Rock ‘n’ roll is not supposed to be funny. Yeah, right. Don’t believe it. This album blends irreverence and sarcasm into a powerful antidote for feeling defeated. Some tunes may send a shiver down your spine. One may even trigger a burst of euphoric mania. Regardless, this album will help recharge your existential batteries. You can rest assured that Werke Horse obeys the “rule of cool”. They’re better than bad. They’re good!

DO NOT read the lyrics while listening to this music. And do yourself a favor by listening with headphones!

Dan Hereford

Dan Hereford

Writer, producer, keyboard, vocals, and programming

Dan Hereford is a piano player and band leader. This album showcases his sick arrangements, sense of humor and surreal lyrics. He attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and the Universität Hamburg in Germany. He earned an advanced degree and spent twenty years managing marketing and new product development for corporate America. He has played with older traditional musicians as well as younger generation players covering a gamut of alternative rock and jazz music.

Billy Mason

Billy Mason

Drums, percussion

Billy Mason is responsible for the album’s dynamite groove. He played on 17 of Tim McGraw’s albums: albums that sold more than 17 million copies. He also toured with Tim for 18 years and has appeared on the David Letterman, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres talk shows, and at the Grammy Awards. He has been sponsored by DW drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo Percussion. Oh, and he is also an actor. In addition to appearing in the movie, he played on the movie soundtrack for Flicka. What a guy!

Marc Rogers

Marc Rogers

Guitars

Marc Rogers Sr. is a Nashville guitarist known for his larger-than-life sound.He has toured and recorded with some of the greatest classic country artists including Kitty Wells, Jim Ed Brown, Stacy Dean Campbell, Skeeter Davis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Matt Kennon, Ty Brown, Gene Ryder and David Lee Murphy. He serves as a manufacturer’s rep for Welch guitars and Inmix Eleven Amplifiers. He is co-owner, with his son Marcus, of Last Day Productions a recording studio in Terre Haute, IN. He and Dan went to high school together back when progressive rock ruled the airwaves!

Amanda Stollings

Amanda Stollings

Vocals

Amanda Stollings is the powerhouse blues vocalist on “Brainwashin’ Baby”. She also sings on “Bank Talk” and sings backing vocals on the album. Amanda has a BA in Broadcasting from Central State University. You may agree that she is one great, as yet, undiscovered talent. She has performed around the world with several chorale groups, like the Jerry Winston Chorale.

Gary King

Gary King

Engineering, mix, trombone, backing vocals

Gary King is a recording engineer, producer, musician and owner of Dayton Sound Studios. Gary toured the world as a trombonist for the iconic disco and funk band, Sun. He studied recording at Sterling Sound in downtown Manhattan, New York City. He has worked with hundreds of artists and has decades of professional analog and digital recording experience. Gary shares his expertise by teaching recording arts at institutions like the Stivers School for the Arts.

Matt Byanski

Matt Byanski

Vocals

Matt Byanski sings on “Gem City”: a song about Matt’s home town of Dayton, OH. It’s also where he performs as a longtime member of Dayton’s local live music community. Matt, aka “Tecumseh”, is recognized for his almost supernatural ability to connect with and energize audiences. Matt earned a BA from Wright State University. Charisma? Charisma is Matt’s middle name!

Marcus Rogers Jr.

Marcus Rogers Jr.

Guitars, guitar engineering

Marcus Rogers Jr. is a guitarist and an award-winning audio and video recording engineer. Along with his father Marc, he is co-owner of Last Day Productions.  Marcus works with corporate clients and with artists like Dylan Raymond, Abbi Scott, Kris Anderson and Nic Strain. They trust his ear, especially when it comes to getting the most out of acoustic and electric guitarists. Marcus often plays with indie rock bands in Indiana.

John Lardinois

John Lardinois

Violin

John Lardinois plays violin for the Dayton Philharmonic and for the West Virginia Symphony orchestras. He earned an advanced degree in violin performance at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He taught at the Earlham College, Indiana University in Richmond and the University of Dayton. John does not limit himself to classical music, however. He is an exceptional bluegrass “fiddler”.  And, as he demonstrates on the album, he is also a guru of avant-garde, progrock and world music.
Jeff Foster

Jeff Foster

Tenor Sax

Jeff Foster plays tenor sax and serves unwittingly as the band’s unofficial spiritual advisor. Jeff began playing with rock, jazz, funk and r&b bands in the 1980s. He’s a veteran and former member of the US Navy Band. He has degrees from Trevecca Nazarene University, Vanderbilt University and a doctorate from the United Theological Seminary.

Tim Olt

Tim Olt

Tuba

Tim Olt  plays tuba and is a master brass musician. He performs and tours with orchestras in the US, Asia and Scandinavia. He is also an arranger, composer and masterclass instructor. Tim has a BA in Music from Wright State and an MA from Miami University. He has served as a faculty member at Ohio Northern, Miami and Wittenberg universities.
Eric Knorr

Eric Knorr

Trumpet

Eric Knorr is a trumpeter and an artist in residence at the University of Dayton. His orchestral credits include the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Pops and Ballet Orchestras. the Cleveland Pops, and a dozen more.  Eric is a veteran and former member of the US Airforce Band of Flight. Eric attended the College of Wooster and earned an advanced degree in music from the University of Akron.

Michael McCann

Michael McCann

Alto sax, flute

Michael McCann is a multi-instrumentalist and the band’s youngest musician. Michael, aka “Flutatron”, plays alto sax and flute on the album. And he is also skilled with the clarinet and other woodwinds. He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, graduated from the Stivers School for the Arts and is now attending the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Keep your eyes on Michael. The dude is going places!

Kevin Court

Kevin Court

Baritone sax

Kevin Court plays baritone saxophone. But that’s just the beginning of the story for Kevin. He is also a pharmacist and a business technology whiz. He attended Ohio Northern University and earned an advanced degree from the University of Dayton. He has been performing with jazz, blues, and rock bands since the 1980s.

Carter Griffin

Carter Griffin

Bass

Carter Griffin plays five string bass on “Zorn ist Besser als Verzweiflung”. His novel technique and three-finger riffage adds a jazz fusion quality to the music. Carter is a graduate of the Stivers School of the Arts.

Adam Ayan

Adam Ayan

Mastering

Adam Ayer is a Grammy Award, 5x Latin Grammy Award, and TEC Award winning mastering engineer. Space rock and acid rock? Jazz fusion and experimental music? No problem. Adam is the best of the best. He mastered the album at Gateway Mastering Studios in Portland, ME.

Steve Hinson

Steve Hinson

Pedal steel guitar

Steve Hinson is one of the most highly respected musicians in the Nashville music community. He plays steel guitar on “Dead People Can’t Vote”. Steve has performed or recorded with George Jones, Ray Price, John Conlee, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, Trace Adkins, Keith Anderson, Vern Gosdin, Alan Jackson, Ricky Van Shelton, Tracey Lawrence, Randy Travis, and the list goes on.

So, now you know about Werke Horse. Drop us a line and tell us about you!