Andy Symons
Andy graduated from Butler University in 1981 with a degree in Telecommunications and started as a staff engineer at TRC Studios in Indianapolis. He became chief engineer in 1982 and worked there until 1990. Had the opportunity to work with John Mellencamp, (Crumblin’ Down), The Wright Brothers,The Faith Band, Roadmaster, Gloria Estafan & Miami Sound Machine, Flo & Eddie (The Turtles), Jinx Dawson (Coven), The Byrds, John Fogerety, Duke Tumatoe, Aeorsmith, Jimi Ryser, Henry Lee Summer, Bob & Tom plus dozens of local and regional rock bands. In 1990 Andy went to work as the mastering engineer at World Media Group in Indianapolis and was promoted to plant manager, and then to VP of Operations. He left in 2001 and went back into the studio business as studio manager and marketing director of The Lodge Recording Studios. Andy is currently in school full time working on a degree in computer networking and mixes live sound for Polkaboy. He is a freelance engineer and produces at his own studio, The Sound Machine in Carmel IN. In addition, andy is also the Director of Technology at Zionsville Untied Methodist Church.
Dane Clark
Born and raised in Anderson, Indiana, Dane started playing the piano at age 8, the guitar at age 9, and drums at age 10.He sang his first original song at his 6th grade talent show, but lost to a one-legged ballet dancer! He took that defeat in stride and tenaciously kept chasing the muse.
After growing his hair long in high school, he immersed himsef in the 1950’s beat poets like Kerouac and Ginsberg, as well as the 1960’s archetypes like Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, the Doors, and the Kinks. He then headed off to college on a music scholarship and graduated with a degree in percussion performance. He started doing session work as a drummer in the Indianapolis area, all the while continuing to hone the craft of songwriting. He joined John Mellencamp’s band in 1996 as a drummer and has enjoyed that position ever since.
Dane is a father to three wonderful daughters, Emily, Taylor and Abigail. He has now put together a full blast rock combo to play the songs on the albums, which he wrote and produced. His hope for the future – “Dane Clark songs in every living room!”
Frank Bradford
Frank Bradford is an accomplished Indiana musician with a voice and style that is truly his own!
Frank is a trained singer, guitarist and keyboardist. Frank ,the rockpop artist, hails out of Indiana University’s School of Music where he studied jazz piano and classical voice.
Frank played and toured in the 90′s with many popular Christian groups including Ray Boltz, Russ Taff, Selah and Phillips, Craig and Dean.Frank has performed with many Indianapolis based groups including Carl Storie and the Wright Brothers. Frank also was the singer for Roadmaster’s reunion shows in 2003. Frank’s recording experience now brings his sophomore solo release Man In The Wilderness into the spotlight around Indiana and many regions in the U.S.
Troye Kinnett
Muncie, Indiana, native Troye Kinnett began playing the piano at the young age of eight and spent much of his youth listening to keyboard icons such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John. In high school, Troye had the opportunity to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, which sparked his musical ambition that would lead to future performances there at Radio City Music Hall and The Ed Sullivan Theatre. Troye studied music composition at Ball State and played in the University’s top jazz ensemble. While in college, he immersed himself in a variety of musical styles, including jazz, rock, country, and gospel. It’s Troye’s Midwestern roots though that later propel his career.
Early in his career, Troye toured with several rock bands playing in clubs across the Midwest and in other states as well. He increasingly began to work as a studio keyboardist where his talent soon gained him much deserved recognition. Eventually, he began working in Indianapolis as both a composer and as an audio engineer. He had the opportunity to write music for a variety of entities, including the NCAA, the Heartland Film Festival, Eli Lilly, F.C. Tucker, Simon Malls, Subway, Delta Faucet, Kenra, and H.H. Gregg. His compositions have won Addy, Telly, and Silver Microphone awards, and he has scored independent feature films that have aired on Showtime and The Movie Channel.
Throughout this period, Troye performed on studio recordings while staying active in the live music scene. He performed and recorded with Donovan, The Boxtops, Rare Earth, Eddie Money, Jonny Lang, and Grammy Award winner, Sandi Patty.
In the fall of 2005, Troye was asked to record with fellow Hoosier and perhaps the most well-known celebrity from Indiana, John Mellencamp. Six months later, Troye began touring with his band, playing keyboards and singing background vocals. Since that time, Troye has appeared on studio albums with Mellencamp, working with artists such as T Bone Burnett, Joan Baez, and Little Big Town, and has performed live with Stephen Stills, Kenny Chesney, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kenny Aronoff, and Mike Mills of REM. His musical talent and keyboard and accordion skills, together with his Indiana roots, make him a perfect fit for the band headed by Mellencamp, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Troye is currently involved in the production of The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a musical written by Stephen King with songs by Mellencamp. He played keyboards, accordion, and harmonica in its opening run at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA.
Troye Kinnett has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in the music industry ranging from audio engineering, playing Broadway musicals, producing and recording album projects, performing live, and scoring for television, radio, and film. This has lead to notable performances on The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Bob and Tom Show, the NCAA Final Four concert, Farm Aid, the NFL’s “Countdown to Kickoff” on NBC, a live video recording at Capitol Records EMI Studios, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony where Troye performed with Mellencamp, Billy Joel, John Fogerty, Joan Jett, and Paul Schaffer. Troye continues to record and tour with Mellencamp’s band; when not doing so, he serves as music director for The Garden at Beef and Boards, and works as a session keyboardist and producer. Keyboard Magazine appropriately identifies Troye as “a consummate professional.” He is an award-winning composer, experienced audio engineer, vocalist, rocker at heart, and exceptional keyboardist who is comfortable in most any musical situation.
Michael Clark
Multiple Gold Record Award winning Record Producer, Michael Clark gained his respect and notoriety by being a highly sought after studio musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, arranger, and by being involved in numerous album projects and concerts as well as commercials jingles for television and radio. He has recorded and/or performed live with John Mellencamp, (“Trouble No More and “Greatest Hits” CD..s”), Vince Gill, John McEuen (of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Gary Wright (Dream Weaver), Johnny Lang, Eddie Money, Larry Gatlin, Mark Lindsay (Of Paul Revere and the Raiders), Peter Noone (of Herman’s Hermits), Jimmy Ryser, Sam Bush of The Newgrass Revival, The Wright Brothers, Vassar Clements, Byron Berline, The Red, White and Bluegrass, The Arnold Chin Band, Shiloh Morning, Buck..s Stove & Range Company, John Talbot (of Mason Proffitt), Carrie Newcomer, Brad Garrett (of TV’s ” Everyone Loves Raymond”), Haywood Banks, Todd Yohn, Pinkerd and Bowden, Tim Cavanaugh, Sean Morey , Kings Island Amusement Park (Live Shows Department) and continues to be a integral part of the Midwest music and recording scene.”.
Michael has produced two Gold record certified national albums for Capitol/Nashville, Rodney Carrington (over 500,000 units) and Tim Wilson (over 150,000) and Barry Martin on Platinum Records/Nashville. He is an independent producer with the Marconi award-winning,” The Bob and Tom Show”, (heard nationwide on more than 150 radio stations). Their critically acclaimed and Billboard Magazine charting charity albums include numerous songs produced and performed by Michael, which are played daily on their national radio network which simulcasts The Bob and Tom Show . He has appeared with Bob & Tom on their nationally syndicated TV show on WGN America. He also produced Richard Bowden’s CD” Big Bad Johnson”, “The Wright Brother’s 25th Anniversary CD”, Jim Ryser’s “Chameleon” CD, The Derek Daly Driving Academy CD-Rom, Southwind, Kati Thompson, Lindsey Ridener, Southern Draw, Joe Paulson, Tom Prible and numerous singer/songwriter projects.
Michael`s awards and accomplishments range from winning the American International Song Festival, where and his band had three songs placed in the Top Ten (of worldwide submissions). The band he fronted, “Iron Horse”, a country-rock band which developed a huge following in the Midwest was invited by the Polish Government to perform at the Sopot International Music Festival in Poland, (the first American band to play there in twenty-two years). The concert was broadcast to millions of viewers by satellite to the Soviet Union. He also won The Indiana Music Awards with the Sheila Stevens Band. Michael was staff producer/writer/arranger and head of KRB Music Company’s custom music department where he wrote, produced and performed numerous concept albums ranging from, Surf, Acoustic, Country/Bluegrass, Natures Course, Relaxation , Meditation, New Age, Christmas, Rock and Hip Hop. These albums are currently sold worldwide in a variety of retailers, and so far have been calculated at over 5 million units. Michael’s repertoire of musical instruments includes; acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, 5-string banjo, dobro and bass. He is an endorser of Sony Digital Pictures Software, Volbrecht Guitars and, Godin Guitars. Michael is also well versed in MIDI sequencing, digital recording and editing and has a home multi-track studio where he records and writes. He is a graduate of Ball State University, where he majored in Advertising/Commercial Art.
Sandy Williams
Sandy Williams has studied improvising and composition with legendary jazz composer/theorist George Russell (author of the Lydian Chromatic Concept). His jazz studies also included time spent at Indiana University (where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982 with majors in Jazz Studies and Ethnomusicology) with famed jazz educator David Baker. He has performed at drum workshops with internationally-known jazz drummers Steve Smiths (of Steps Ahead), Chester Thompson (from Weather Report) and Will Kennedy (from the Yellow jackets). Sandy also appears in legendary rock drummer Kenny Aronoff’s instructional video Laying Down the Basics.
He has performed or recorded with: Lalo Schifren, GRP recording artist Carl Anderson, IRS recording artist Vinx, Eddie Money, Lou Graham, Martha Reeves, Suzanne Somers, the Larry Elgart Big Band, clarinetist Henry Questa, famed British pop singer Paul Carreck, Rita Moreno, singer Brenda Russell, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Larry Crane (on the John Mellencamp movie soundtrack CD), singer Caroline Doctorow, Sony Records gospel artist Ray Boltz (including the CD “Allegiance” with sales of 500,000 unites) and MCA artist Steve Earle. Recent activities include live performances with Michael Feinstein and a studio project with John Mellencamp. He has also received a gold record from RIAA for recording with Ray Boltz. Sandy currently lives in Indianapolis where he is active in the recording industry and performing with Indianapolis jazz sax player Jim Farrely’s group True to Form.
Chris Stone
It’s been long overdue” says vocalist Chris Stone who is carving a new niche with the release of her first CD “Leftover Grooves”. After years of performing in touring bands and fronting her cover/show band “Jayne Bond & the Pink Martinis, all over the country, singing for radio & television commercials, singing for numerous Bob & Tom Q95 CD projects, and supplying background vocals for other artist’s recordings (most recently Healing Sixes w/ blues virtuoso Joe Bonamassa and emerging country artist Jason Sturgeon w/ producer Dane Clark of John Mellencamp’s band), this powerful yet diminutive performer decided the time was right to write and record her first solo cd “Leftover Grooves”.
The CD, which was produced by Doug Henthorn of Healing Sixes, contains a mixture rock, blues & soul originals penned by Stone and Henthorn and showcases Chris’ powerful-yet polished vocal prowess. The single “Comin’ Back” has been nominated in the top 25 New & Notable at Indie Music and was also chosen for the compilation album “Music for Memory” with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The song “Slaughterhouse Blues” from “Leftover Grooves’ is getting extensive airplay in France, Belgium & Germany. Not bad for her first cd and the buzz is continuing to grow about this album and this powerhouse vocalist.
Currently, Chris is doing a string of U.S. dates with her band in support of her newly released album and is already looking forward to writing and recording her next CD. “It’s so great singing and playing my own songs in front of a live audience and I’m humbled by the overwhelming response I’ve received.”
As one reviewer put it “Great 1st album! Big powerful voice from a tiny package. She rocks it out. A little funky sound mixed with a little blues. Totally diggin’ it! Everybody should add it to their shopping list…Seriously, people you need two – one for you, one for someone who needs a little groove in their life.”
Dave Rowe
David grew up in Hawaii, and moved to Nashville in the early ‘80’s, Dave has played with Jerry Reed, Charlie Louvin, Mel Tillis, Chet Atkins, Dottie West, Vern Gosdin, Kathy Mattea, Vince Gill, Duane Eddy, Faith Hill, Lee Roy Parnell, Malcolm Holcomb, Rick Vito, Rosie Flores, Billy Burnett, Gary Nicholson, Colin Linden, Whitey Johnson, and many others!
In the early ‘90’s, Dave was hired by Johnny Cash to play in his band, the Tennessee Three. This is where his love of the upright base began.
After Johnny passed away, Dave toured and did some recording with Dwight Yoakam. Dave was also a member of the Don Kelley Band for 13 years. This is probably America’s best honky-tonk band, and one of the house bands at Robert’s Western World.
These days Dave is doing session work and playing in a couple of bands that needed a bass player. He has also recently played on John Mellencamp’s record, No Better Than This, which was produced by T Bone Burnett.
Rusty Humphrey
Rusty has been a musician since age five, and a bassist since age 16. He studied musical performance at Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts, where his principal instrument was string bass. He has performed in numerous ensembles, including the bands Abstractions, the Fabulous Starlettes, Mathematicians, and many others. He has played in numerous local theater productions, several local jazz ensembles, a national tour of A Chorus Line, and the 30thAnniversary Louie Louie tour which featured several name artists from the sixties, including Jack Ely, Sonny Geraci, Alex Chilton, Len Barry, and Billy J. Kramer. He currently performs with Polkaboy, a 13-piece big band that performs polkas, standards, and song remakes, all delivered with a comedic air. Rusty also is a church musician, playing in modern praise bands, and singing tenor in traditional choral settings. He is currently cantor at the Church of the Nativity, an Episcopal church on Indy’s northeast side, and also performs in the praise band at Hazel Dell Christian Church in Noblesville.
Paul Yinger (“P.J.”)
Music and art have always been a passion for this Michigan native, growing up with Motown and playing in numerous Jazz, R&B, Funk and Rock bands in and around the Detroit area. A career move to Indianapolis stuck and today Yinger combines his livelihood of art and graphic design as well as being active in the Indiana music community with local and national artists.
He is also a proud band member of the Bob & Tom Show Band and also the outrageous faux German musical sensation PolkaBoy.
Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, Paul has made Indiana his home since 1980. The Yingers reside in Brownsburg with wife Elizabeth and daughter Grace, a sophomore Ball State University.
Jim Ryser
Jim Ryser began his music career at the tender age of 5 years old, learning to play violin to ease long hours spent in the hospital. Born with Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele and expected to live a poor quality and short life, Jim beat the odds due to a loving and caring family combined with an Irish tenacity that continues to this day.
Jim honed his musical skills during the recovery from over 50 surgeries he has had to correct problems associated with the original corrective procedure on his spinal cord when he was 9 days old.
He played Madison Square Garden as a solo violinist when he was 9, but it was picking up the guitar at 14 that took him down the music path of rock and roll dreams. “I played a lot of Rush and Pink Floyd, but I loved Fleetwood Mac and other more mellow rockers as well,” he says, “and I think that combined with my classical background made for some interesting stuff over the years!”
He signed his first record deal with Arista Records in 1990. Music legend Clive Davis was heading up the label at the time and told Jim – then known as Jimmy – that he had hit songs and wanted Jim on the roster. “Same Old Look,” the first single released in 1990, reached #6 on the Billboard chart and sent he and his band on a wild summer tour with The Moody Blues, Henry Lee Summer, REO Speedwagon, and John Mellencamp. He has played on some wonderful albums with John Mellencamp, Hall and Oates, and Tracy Chapman. He has guested with James McMurtry, Henry Lee Summer, and Bob and Tom over the years.
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