The Band
Skip - Guitar / Vocals
Slip-sliding in from Shreveport, La. to Houston in 1977, Skip has been
playing guitar for 38 years. Having lived in Denver, Co. for 10 years, Skip
was very active in the music scene there with the successful band
"Freelix". He has been involved in the Houston music scene in a variety of
projects, and is the original founder of "The ToneKings", this being the 3rd
incarnation, and this time, based out of Conroe, Tx. He counts The Beatles,
Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, David Grissom, Robben
Ford and Eric Johnson among his many influences, because of all the
creative & soulful playing these guys have always had. Its so great, when
the songs have melody, and phrasing that will make the hair on your arm
stand up, and hopefully well crafted, either vocally or instrumentally. Skip
has been known to be a ‘Gear Head’, but mainly plays an assortment of
Strats, Les Pauls , PRS & Hamer guitars through RL Hunt Dumble "clones",
Sewells, Fenders, Two-Rock & Mesa Boogie amps…
He is definitely Groove Approved!
Slip-sliding in from Shreveport, La. to Houston in 1977, Skip has been
playing guitar for 38 years. Having lived in Denver, Co. for 10 years, Skip
was very active in the music scene there with the successful band
"Freelix". He has been involved in the Houston music scene in a variety of
projects, and is the original founder of "The ToneKings", this being the 3rd
incarnation, and this time, based out of Conroe, Tx. He counts The Beatles,
Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, David Grissom, Robben
Ford and Eric Johnson among his many influences, because of all the
creative & soulful playing these guys have always had. Its so great, when
the songs have melody, and phrasing that will make the hair on your arm
stand up, and hopefully well crafted, either vocally or instrumentally. Skip
has been known to be a ‘Gear Head’, but mainly plays an assortment of
Strats, Les Pauls , PRS & Hamer guitars through RL Hunt Dumble "clones",
Sewells, Fenders, Two-Rock & Mesa Boogie amps…
He is definitely Groove Approved!
Bill M. - Drums
When asked how long he's been playing drums, the answer most heard is "counting
today?..."
Born in Houston (yes, there are native H-towners, believe it or not!), early influences
were the solid back-beats of Simon Kirke (Bad Co) and Robbie Bachman (BTO). Over
the years, influences came and went, but most lasting were Bryan Holmes (The
Producers), Steve Smith (Journey and jazz stuff), Neil Peart (I forget which band he's
in) and Jerry Mercer (April Wine).
An alumni of the South County music hot-bed (of which Lee is a product as well!),
played in various Houston-based bands over the years- most notably The Missiles,
Big Swifty, and the Greg Wood Band. Musical styles varied between the bands from
beer-soaked party rock, to thoughtul instrumentals, to alternative country, to
downright twangy country. Bill meter is always dead on and rock solid, with just the
right amount of "hook & sink" !
Currently plays an early 70s vintage Slingerland drum kit....and many cowbells!
When asked how long he's been playing drums, the answer most heard is "counting
today?..."
Born in Houston (yes, there are native H-towners, believe it or not!), early influences
were the solid back-beats of Simon Kirke (Bad Co) and Robbie Bachman (BTO). Over
the years, influences came and went, but most lasting were Bryan Holmes (The
Producers), Steve Smith (Journey and jazz stuff), Neil Peart (I forget which band he's
in) and Jerry Mercer (April Wine).
An alumni of the South County music hot-bed (of which Lee is a product as well!),
played in various Houston-based bands over the years- most notably The Missiles,
Big Swifty, and the Greg Wood Band. Musical styles varied between the bands from
beer-soaked party rock, to thoughtul instrumentals, to alternative country, to
downright twangy country. Bill meter is always dead on and rock solid, with just the
right amount of "hook & sink" !
Currently plays an early 70s vintage Slingerland drum kit....and many cowbells!
Johnny Mac - Bass / Vocals
Like all bass players, Johnny Mac started out on guitar, but eventually decided...hey...4
strings are easier than 6, and so it began. Playing w/ various bands since the age of 5,
and hailing from the upper north westside of the most northern part of Houston, Tx.,
J-Mac put himself thru college playing professionally, and finally got a pretty good
daytime job...but the story continued...he stumbled across a ToneKings bass ad, on
Craigslist, and then recruited Johnny-De, and the magic began. Now he was able to buy
cool gear, and become an ebay freak. Although his roots are in technical precise music,
(ala Jaco, Flea & Chris Squire, a host of others), J-Mac plays what is needed, in order to
recruit new subjects to the Tone Kingdom...& command a crowd. He holds down a
monsterous bottom groove w/ precision, and actually keeps the band grounded and on
its toes, by dysecting all parts of the song, and correcting the band when needed. He
plays an assortment of custom Lakeland & Spector 4 & 5 strings basses, thru Eden and
Gene-Bentz amps & cabinets.
Like all bass players, Johnny Mac started out on guitar, but eventually decided...hey...4
strings are easier than 6, and so it began. Playing w/ various bands since the age of 5,
and hailing from the upper north westside of the most northern part of Houston, Tx.,
J-Mac put himself thru college playing professionally, and finally got a pretty good
daytime job...but the story continued...he stumbled across a ToneKings bass ad, on
Craigslist, and then recruited Johnny-De, and the magic began. Now he was able to buy
cool gear, and become an ebay freak. Although his roots are in technical precise music,
(ala Jaco, Flea & Chris Squire, a host of others), J-Mac plays what is needed, in order to
recruit new subjects to the Tone Kingdom...& command a crowd. He holds down a
monsterous bottom groove w/ precision, and actually keeps the band grounded and on
its toes, by dysecting all parts of the song, and correcting the band when needed. He
plays an assortment of custom Lakeland & Spector 4 & 5 strings basses, thru Eden and
Gene-Bentz amps & cabinets.
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Lee Hanson - Guitar / Vocals
Learning guitar starting at the age of 13, Lee has worked his way around many different styles of
music, including jazz, big band, blues, country and western, classical, and folk, but his love has
always been rock and roll, and blue-eyed soul. Playing C&W through his college years taught him
an appreciation for beer money, as well as finding the right phrase for expressing the feeling of
the song. Lee has a way with tone and notes placed in the perfect spot, playing w/ feeling. After
playing for the band “Searcher” Lee founded a original band hailing from south Montgomery
County, TX called “Disk Drive”. He is also a gearhead, w/ an extensive collection of great amps and
guitars, but is almost entirely devoted to Paul Reed Smith guitars and Mesa amps, but always still
finds a place in his heart for a good Strat and el84 tubes....
Learning guitar starting at the age of 13, Lee has worked his way around many different styles of
music, including jazz, big band, blues, country and western, classical, and folk, but his love has
always been rock and roll, and blue-eyed soul. Playing C&W through his college years taught him
an appreciation for beer money, as well as finding the right phrase for expressing the feeling of
the song. Lee has a way with tone and notes placed in the perfect spot, playing w/ feeling. After
playing for the band “Searcher” Lee founded a original band hailing from south Montgomery
County, TX called “Disk Drive”. He is also a gearhead, w/ an extensive collection of great amps and
guitars, but is almost entirely devoted to Paul Reed Smith guitars and Mesa amps, but always still
finds a place in his heart for a good Strat and el84 tubes....
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