,” and “True Colors."

In her live performances, she likes to add some covers of classics, including Roy Orbison's “I Drove All Night."

Kalafus grew up in Milford and was attending Calf Pen Meadow when she began playing drums. By the time she entered East Shore Middle School, Kalafus was frequently playing many of Milford’s known restaurants and bars (Stonebridge, Daniel St, etc.).

Three months into her sophomore year at Joseph A. Foran High School, Kalafus, her younger sister Carly, and two boys formed the band "Kicking Daisies," which prompted Kalafus to begin homeschooling from then on. The band went on to win Disney’s "Next Big Thing" in 2010, and appeared on national TV shows, made the Billboard Charts and were featured in a nationally aired TV commercial.

Following "Kicking Daisies," Kalafus continued to play in various bands, as well as "Like Violet," a band formed with her sister, Carly and Paul (Shaepes) Valleau. Valleau attended Foran High school.

She soon attended college in Cambridge, MA at Lesley University, College of Art and Design for Graphic Design, and toured Vans Warped Tour with the Brooklyn based band, Mother Feather. Today, Kalafus is a full time musician living in Philadelphia.

When she is not on tour, she frequently travels to NYC as a freelancing drummer for several artists. Last spring, she had the unique opportunity to tour the U.S. as a drummer and percussionist in the Australian based tap dancing show, Tap Dogs. Kalafus’ main gig, however, is playing in Lauper's band.