Kansas Music Hall of Fame 2027 Ballot
You may vote for a total of up to ten potential inductees, or as few as one. They may be chosen from those listed below, or you may “write in” as many as two others, as long as they meet the criteria for induction (go to our website listed below for more information.) All votes must be received by midnight on Friday, January 1, 2027. Email your votes to ksmhof@gmail.com or mail them to Kansas Music Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 84, Lawrence, KS 66044. Please include your name, phone number and email address in case there are any questions about your vote. The 2027 inductees will be announced shortly after the above deadline on the Kansas Music Hall of Fame facebook page and on our website: ksmhof.org. The date of the 2027 induction ceremony, either online or live, will also be announced at that time.
_____The Appleseed Cast – Lawrence
The Appleseed Cast is an alternative rock band from Lawrence, Kansas. Their 1999 album, called “Mare Vitalis”, garnered much critical acclaim. The Cast have released 8 albums overall, with 2009’s “Sagarmatha” appearing on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Having toured extensively across the U.S. and Europe, the band has been hailed for their audio/visual live shows.
_____Banshee – Kansas City
Banshee, a melodic power metal band from the Midwest, was formed in the spring of 1986. The group was made up of members from the popular Mid-West touring act LICK (Tommy Lee Flood and Chuck Hopkins) plus Terry Dunn of Kansas City-based FRODO and GRANMAX, and Kent Burnham from the Kansas City band CRYPT KEEPER. By the fall of 1986, they released their first EP entitled ”Cry In The Night,“ a video of which was in heavy rotation on MTV. Hopkins left shortly thereafter to pursue other projects in LA and was replaced by local Kansas City bassist Bill Westfall.
In 1988, Metal Blade Records re-released “Cry In The Night” and included the song “We Want You” on a compilation record, “Metal Massacre No.9”. Later that year, the band released their first full-length album “Race Against Time” on Atlantic Rercord’s Titanium label, although their relationship was brief. In 1992, the band self-released their second full-length album ”Take ‘Em By Storm” with the band breaking up shortly thereafter. Reunion shows were played in 1999, 2000, and later in 2008. In 2008, a deal was negotiated with BlastZone Entertainment Group to provide worldwide distribution for a digitally remastered “Take ‘Em By Storm,” including distribution reach on Amazon.com, iTunes, and Wal-Mart, with the re-release of the other albums following. In 2012, the band released their fourth studio album ”Mindslave” on Snowblind Records. The album featured vocalist George Call (ASKA, Violent Storm, Omen), plus original bassist Chuck Hopkins, and drummer Marty Schiermann. Both Hopkins and Schiermann were unable to tour in support of the new album, so in June of that year, Banshee added LA bass player Mika Horiuchi (formerly of Falling In Teverse and Celador) and drummer Vinnie E. Parma from Dallas,TX to the lineup.
_____Matt Betton, Jr. – Manhattan
Matt Betton, Jr is a drummer, saxophonist and songwriter from Manhttan, KS who is the son of the acclaimed band and orchestra leader of the same name.
He was the drummer for Sonny & Cher in the 1960s, appearing on the albums ‘Sonny & Cher Live’ and ‘All I Ever Need Is You.’
In 1976, he recorded the debut album with the Alpha Band as an extra member after they came to light in Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue.
During his career in music, Betton has recorded and performed with many famous solo artists and groups, including membership in Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band for over ten years. With Buffett, he wrote ‘Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On’ which was about New Orleans after the Hurricane Katrina Disaster.
Albums Matt has appeared on with Buffet include ‘Take The Weather With You’, ‘Coconut Telegraph’, ‘Riddles In The Sand And Boats’, ‘Floridays’, ‘Somewhere Over China’, ‘Last Mango In Paris’, and ‘Beaches Bars & Ballads.’ With Hank Williams, Jr. he appears on ‘Greatest Hits Vol. 1’, ‘Major Moves’, ‘Wild Streak’ and ‘Montana Cafi.’ With George Strait: ‘Strait Out Of The Box’ and ‘Greatest Collection’ and with Glen Campbell on ‘Legacy 1961-2002.’ Hit singles he’s recorded on include ‘My Best to You’ by Reba McEntire, ‘Country Rap’ by The Bellamy Brothers, ‘Best Years of My Life’ by Eddie Rabbitt, and ‘Nashville Rebel’, ‘Hangin’ Tough’ and ‘Will the Wolf Surive?’ by Waylon Jennings.
For more on Matt Betton. Jr., visit:
Betton, Matt
_____Ashley Davis – Lawrence
A Lawrence, Kansas native with ancestors from all over Europe, singer/songwriter Ashley Davis has culled from her multiple family traditions to create a sound that is truly her own. Ashley’s ability to capture and cross musical styles defies comparison, so her music is difficult to classify. Rather, her soft-spoken music suggests a genre and world all of its own. Good Morning America describes Ashley’s sound as “new music springing from ancient roots.” Academy Award winning composer Phillip Glass notes that Ashley has “as much musicality as an artist could wish for.” Her creative blend of Celtic folk, Americana, electronic, and Winter music conjurs unique and spellbinding stories that captivate audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Recently Germany, one of Ashley’s ancestral homelands, has fully embraced her. Ashley’s two Winter albums (Songs of the Celtic Winter 1 & 2) have received hundreds of thousands of streams since early December of 2025, demonstrating yet again that her music resonates with a worldwide audience. Influenced by Ashley’s many trans-Atlantic journeys, her music exhibits ethereal and aqueous qualities. Much like water, Ashley’s music is fluid, escaping categorization. While New Age, Celtic, roots, bluegrass, country, electronic, and indie have all described her music over the years, none of these descriptors comprehensively characterize Ashley Davis. She is, in her own words, “a songwriter, who likes particular sounds surrounding my music.” Ashley has been bold in her creative exploration. Under the mentorship of artists such as Clannad’s Moya Brennan, Ashley released her first Irish album (and second overall), “Down By the Sea,” in 2008. The album is a unique iteration of Irish folk blended with her American roots. It is difficult for an outsider to infiltrate traditional Irish music, but Ashley—who holds a master’s degree from the University of Limerick’s World Music Centre—has accomplished this feat. Moya and Ashley have toured together in many countries and have collaborated on various other projects. Ashley followed the success of “Down by the Sea” with her most popular seasonal album, “Songs of the Celtic Winter” (2012). Instead of resting on that success, Ashley released her fourth studio album, “Night Travels,” two years later in 2014. “Night Travels” proved that Celtic music could be inventive and honor history while also spreading magic. Ashley poured her heart into the compositions, sharing herself bravely and selflessly in her writing and performance. Having reached a pinnacle in her Celtic music career, Ashley sought new adventures in her 2015 and 2018 albums. “The Christmas Sessions,” her 2015 collaboration with guitarist John Doyle, joined Irish folk and jazz to make a playful collection of Christmas standards. The album is now considered a classic in its own right. In 2018, Ashley stretched the limits of her vocal and arrangement skills by experimenting with electronic music. With “Burning Down,” Ashley proved that her voice, so at home in the Celtic tradition, could migrate to new plateaus and adopt new musical perspectives. In 2020, Ashley released “When the Stars Went Out,” perhaps her most creative and challenging album yet. Under lockdown in her home state of Kansas, Ashley gave herself a new task: to write songs that leaned toward the country music tradition of her childhood. “If you’re from a roots background,” Ashley explains, “you start to crave that space—the quiet and the purity of it.” To this endeavor she added a further challenge: recording collaboratively while apart, in isolation. Ashley composed songs with band members Dave Curley, Colin Farrell, Will MacMorran, and Duncan Wickel. From there, the album reached out to an even wider community. Ashley is joined on tracks by Irish and American artists, including Heidi Talbot, Tony Furtado, John Doyle, Mick McAuley, Shane Hennessy, and Grammy-award winners Tim O’Brien and Shawn Colvin. This 2020 album is an important musical footnote in Covid-19’s history book. A decade after Songs of the Celtic Winter, Ashley decided to return to her favorite writing topic: Winter. In 2022 she released the sister album “Songs of the Celtic Winter II.” Currently, these Winter albums stand as Ashley’s greatest selling albums, with more than a million combined streams.
The music of Ashley Davis offers cultural history, daydreams, heartbreak, and unbound imagination as she continues to reach new fanbases around the globe, and listeners continue to be captivated by her voice and tales.
_____Joe Denoyer – Liberal
Joe Denoyer has worked in radio continuously for over 40 years. He first went on the air in November of 1982, and remains a mainstay in local radio to this day. He has worked in several different music and talk formats, and has covered several different air shifts. He’s also worked every aspect of radio: from on-air production to management, promotions and sales.
In addition to the daily duties of being at the station, Joe has given budding musicians air and interview time to help get their music and names out to the public. Joe was instrumental in launching Liberal native Jerrod Niemann’s career, as well as that of fellow country artist Ned LeDoux from Manhattan KS. Many other local, state, and national artists have been guests in his studio. Joe has also personally hosted many concerts over the last 42 years.
During his time in radio, Denoyer has worked at KSLS Radio and KSCB/The Legend in Liberal, KKBS in Guymon OK, and KFNF in Oberlin, KS. Joe also served as Liberal’s Mayor from 2015 to 2018 in addition to his DJ duties. Currently Joe Denoyer continues his pursuit of a lifetime career in music with no plans to retire.
_____Arthur Dodge – Lawrence
Descended from musical parents and two Baptist preacher grandfathers, Arthur Dodge began developing his singing, songwriting and guitar playing skills while still in grade school. By age 15 he would form his first in a series of garage bands and start showing up at jam sessions. At one of these, Arthur met Country music artist Norman Canfield of Kansas City, who became an early influence and mentor to his musical aspirations.
In 1991 Dodge recorded his first album, “Arthur Dodge & Matthews Mule.” Self-released on cassette, it sold around 1000 copies regionally before Dodge hit the road to ply his trade elsewhere. He spent time in Trenton, NJ then Austin,TX before returning home to the burgeoning Lawrence music scene that was errupting in the mid-’90s. Dodge sought out his former garage band buddy Matt Mozier, who was just finishing a successful stint with the revered regional group Truck Stop Love. By 1995, the two old friends would form Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers, described as “an Alt-Rock/Country band with it’s own take on Americana.” With Dodge as frontman and principal songwriter, the group would release a number of critically acclaimed albums, starting with the self-titled “Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers” (1997), then “Cadillacs, Ponytails & Dirty Dreams” (1998), “Nervous Habit” (2000) and “Room #4” (2004). All of the albums are still available through Amazon, Discogs, Spotify and all the usual outlets..
Around 2001, Dodge headed for Nashville, testing the waters to see if there was a broader market for his rugged voice and above-average songwriting skills. Not finding Music City particularly to his liking, he was soon back in Lawrence where he remains to this day, a beloved fixture on the city’s musical landscape.
Currently, Arthur Dodge is working on a new album with the Horsefeathers. Visit his facebook page for the release date, plus a schedule of his upcoming live performances.
_____Billy Ebeling – Lawrence
A full-time professional guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and recording artist since the early 80’s, Billy Ebeling has traveled the globe extensively, spreading his unique style of music to the masses. Originally from Lawrence, KS, he has toured the length and bredth of the USA plus Europe, Hong Kong, Fiji, Canada, Mexico and Central America. In addition, Billy spent twelve years playing in New Zealand and Australia with his own band and with The Ebeling Brothers. A prolific songwriter and recording artist, Billy has released a total of sixteen albums to date. Along the way, Ebeling has played with or opened for Brownie McGhee, Red Holloway, Buckwheat Zydeco, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Robert Jr Lockwood, John Hammond, Johnny Johnson, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, W.C. Clark, TheTailgators, Rosie Ledet and Wayne Toups. Billy is currently based in the Kansas City area, playing as a soloist or with The Late For Dinner Band.
For more information, visit Billy Ebeling’s home page at: https://www.billyebeling.com/about.html
_____Lester Estelle II – Kansas City
Lester Estelle is an accomplished, versatile, Grammy nominated musician. Not only is he a dynamic drummer, he is also an accomplished bassist, studio producer and engineer. He is a native of Kansas City, but is currently based in Nashville, TN. He started his professional career as a touring musician at the age of fourteen, and continues to successfully follow his dream of playing and recording great music. As Kelley Clarkson’s drummer for many years, both on the road and in the studio, Estelle was prominently featured in the house band for all seven seasons of the Kelly Clarkson Show (2019 – 2026). Additionally, he has recorded and/or performed with a host of other artists such as Pillar, Big & Rich, Kim Burrell, John Rich, Neal McCoy, Charlie Pride, Randy Owens, Lester Estelle Sr., Jimmie Bratcher, Trump Dawgs, Agnieszka Chylinska, Stars Go Dim, Disciple, Edens Edge, Seventh Day Slumber, Lynda Randle, Donnie McClurkin, Brian Doerksen, Bob Fitts, Heidi Newfield, Keith Anderson, Julian Vaughn, and Tate Stevens, among others.
For more info: https://www.lesterdrums.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Estelle_II
_____Nicolle Gaylon – Sterling
Nicolle Gaylon is an American singer, songwriter, producer, record label executive, and publishing executive currently based in Nashville. Originally from Sterling, Kansas, she gained national exposure early in her career after a 2012 appearance as a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. She co-wrote the song “Automatic” sung by Miranda Lambert, which was named the 2015 ACM’s ‘Song of the Year’ and the 2014 CMA’s single of the year. In 2019, she was named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and was the first woman to win the award since Taylor Swift took it home in 2010. Galyon has written songs for artist such as Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lady A, Martina McBride and Thomas Rhett, among others. As of 2025, she is credited for writing 10 Number 1 hits. For more information on Nicholle Gaylon, including her extensive list of songwriting credits, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolle_Galyon
_____Mark Hart – Fort Scott
Mark Hart is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist best known for being a member of both Supertramp (1986–1988, 1996–2002, 2015-present) and Crowded House (1993–1996, 2007–2019), as well as being a group member, touring and session musician for acts such as Ringo Starr (during the 2000’s). In addition, Hart has also composed film scores, and is a record producer.
Mark was born in Fort Scott, KS and grew up there. From the age of seven, he received piano lessons, and followed with learning guitar some years later. Moving with his older brother to Kansas City during the ’70s, Mark studied classical music in college while playing with a number of local groups and doing session work. With a move to Los Angeles, he became a full-time session musician, working with varied artist in a variety of styles.
By 1982, Mark had formed Combonation, which was signed by Warner Brothers Records. Released in 1984, their self-titled album, was produced by Ted Templeman (Van Morrison, The Doobie Brothers, Van Halen, etc.). A few years later, Hart began his long associations with both Supertramp and Crowded House, and eventually Ringo Starr. Along the way, Hart has scored the motion pictures “Life Among The Cannibals” (1996) and “Mockingbird Don’t Sing” (2001), both directed by Harry Bromely Davenport. His producer credits include records for Tim Finn (leader of Crowded House) and Ceremony (Chaz Bono’s group) among others.Mark Hart has two solo album releases: “Nada Sonata” (2002) and “The Backroom” (2014), both for PSB Records. Currently, Hart continues to record and tour with Supertramp, and still does session work.
_____Nora Douglas Holt – Kansas City
Nora Douglas Holt was a singer, composer and music critic born in Kansas City, Kansas in 1885. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Western University in Quindaro, Kansas in 1917 and went on to become the first African American to receive a master’s degree in the United States. From 1917 to 1923, Holt was a music critic for The Chicago Defender, one of the most famous and influential Black newspapers in America. In 1919, Holt led a group of composers and musicians to establish the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), of which she was a founding member. She also composed more than 200 works of music and was associated with the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement considered to be the rebirth of African American arts. For more information on Nora Douglas Holt, visit these sites: https://www.classicalkc.org/history/2024-12-16/kansas-citys-nora-holt-composed-more-than-200-musical-works-then-they-all-got-stolen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_Holt
_____Arnie Johnson – Lawrence
Arnie Johnson, 79, was born in Salina. After a brief time in California, he moved with his family to Lawrence in 1952. The son of amateur musicians, he grew up listening to his extended family play country music together. He joined a local band as a singer in 1972 and in 1979 formed his own band, Arnie Johnson and the Midnight Special. Arnie led his band to iconic status in the region, performing at dance halls and nightclubs every weekend for decades. They drew people who love country music and love to dance. As time went on, Arnie augmented his rich baritone and stage presence by playing rhythm guitar, a vast repertoire of danceable country tunes, and a list of his own original songs. In 2017 he retired from the band, but continues sharing his love of music by performing as a guest artist with other regional performers.
_____Frankie Kay – Kansas City
Frankie Kay was born on November 11, 1929. He grew up in Kansas City, KS. He started taking guitar and steel guitar lessons at an early age. By the time he was 12 years old, he was playing in various venues in the Kansas City area. At age 14 he started his own band. By the time he was 20 he was a well known band leader and was playing 6 nights a week at Johnny Bakers Club, while also playing live radio during the day on both WHB and KCMO radio stations. Then, legendary country radio DJ Dal Stallard told him that Cowboy Copas needed a steel guitar player in Nashville. He left Kansas City and joined up with Cowboy Copas’ band in 1951, touring during the week and returning to Nashville on the weekends to play the Grand Ole Opry. He did this for a little over a year, but was not making enough money, so he returned to Kansas City and started a new band, Frankie Kay and his Westernairs, playing live music six nights a week. He was a full time musician/band leader in the Kansas City area for the remainder of his life. Frankie Kay died on January 14, 2020 at the age of 90.
_____Lowell Kiesel – Wichita
Lowell Kiesel, founder of Carvin Corporation, was born on a farm in Eustis, Nebraska on February 22, 1915. As a young man in the 1930s, Keisel moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he developed an interest in musical instruments; specifically Hawaiian steel guitars, resonator guitars, and the newly-emerging electronic aspects of these instruments. During his time in Wichita, he performed live on local radio stations with his Hawaiian steel guitar. However, like other innovators in the burgeoning industry of that era, he found that he had as equal a passion for building instruments and equipment as he did playing them, and that passion would become his life’s work. Following his time in Kansas, Mr. Kiesel relocated to Los Angeles, where he took a job with North American Aviation. It was World War II, and Mr. Kiesel was one of many men building aircraft for the war effort; notably, the legendary P-51 Mustang, which is often credited as turning the tide of the war for the Allies. Near the end of the war, in 1944, he married Agnes Dorothea Jorgenson, who would be with him until her passing in 2007. Lowell founded the Carvin Corporation in 1946, and began winding guitar pickups with his wife’s old sewing machine. The company was initially located in Los Angeles, briefly relocated back to Mr. Kiesel’s birth state of Nebraska, and then moved back to southern California in 1949. By this time, he had added amplifiers to his lineup of gear, along with steel guitars and solid body electric guitars. Originally, Kiesel’s products were sold through a distributor, but Mr. Kiesel felt he could do a better job by eliminating the middleman and selling directly to the customer. Thus, an innovative and successful marketing idea was born. As the decades passed, Carvin blossomed into a world-class manufacturer of musical instruments, instrument amplification and pro audio products. The company relocated several times, from Baldwin Park outside of Los Angeles, to Covina, California, to Escondido, California, and finally to San Diego. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Kiesel’s sons joined the family business, bringing their own engineering and technical skills to the company. Today, the 3rd generation of Kiesels are carrying on the tradition. Mr. Kiesel’s leadership, technical expertise, innovative engineering and marketing concepts led the company for decades, and even after handing the company over to his sons, he maintained an office in Carvin’s San Diego headquarters. The innovative direct-to-customer sales approach adopted by Mr. Kiesel in the 1940s continues to this day, and is one of the primary reasons for the company’s success. Lowell Kiesel passed away in 2009.
_____Kill Creek – Lawrence
Formed in 1986 while founders Scott Born (vocals/guitar) and Ron Hayes (guitar) were still in high school, Kill Creek took to formation under the post-punk influences of Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Mission of Burma. Accompanied by their own brand of straight power pop in comparison to the likes of Hüsker Dü and the Doughboys, Kill Creek developed a sound of their own, while processing a number of what they call “embarrassing basement demos” between 1986 through 1993. In between contributing a handful of compilations and going through more drummers than Spinal Tap, Mammoth Records took notice and hooked them up with a deal in 1994. With the EP “Sretch” and their first full-length album entitled “Saint Valentine’s Garage” coming out, Kill Creek did lots of touring across the U.S. for the next year or so in support of both releases. After finally settling on Patrick Grassy (bass) and Matt Gilhousen (drums) to complete the lineup, their next album, “Proving Winter Cruel”, came out in 1996. Plans for a fourth album started taking shape in the fall of 1999. However, the album, tentatively titled “Whimsy” was later scrapped, though some of the songs would appear on the 2000 release “Colors of Home”. The double-disc set “Will to Strike” followed in 2004.
For a complete discography and more information on the band, visit their website: http://killcreek.com
_____Shawn Lee – Wichita
Shawn Lee is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and international recording artist from Wichita, KS. Currently living in London, England, Shawn is most recently known as co-founder with Andy Platts of the London-based internationally renowned soft rock duo Young Gun Silver Fox. Other recent accolades include composing the entire score for the acclaimed video game Bully and “The Getaway,” plus having his song Kiss the Sky featured in the equally acclaimed Telltale video game Tales From The Borderlands. Shawn was born Shawn Lee Mahan in 1963 to a half Lebanese, half American Indian mother, and an Irish-American father. Growing up in Witchita, Shawn developed an early love for multiple genres of music and the ability to play them on multiple instruments. His first regular gig, singing and playing drums with the gospel choir at his local Baptist Church, would widen his appreciacion of black music. A few years later, he could be found playing in the local country rock band Lotus, with future country superstar Martina McBride.
By 1988, Shawn had relocated to Los Angeles. Already an able multi-instrumentalist (guitar, drums, bass, keyboards, etc) Shawn now set about developing his songwriting skills, working with producers the Dust Brothers and recording artist Jeff Buckley. Over the next few years, he would be in various bands, perform on The Tonight Show, sign a publishing deal with EMI, and tour on Lollapolooza.
In 1995, Shawn moved to London, recording his 1996 solo debut album “Discomfort” for the Talkin Loud label, which saw just a limited, promo-only release in France. Undeterred, Shawn resolved to write and record on his own terms. He created the infamous “Planet of the Breaks” series as well as 5 volumes of “Ape Breaks,” becoming the most sampled drummer of his generation in the process. As Shawn continued to do it his way, airplay garnered by a self-financed EP prompted several major labels to contact him. Subsequently, Shawn became the flagship artist for the new Wall of Sound label with the release of his album Monkey Boy in 2000. The album featured the cult song “Happiness,“ which was covered by British artist Will Young to become a million-selling hit single.
2004 saw the release of the album Soul Visa (in Japan only) on Rush Production! Soul Visa was later released in 2006 worldwide under the BBE label. The album Harmonium was released in 2005 in Japan, again by Rush Poduction!
As Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, Lee has released 11 albums on the US label Ubiquity Records, and 1 under his own label, Silver Fox Records: Music and Rhythm, Moods and Grooves, Voices and Choices, Strings and Things, A Very Ping Pong Christmas, Funky Treats From Santa’s Bag, Hits The Hits, Miles Of Styles, Under The Sun, Hooked Up Classics, World Of Funk, Reel To Reel, and Techstar. Lee’s music has appeared in many films such as Oceans Thirteen, The Break-Up, and Confessions of a Shopaholic, as well as on television series such as CSI:Miami, S.W.A.T., Lost, Desperate Housewives, Nip/Tuck, Ugly Betty, and Eastbound and Down. Besides his own solo, duo and band projects, Shawn Lee has also worked with artists over the years such as Lana Del Rey, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Psapp, Coldcut, LeeAnn Rhimes, Martina McBride, UNKLE, Tony Joe White, Chateau Flight, The Dust Brothers, St. Etienne, Jeff Buckley, Bomb the Bass, The Spice Girls, Natasha Atlas, Princess Superstar, Money Mark, Bei Bei, Misha Panfilov, Paul Elliot, Virgil Howe, Tim ‘Love’ Lee, Clutchy Hopkins, and Nino Moschella. Lee continues to live in London, working on an array of new albums in his studio “Trans-Yank.” These include collaborations with Clutchy Hopkins, Darondo, Money Mark and Tommy Guerrero. He also frequently performs with London-based electronica band Psapp, both on record and in live performances.
For more information on Shawn Lee, including his voluminous discography, visit his website: https://www.shawnlee.net/
_____ Manilla Road – Wichita
Manilla Road was an American heavy metal band from Wichita, Kansas founded by Mark “The Shark” Shelton (vocals and guitar) and Scott “Scooter” Park (bass guitar), with Benny Munkirs on drums. Beginning in 1977, the early years of Manilla Road were spent playing mostly progressive rock and space rock, but eventually became noticeably heavier with time. The band’s later heavy metal sound became more apparent with the release of ”Metal” in 1982. Achieving moderate success in the mid-80s with several well-received releases such as ”Crystal Logic” (1983), ”Open the Gates”(1985), and”The Deluge”(1986), the band became known for both the nasal voice of vocalist Mark Shelton and his eclectic style of songwriting, with many of his compositions taking place in fantastical universes combining elements of ancient mythologies and of popular culture mythos, such as Robert E. Howard’s Conan and H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu.
After a major breakup in 1992, the band was reformed by Shelton in the mid-90s, although without co-founder Scott Park and a record label. The following years for Manilla Road were spent mostly by taking gigs in underground mid-western shows without the release of any new material. Seemingly forgotten, Manilla Road was re-discovered by the metal scene after performing at the Bang Your Head festival in 2000, which resulted in the band signing a new record deal and the eventual releases of ”Atlantis Rising” in 2001, and “Spiral Castle” in 2002.This second era of Manilla Road continued until the death of founder Mark Shelton, who died in 2018 the day after the band played an outdoor festival in Germany. Over more than 40 years as a band, Manilla Road released sixteen studio albums, three live albums, and various other projects. To see a complete discography and much more about Manilla Road, visit their Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilla_Road
_____The Micronotz – Lawrence
The Micronotz, also known as the Mortal Micronotz, were an American punk rock/ alternative rock quartet formed in 1980 in Lawrence, Kansas that, along with bands like The Embarrassment and Get Smart! were prominent on the local music scene in Lawrence during the early 80s. The band formed in 1980, when all the members were still teenagers. The Embarrassment were looking for an opening band for a show they had booked on December 12, 1980 at the “Off The Wall Hall” (now known as “The Bottleneck”). The Embarrassment knew John Harper and knew that he was putting a band together, so they asked him if his band could open the show, but the band hadn’t actually formed yet. At this point, the band just consisted of John Harper on guitar and David Dale on bass, so a drummer and singer needed to be recruited. Dean Lubensky and Graham Reece were recruited as vocalist and drummer. Dean was a good fit and became the permanent singer, and Steve Eddy replaced Reece as the drummer.
The band soon came to the attention of local music promoter, Bill Rich, who wrote about them for his “Talk Talk” magazine and then signed them to his Fresh Sounds record label. Their first release for Fresh Sounds was the 4-band split cassette “Fresh Sounds From Middle America (Vol.1)” in December of 1981, just one year after the band formed. The “Fresh Sounds” compilation series was organized by Bill Rich as a way to promote regional bands nationally.When the band discovered that Bill Rich was an acquaintance of William S. Burroughs, they asked for an introduction, and Burroughs would end up giving them some lyrics for a song (“Old Lady Sloan” from the “Mortal Micronotz” album). Lead singer, Dean Lubensky, left the band sometime after the 1984 “Live Recording of the Video Soundtrack” EP. He was replaced by Jay Hauptli, who would remain the band’s vocalist throughout the rest of their career and subsequent reunions. After releasing three albums and two EPs, the band broke up in 1986. By 1995, renewed interest in the band lead Fresh Sounds to release two Micronotz compilations, called ”Complete Recordings Volume 1 and 2” where the first volume covered the Dean Lubensky recordings, and the second covered the Jay Hauptli recordings. A tribute album was also put together featuring William S. Burroughs and various other artists. The band still does occasional reunion shows, with Matt Kesler, formerly of the Pedaljets, playing bass in place of the deceased David Dale.
In 2016, the Bar/None label digitally reissued the band’s entire catalog.
For more information on The Micronotz, visit their Wikipedia page: http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Micronotz
_____Patriarch – Lawrence .
In 1981 the band Patriarch was formed in Lawrence, Kansas. Patriarch is: Gregg Anderson (guitar, violin, vocals), Jeff Carroll (bass, vocals), Chuck Huels (keyboards, vocals), Steve Kuker (drums, vocals), and Mike Maxwell (guitar, vocals).
The band immediately focused on writing epic and meticulous progressive rock original music. Their sound is amazing and includes full keyboards, a hot rhythm section of drums and bass, two power guitars with tasteful solos, a world-class violinist, and features big-time vocals. All of the guys can sing, and their melodies and power block vocal harmonies are impressive.
For years, Patriarch practiced at least 3 nights a week, for 3-5 hours per night, played most weekends performing locally and regionally, and did a lot of recording. Their first EP was recorded in 1983 at Studio West in Olathe, Kansas. The band formed a record label called T.E.D. Records, in honor of Ted Maxwell (Mike’s father) who loaned the band the funds to produce their first record. Today the EP “Patriarch, First Hand” is selling all over the world for $200-$500 each! The band shopped their original music to record labels in New York but at the time, the labels were more interested in the English sound from across the pond, and Patriarch was declined. The following year, the band traveled to California to shop their music to major labels in Los Angeles. The west coast labels were much more receptive to the progressive rock sound of Patriarch. The band had interest from RCA and Atlantic records. Ultimately, Atlantic Records was very interested in the band, but Patriarch was not signed.
The guys had to make the difficult decision to set a date, and if they were not signed by that date, they agreed to move on with their lives. The band did not get signed and went their separate ways in 1987 to pursue careers, continuing education, and raising their families. They have stayed in touch over the years and have seen each other in person on occasion. However, for 27 years, they had not all been in the same room together… until 2014.
The flame never died for Patriarch. The guys all live in different cities and states now, so they hadn’t been able to practice together until 2014, with the discovery of new technology that creates a virtual studio where all of the guys are connected through the Internet. They had always been interested in doing a reunion concert and writing new material. Patriarch was fortunate enough to be able to perform a reunion concert on March 13th, 2014 at The Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Their reunion and concert was filmed, and a documentary called “Getting the Band Back Together” was produced and is available on YouTube. The documentary and reunion concert were sponsored by Google Fiber.
Patriarch’s original studio recordings as well as the live tracks from the Uptown Theater are now available to the public. Video footage of the entire reunion concert “Patriarch: Live at The Uptown Theater” is also be available on YouTube. Patriarch is back! The guys are now practicing together again, writing new material, and performing concerts as the headline or pre-act. What does the future hold for Patriarch? STAY TUNED!!
For more information about Patriarch, please visit the website: https://patriarchband.com
_____Paw – Lawrence
Paw was an American rock band from Lawrence, KS that was formed in 1990. The band’s original line-up consisted of vocalist Mark Hennessy, guitarist Grant Fitch, bassist Charles Bryan, and drummer Peter Fitch. They released two studio albums – “Dragline”, and “Death To Traitors” for A&M Records. They also released the B-side and outtake collection, “Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself” and the EP “Home Is a Strange Place” before disbanding in 2000.
Paw was frequently cited by industry insiders as potentially “the next Nirvana”, and a bidding war erupted to sign them.The band signed a three-album deal with A&M Records during the height of the Grunge wave, and released their first album “Dragline” in 1993. Their most well-known songs are from this period, which received moderate rotation on the radio and on Headbangers Ball, MTV’s hard rock/heavy metal showcase. Music videos were made for the hits “Jessie”, “Couldn’t Know”, and “Sleeping Bag”. Paw toured the UK in 1993, supporting Tool with Headswim (months after Tool’s UK support slot with Rage Against The Machine), introducing the band to an audience outside of America. The band recorded two sessions for BBC Radio One’s rock show in 1993 (when they played the Reading Festival). Their songs “Jessie”, “Pansy” and “The Bridge” (plus an alternate version of the video of the first) were used in the 3DO, PC, Segma Saturn and Play Station versions of the video game Road Rash.
In 1995, the band released its second album, “Death To Traitors” on A&M Records, recorded as a three-piece following the departure of bass player Charles Bryan, guitarist Grant Fitch doubled up on bass for the recording (with the help of two additional sessionist). During this period, the band evolved by adding more instrumental and country elements to soften their hard rock edge. The band toured Europe and the UK in early 1995, as well as touring Australia in October 1995. While the album received favorable reviews from the press, sales were less successful, and Paw was dropped by A&M in 1996, before their contract was fulfilled.
In 1998, Grant Fitch, Peter Fitch and Dan Hines formed the band Palomar and released the album “World Without Horses” under their label Outlaw Records. A reviewer described Palomar as “a gentler and more melodic sound than Paw.” Paw also released a full-length compilation of B-sides and rarities entitled “Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself” under said label. Paw still played together during this period, and both “World Without Horses” and “Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself” were released on these shows. Around this time, Mark left the band briefly and was replaced by Steve Tulipana (of Season To Risk fame).
In 2000, founding members Hennessy and Fitch signed Paw with Koch Records and released the mini-album ”Home Is A Strange Place” that same year. The new album incorporated a more pronounced southern rock element.
Shortly after that, the group disbanded. However, Paw still gets back together for occasional reunions.
_____ Hap Peebles – Wichita
Harry Alexander Peebles was born on January 6, 1913 in Anthony, Kansas. “Hap” Peebles, as he was known throughout the country music world, was for over six decades the single most prolific concert promoter and booking agent in the Midwest. While still in high school at age 18, Hap Peebles began booking bands for dances, festivals and special events. For 62 years,The Harry Peebles Agency was synonymous with entertainment at county and state fairs in the midwest and beyond. His influence in the industry was enough to help launch the careers of country music artists the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Barbara Mandrell, whom he discovered when she was just 11 years old and went on to be one of country music’s biggest stars. The legendary western swing band leader, Bob Wills, hired Hap to be his manager for several years when he needed a boost to his business. Hap Peeples booked the first Elvis Presley concert in Kansas and the last Patsy Cline concert anywhere when he had her perform at a benefit for popular country radio DJ “Cactus Jack” Call at Memorial Hall in K.C. KS on March 3, 1963. In fact, nearly every country music concert at Memorial Hall from the mid -1960s through the ’70s was promoted by Hap Peeples. There was hardly a county or state fair from the Rockies to Appalachia that didn’t book an act from the Harry Peebles Agency. Nashville’s biggest stars and upstarts cut their teeth on the road performing gigs that Hap booked. Even some of the inductees to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame were part of Hap’s stable of acts, like Delisa Dawn and Riverrock. Hap is in the halls of fame in over a dozen state fair associations and was a founding member of the Country Music Association. Harry “Hap” Peebles passed away on January 8, 1993 at age 80. But, the legend lives on.
For more information on Harry “Hap” Peebles, visit these sites: https://shrumdisney.com/tag/harry-hap-peebles/ https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/01/11/harry-hap-peebles/
_____Ricky Dean Sinatra – Lawrence
Out of a lot of Kansas bands in the late 1980s, Ricky Dean Sinatra is one of the most original, popular, and enduring bands from that era. Alan Murphy (aka Ricky Dean) is not only a terrific front man but a great stream-of-conciousness type of unique poet/songwriter. Mark Roseberry (aka Dewey Mantini) is an original guitar player and Rock ‘n Roll poet in his own right. Shaw Wilson (aka Clovis Salvadore) is a very inventive drummer who went on to co-found the Country music group BR5-49. In the late 1980’s into the early 90’s, Ricky Dean Sinatra was the toast of Lawrence, with many newspaper articles, TV appearances, and huge crowds wherever they played. They were part of a recent documentary by Lawrence filmmaker Chris Snipes which was broadcast on Lawrence cable TV, and also on KC Public Television station KCPT. A 2010 CD release with 21 songs,“Galaxy of Love” documents the band’s heyday. Ricky Dean Sinatra is undoubtedly part of the great story of Kansas music.
_____The Rockin’ Continentals -Topeka
The Rockin’ Continentals made two 45s for the Kansas-based Casino label in 1962 – 63. The group came from Topeka, Kansas. Members included Johnny Thompson on lead guitar and vocals, Melvin Ralston on rhythm guitar, Chuck Smith on bass, and Bob Stanley on drums. The Rockin’ Continentals’ first release was a great rockabilly song with fierce drumming and scorching guitar and piano breaks called “The 309,” written by Johnny Thompson. The singer has a strong southern accent that doesn’t appear on their other songs. The original A-side was “2-3-4,” written by Melvin Ralston, which in comparison is basic riffing on blues changes. Their next and last single was “Cobra 289” written by Ralph Sandmeyer in tribute to the Ford/Shelby AC Cobra sports car first manufactured in 1962. Bob says that “Ralph Sandmeyer was a songwriter and close friend of Johnny Thompson.” “Count Dracula” is mainly instrumental with a spooky reverbed riff. Like “The 309,” it was written by Johnny Thompson. The Rockin’ Continentals are well known to Rockabilly and Garage band collectors worldwide. Both of these records are considered highly sought after collectibles, and have appeared on multiple compilation CD’s over the years.
_____ Marty Schiff – Sharon
Marty Schiff is an American country music guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from Sharon, KS. He is the son of country music legend Daryl Schiff and brother of country superstar Martina McBride. Born in July of 1968, Marty remembers playing guitar as a three-year-old: ”I don’t recall how I learned, I just know I was already playing by then.” At age five, Marty would be playing guitar and singing with his father’s band, The Schiffters, along with his seven-year-old sister Martina. Five years later when the group’s lead guitarist passed away, a ten-year-old Marty Schiff took over as lead guitarist, a position he held for the next nine years. Along the way, he also became proficient on steel guitar and dobro, adding those to his growing arsenal of instruments. In total, The Schiffters performed nearly every Saturday night for some 17 years at local and regional functions, VFW Halls, Elk’s Clubs, and other venues.
In 1988, Martina would meet and marry her future husband, John McBride. The couple made plans to pursue a career for Martina as a recording artist, and did so a year later with a move to Nashville. Marty would follow his sister to Nashville in 1991, where he landed a job as guitarist/vocalist for recording artist Tracy Lawrence. By 1991, Martina McBride was herself a recording artist, having signed with RCA Records the year before, and her star was clearly on the rise. Meanwhile, Marty had come to the realization that working with Tracy Lawrence just wasn’t a good fit. When Marty expressed dissatisfaction with his new job to Martina, she told him the same job was available with her own band, and they were currently holding auditions. So Marty auditioned along with twenty other candidates before an independent, impartial judge. When auditions were over, the judge declared Marty as “best qualified for the job,” and all the band members agreed.
For the next twenty-plus years, Marty would accompany his sister on the road, touring the length and breadth of North America plus multiple overseas tours, mostly in Europe and Australia. After a ten-year hiatus, Marty resumed his place in the band, which continues to this day. Marty Schiff’s voice and guitar can be heard on a number of best-selling Martina McBride albums: “Martina” (2003), “Timeless” (2008), and “Live in Concert” (2008) plus their father Daryl Schiff’s solo album “Satisfied” (2021). Produced by Martina, the album features original songs by Daryl along with beloved old favorites from The Schiffters set list. Also featured are performances by McBride and her brother Marty, reprising Schiff family harmonies on songs they grew up singing together, like “Heartaches By The Number,” and “Making Believe.” Earthy, honest, and soulful, it’s the closest thing to a Shiffters family band reunion album we’ll ever have.
Marty Schiff is currently on the road with Martina McBride’s 2026 America Tour, opening September 11th in Charles Town, WV.
_____ Mike Schmidt – Lawrence
Mike Schmidt began his career in radio in the early 1970s while a student of radio-tv-film at the University of Kansas, as a member of the on-air staff of both KUOK and KANU. During finals week May of 1972, Mike received a phone call from KLWN/Lawrence regarding an on-air position. He interviewed for the job and was hired. This entailed doing the evening to sign-off position for KLWN AM, the duties of which included feeding the cattle that station owner, Arden Booth had grazing on the land surrounding the radio tower.
After a few months, Mike was promoted to doing both AM Drive and PM Drive air shifts for KLWN-FM, as well as serving as program director for the contemporary hit station. On home KU football weekends he also did air traffic reports from high above Lawrence as the “Baron Von Schmidt.” Over the ensuing months, KLWN- FM began gaining listeners as well as attracting commercial sponsors. Industry trade publications and record companies began to take notice as the station became known for helping break new records and being among the first in the nation to add new singles.
In the mid-70s, KLWN FM changed call letters to KLZR and its identity as “The LAZER”, bridging the gap between a traditional CHR (contemporary hit radio) and a Progressive album-oriented station.
Together with the combined efforts of the record labels, local feedback from record stores in Lawrence and Kansas City, and the Lawrence Opera House, emerging acts routed through Lawrence and gave area music fans more opportunities to see as well as hear new bands and established touring acts. Rock, blues, ska and reggae, new wave pop and progressive bands came to town. Lawrence was gaining attention as a hot spot for emerging music and talented regional musicians and bands and remains so today.
In 1979, Mike joined the staff of KBEQ, Kansas City as Music Director and on-air talent when the station sought to shed its “teeny-bopper” image and attract a larger share of the 18-35 demo. In 1981, Mike headed West and a position as Music Director and on-air talent for highly rated KPKE, Denver, an AOR station owned and operated by Doubleday Broadcasting. With a chain-wide format change, he left Denver and spent the balance of the 80s as Program Director of two different stations in Springfield, MO, the local legend “Rock99” and US97.
Mike is the recipient of several Gold and Platinum record awards from the record industry for being among the first programmers in the country to play them and make them hits. He remains a fan of live music and hearing more new music than oldies, even though he’s now one himself.
_____Greg Skaff – Wichita
Greg Skaff plumbs the depths of creative artistry and honest emotion in his guitar playing, showing himself to be among the leading proponents of jazz music anywhere. No exaggeration. The native Kansan, whose first professional job was a five-year stay in the band of saxophone giant Stanley Turrentine, has flourished as a first-call sideman in New York City since the 1980s. He’s played gigs and/or recorded with past masters Ruth Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and David “Fathead” Newman as well as notables Ron Carter, Ben Allison, Bruce Barth, Pat Bianchi, George Colligan, Orin Evans, Joe Farnsworth, David Hazeltine, Mike LeDonne, Victor Lewis, Gloria Lynne, Ralph Peterson Jr., Jim Rotondi, E. J. Strickland, Bobby Watson, Matt Wilson, and others. Fronting his acclaimed trio, Greg has commanded the attention of discriminating listeners in club and festival performances throughout the country, including gigs at Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, the Bar Next Door, the 55 Bar, and the Iridium in Manhattan, at the Artists’ Quarter in St. Paul, and at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. Greg’s five feature albums have been well-received by jazz fans everywhere. The latest is ‘Soulmation’, his fifth overall and fourth consecutive release on the high-profile ZOHO Music label. For more information on Greg, visit his website: www.gregskaff.com
____The Soulful Seven – Hays
The Soulful Seven (1966 -1971) was a prominent rock ‘n soul horn band consisting of students from St.Joseph’s Military Academy in Hays, KS. Formed during the height of the midwestern “garage band” and soul explosion, they were celebrated as one of the region’s premier live musical acts. The starting lineup in 1966 included Clarence “C.C.” Miller (lead vocals/ trumpet), his younger brother Doug Miller (vocals/ alto sax) and Keith Hutchison (vocals/ tenor sax). The rhythm section was Dennis Weigel (organ), Don Schmutz (guitar), Fred Vogelgesang (bass) and Larry Ortt (drummer/ band leader). By 1968, Weigel and Schmutz had left and were replaced by Walt Moorehouse (B-3 Organ) and Mick McTee (guitar), With the addition later that year of classmate Larry Osborn on vocals and flugelhorn, the group’s lineup was complete. Along with contemporaries like The Soul Express (also out of Hays) and The Fabulous Flippers, the group benefitted from a booming circuit of live music venues throughout the state and surrounding regions. Known for a show delivering tight instrumental arrangements, driving rhythms, and powerful vocals,The Soulful Seven toured the circuit heavily, consistently drawing massive crowds to local venues wherever they went.
Another key to the group’s success was their manager and booking agent, James A. Cambpell of S & H Collegiate Enterprises. Guiding their career every step of the way, Campbell hooked them up with The National Ballroom Operators Association (NBOA) in 1968, expanding their horizons far beyond the midwest. The group soon found themselves touring coast to coast in a totally refurbished Continental Trailways coach equipped with airline seats, bunk beds, and plenty of room in the back for their state-of-the-art PA system and other new gear. Barely out of high school, The Soulful Seven were quickly becoming a national attraction.
By 1969, the group’s travels led them to Los Angeles where they achieved further national exposure, winning multiple times on Arthur Godfrey’s All-American College Show. This led to a 5-year recording contract with MGM Records, signed in November of that year. In May of 1970, the group was booked for a week at The Sound Factory in Burbank to start work on what was to be their first album. At least six sides were recorded with producer Jim Hilton (Iron Butterfly, The Turtles) and executive producer Michael Lloyd (Bob Crewe, Kim Fowley). Except for a percussionist imported from Motown, no other session players were used. These recordings yielded the group’s lone single release: A cover of “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” b/w “I’ve Got a Feelin'” (MGM K14160). Anticipating a hit after glowing reviews from Billboard and Record World magazines, MGM pressed an initial fifty thousand copies of the single for distribution in late-October of 1970.
Exhilarated, The Soulful Seven headed home to Hays anticipating a national tour in support of the single release. On Monday evening, November 9th the group pulled into The Eleventh Hour Club on the outskirts of town to load in and set up for a week-long stand beginning the next day. Tuesday morning, they awoke to the news of a massive explosion and fire that completely destroyed the club, along with the group’s equipment and tour bus parked next to the building. Literally overnight, the group was unable to perfom and tour, bringing their promising carreer in music to a screeching halt. They would spend the next six months suing the club owner for damages, eventually reaching a settlement in late spring of 1971. As the band was laying low and finishing their college education, their manager stayed in touch with MGM, who wanted the band to finish the album and tour behind it. As the band started rehearsing new material and getting ready to take the show on the road again, recording dates were being set up in LA, with tour dates to follow. In July, manager Campbell wrote the label saying that they needed funding for all of this and asked for an advance against royalties. MGM’s terse reply in late August stated that they weren’t in the business of funding bands, they were in the business of selling records. Attempts by the band and their manager to secure funding from other sources proved fruitless, and by September, the band had lost their recording dates, the tour, and their recording contract with MGM records. Severely depressed, their manager took his own life a month later. And that was the end of The Soulful Seven: One of the greatest soul bands ever.
Listen to their MGM single here: Double Shot – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpyk8eh0ww8 I’ve Got a Feelin’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–DYEWOU0xc
____Nathan Tysen – Salina
Nathan Tysen (born January 15, 1977) is both a Tony and Grammy-nominated American songwriter whose musicals have appeared on Broadway and the West End. Musicals with composer Chris Miller include “Tuck Everlasting,” “The Burnt Part Boys,” “Fugitive Songs,” “Revival,” “Dreamland,” and “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.” He also collaborated with songwriter Daniel Messé of the band Hem on lyrics for the Broadway musical “Amélie” starring Phillipa Soo, and the reworked Olivier-nominated original London cast production starring Audrey Brisson. Television work includes songs for Sesame Street, Elmo’s World, and the Electric Company. He also wrote lyrics for the digital murder mystery A Killer Party.
Tysen was born in Kingston, New York and moved to Salina, Kansas when he was three. He graduated from Salina High School South, to study at Missouri State University with a BFA in musical theatre. While attending MSU, he wrote his first musical, “Noah’s Art” with composer Ryan McCall. In 1999, Tysen moved to New York City and received his MFA at New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. It was at NYU that Tysen started collaborating with Miller. Their thesis musical, “The Burnt Part Boys,” was given a world premiere at Barrington Stage Company, and a subsequent Off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons produced in conjunction with Vineyard Theatre. Tysen has written several musicals with Miller, most notably the adaptation of the popular young adult novel “Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie Babbitt. He is also an accomplished writer and performer of children’s music, penning tunes for Sesame Street, Elmo’s World, The Electric Company, Storytime By Design, and Little Maestros. He has worked for over two decades writing and directing for the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, helping create numerous new musicals with young adults. In addition to his work in music theater, Tysen continues to record and perform with Joe’s Pet Project, his rock band of over 25 years. The group’s recent release of a “greatest hits” compilation will be celebrated with a mini-tour of select dates through the end of the year. For more information on Nathen Tysen, visit his Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Tysen
____The Upside Dawne – Lawrence
The Upside Dawne performed throughout the Midwest out of Lawrence in the mid/late ‘60s, playing a variety of rock, blues, and R&B music. In 1967 the band recorded an album at Audio House in, Lawrence. The group went through several evolutions, at times performing with a horn section and psychedelic lighting. The Upside Dawne was a working group, and most importantly it was the starting point for a number of outstanding Kansas musicians who sharpened their skills playing in the group. Upside Dawne alumni who have already been inducted by the KSMHoF include Steve Hall, Jim Stringer and Paul Miller (as members of Tide), Garth Fundis (a major league Nashville record producer), and the late Scott Korchak, as a member of the Grammy-nominated Blue Riddim Band.
_____Kelly Werts – Junction City
Kelly Werts has performed traditional and popular music throughout the Midwest for nearly thirty years. Kelly’s vocal and highly-individual guitar styles stem from a broad background of musical interests ranging from old-time folk music to blues and country. He has worked regionally with singers such as Connie Dover, Ann Zimmerman and Ashley Davis, as well as The Plaid Family, The Sons of Rayon, and more recently, Tiny Flowers. He has appeared at the Walnut Valley Festival several times with the Plaid Family and in a duo with his wife, accordion player Diana Werts. Kelly’s music has also been featured in movies and television, notably for the theme music to the KCPT-TV syndicated series on PBS, “Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations”. He placed twice in the National Fingerpicking Championship at Winfield, after winning the Kansas State Fingerpicking Championship. Kelly grew up in Junction City, has lived in Wichita, and currently lives in Fairway, part of the Kansas City metro area
_____Justus West – Kansas City
Justus West is a Grammy award-winning musician, producer, composer and recording artist from Kansas City, KS. West comes from a musical family. Shortly after he was born, his mother moved to Los Angeles, seeking out a career in the music industry. Over the next few years, she would find a notable amount of success working with the likes of Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and Whitney Houston among other great artists. But being a single parent, she found it hard to balance raising her child with the growing demands of a successful career in music. She eventually decided to give up her music career, move back to Kansas City and raise her young son there.
While growing up in Kansas City, Justus would develop his musical skills early. He started playing the guitar at age 8, and began gigging with bands at 11. By the time he was a teenager, West was landing gigs with major artists including Mac Miller, The Isley Brothers, Jazamine Sullivan, Snoop Dogg, Charlie Wilson, and Miguel among others. In 2016 he was a final-five finalist in the “Onstage With Vince Gill” competition. This became a major launching pad of visibillty for Justus as he continued to grow, travel and play music, picking up new professional relationships and lots of valuable experience along the way.
Following in his mother’s footsteps, Justus moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and kicked off his career as a session player, songwriter, and producer. Signing a publishing deal with Volume Ventures /Peer Music would lead him to co-writes with major recording artists, and 4 Grammy nominations as a producer. One of those nominations became a win in 2020, when a John Legend album West collaborated on called “Bigger Love” won the Grammy for R&B Album Of The Year. More recently, West co-wrote and played guitar on “16 Carriages,” the lead-off single for Beyonce’s groundbreaking “Cowboy Carter” album that won the Grammy for Album Of The Year in 2025.
While continuing his work as a session player, songwriter and producer for recording artists such as Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, West has finally become a recording artist himself. The 2024 release of his freshman effort, “Irregular Forms” has garnered favorable reviews and the promise of more albums to come.
Though still a young man, Justus West has amassed an impressive body of work to look back on. When asked in a recent article by Pitch Magazine about his approach to music and if being raised in Kansas City had any influence, his response was heartfelt and direct: “My approach to music is very organic…being raised in Kansas provided me with a very unique perspective of music. It’s true of a lot of musicians from Kansas City. There’s just a certain pure, organic nature that musicians from the Midwest have, specifically from Kansas City. I think it’s kind of the perfect place to grow up. I had my fair share of difficulties, especially being African American, but I’d say, for the most part, my childhood was pretty awesome and Kansas City is such a peaceful place. That peaceful nature translates to music. It’s a certain sound and energy we create. We’re all using the same chords and notes, but it’s the intention that you play with that changes the feeling and emotion the listener feels.”
For more on Justus West, visit his Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/justus.west .plus Apple Music, Spotify, and any number of videos on YouTube
_____Larry Williams – Kansas City
Lawrence Lowell Williams is an American record producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist who was born in Kansas City, KS and grew up in Overland Park. Williams studied at Indiana University School of Music, where he met Jerry Hey and Kim Hutchcroft, who would later become members of Seawind. He left Indiana University to work full-time with Seawind in Hawaii.
Soon after, he began regularly touring and recording with Al Jarreau. “He knows me inside and out” Jarreau said of Williams. “It was just natural for him to do (my) arrangements, because he knows where I’ve been, what I like doing, and how I am onstage”.
Williams burgeoning career as a session player had him playing tenor saxophone, flute and keyboards on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album. Among others he’s recorded with are Christopher Cross, David Crosby, Helen Reddy, Lee Riperton, Lionel Richie, Mezzoforte, Michael Bolton, Michael Franks, Minnie Riperton, Natalie Cole, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Benetar, Patrice Rushen, Paul Young, Pink Floyd, Randy Newman, Ray Parker, Jr., Richard Marx, Rick Astley, Roberta Flack, Sheena Easton, Simply Red and Stevie Nicks.
For more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Williams_(jazz_musician)
_____Annie Wilson – Wichita
Rancher, songwriter, and educator Annie Wilson is a founding member of the Tallgrass Express String Band formed in 2004. She has written and recorded nearly 60 songs in their 4-volume “Songs of the Kansas Flint Hills” CD series. In 2013 she was named the “Flint Hills Balladeer” by the State of Kansas. Her music has been featured in KANSAS! Magazine and on Sunflower Journeys. For the last seven years, her songs have been winners in the Winfield bluegrass festival song-writing contest. Annie was a recipient of the 2020 Friend of the Flint Hills award from the Flint Hills Discovery Center for her work creating resources for Flint Hills schools and Native Studies projects. Annie and her husband John operate the Five Oaks Ranch west of Cottonwood Falls.
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