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| Dennis Taylor - Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar When he was a young'n, Dennis' parents raised him on a steady diet of old time Gospel and C & W (Country and Western). After a stint in the Air Force (ours), he started singing and playing guitar in 1972 in a group called "Giving Room", playing at Pappa's Pizza Parlor on Northwest Hwy. In between orders for "pizza #42" he met Art Hoffman (bass). They eventually helped form T.T. Taylor and the Rice Paddy Raiders. They began playing at the Annex Club in Dallas and packed them in for months! Dennis went on to join "Boot Hill" during the mid 70's "progressive country" era. They played at the "Greenville Avenue General Store". He joined THE FINZ in the late 80'S and we just can't seem to shake him. Even if we don't tell him about a gig, he knows where our website is! |
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| Lauren Adelle - Lead Vocals Lauren's fresh vocal style and winning smile are sure to win you over. When not singing with THE FINZ, Lauren performs with local songwriter Colin Boyd (see below). Lauren is also working on her first solo album, produced by Colin and featuring David on sax on at least one track. |
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| David Lovrien - Saxophone/Percussion No, it's not a breakfast cereal... they're pets. They're like little flying squirrels or something. Well you asked, so I'm telling you. Yes, you did. Did too. I'm just saying. No, no, no - that's the end of it - I'm changing the subject. David plays sax and tambourine and stuff, and even sings sometimes when he's sure he won't be heard. When he's not rockin' with THE FINZ, he can be found playing with the Dallas Wind Symphony or with 5 Second Rule, a Celtic band. |
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| Jimbo Lancaster - Keyboards Music has always been a part of Jim's life - from piano lessons as a kid, through marching band in high school and college (where he was a decidedly ho-hum tenor sax player), to playing various keyboards ever since. Jim’s first electric keyboard was a Fender Rhodes, which he used to play in a variety of rock and blues bands in Lafayette, Louisiana in the mid-to-late seventies. The South Louisiana rhythms of bands like the Neville Brothers, and Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), and Professor Longhair were early influences. Other influences include the jazz-funk stylings of Joe Sample (Crusaders), the southern rock of Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones), and the incredible Bill Payne (Little Feat). After graduating from LSU and moving to Dallas in 1983, Jim played in a number of bands that never made it out of the garage before becoming a founding member of THE FINZ in 1987. |
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| Art Hoffman - Bass/Vocals Art's been playing bass since 1970. First song ever recorded in a studio? Wilson Pickett's "Funky Broadway" (only after playing bass for 1 month - now that was easy!). He once played in a 16 piece band that only had two gigs. But as a result he had a new found appreciation for Soul, Motown and R & B music. His influences? The late, great James Jamerson (who's that you say? - go out and rent a copy of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" and you'll find out!), Paul McCartney (of course), and Yes' Chris Squire. He was a founding member of Dallas' Southern Cross in 1971 and has played on and off with Dennis Taylor since 1972. Art can play a little bit of everything - from country to alt-rock. Recently, he's recorded several CD's with various local singer/songwriters. One, David Shehane has just released his debut CD "One Way Ride". David Lovrien (saxophone) also helps out on tin whistle! Usually his solos are "so low" you never hear them. Meaning he prefers to keep the groove going and hold down the bottom end. And much to his wife's disdain he still owns every bass he's ever bought! |
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| "Uncle" Mark Kessel - Drums Mark has been playing drums since he was 12. He started playing professionally in Austin bands in 1969 at the legendary Vulcan Gas Company and later at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Sitting in at clubs in Austin gave him the opportunity to play with musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Lee Hooker. His drummer inspirations are straight ahead " in the groove" drummers such as Charlie Watts , Doyle Bramhall, Ringo Starr , Al Jackson ( Al Green) etc. Mark still plays his vintage 1969 Ludwig Maple kit not only because he loves it but because he can't afford a new set of DW's! |
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