Artist description The Open hearts Band has been performing in the Northern California area for about four years. The band performs only original songs, in a captivating Folk-Rock style, with blues country and jazz onertones.

Music Style Folk rock with a kick

Musical Influences The Doors,CSN,JamesTaylor,The Beatles

Similar Artists James Taylor,Mary Chapin Carpenter,Bruce Cockburn and Pat Methany

Artist History All five members of the band bring uniquely individual talents and experiences to the group's overall sound. Together they create a broad range of musical styles and sounds in support of John's heartfelt, lyrical vocals. we would like to give you a brief but informative introduction into the background of each of the players in the Open Hearts Band.JOHN REESE: "I began writing in 1992, while living in Fort Bragg,CA. It started as poetry, and then just on a whim I tried putting a poem to music, and the flood began. At first I played solo at open mics and then booked gigs at coffee houses. After doing that for about two years, I connected with a lady named Katie Ketchum, a talented singer-songwriter in the area, and we played together for a year. During that time I reconnected with Ron Smoot, an old friend from high school, and soon after started playing with him as a duet. Together we began work on the CD, and after hooking up with the rest of the guys to help on that project, we decided the chemistry was right and the rest is history.RON SMOOT: "I began playing guitar in high school, and started playing in bands in college. These were local disco bands mostly. Every time we decided on a great name for one of these bands, it turned out someone famous already had the name, so that's why I can't tell you what any of these disco bands were called. My first musical love was Classic Rock, however, and I was a founding member of local legends the Spy-Dels. After leaving the Spy-Dels, I helped form another local Oldies band, Johnny B & The Stinger, and that group is still quite active. John Reese and I reconnected after being friends in high school, with the idea of doing a CD, and the Open Hearts Band is the result of that project. KEN BRAZIEL: "I've played bass and guitar for over a decade in styles such as blues, 50's and 60's Rock and Roll, Country, Progressive Jazz, Modern Folk, and Contemporary Instrumental (Americana). I currently play in Phil's Harmonic Orcestra, and have been building on my vocal training with John Reese and the Open Hearts Band. I'm also Network Administrator and Webmaster at zapworld.com." BRADELY D. COX: "I've been educated in drums, percussion and music theory at the college level. Over the last 27 years, I've played drums and percussion with local groups in styles ranging from Symphonic, Marching and Big Band to New Age, Top 40 and now Contemporary Folk Rock with John Reese and the Open Hearts Band." BOBBY LEE: Pedal seel guitarist Bobby Lee bas been a well known fixture in Northern California's country and western community for the past quarter century. He started his musical career in the mid-70's with a San Francisco honky tonk street band called The Plungers. Bobby was a founding member of The Cowpokes, The Western Rhythm Gang, The Stringbusters and, most recently, the Country All-Stars. He has performed on numerous recordings, and has produced two CDs of original steel guitar music. In Open Hearts, Bobby takes his pedal steel beyond it's traditional country roots into the rock, folk, and new age styles of music. A master of electronic effects, he can make his 'steel' sound like a Hammond organ,m a heavy metal guitar, or an orchestral string section. It can invoke the soft, warm breezes of the tropics or the shimmer of a starlit night, and when Bobby trades riffs with guitarist Ron Smoot, it can rock your socks off. The dynamic interplay of these accomplished musicians is something that audiences won't easily forget.

Group Members John Reese:Lead Singer, writer, rythum guitar,and harmonica,Ron Smoot:lead guitar. Brad Cox:Traps and Synth. Ken Braziel:Bass Guitar and vocals,Bobby Lee Quasar:Pedal steel and Nancy Freitas:finger style guitar and vocals

Instruments Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Percussion and Traps, Violo, Harmonica

Albums Today & Tomorrow and 3 Chords & the Truth

Additional Info C.D. includes lyrics

Location Cloverdale, CA - USA

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