| Drummer JIM PETRO provides the drive that is a vital component of today’s country music. Jim, a former rock drummer, has performed professionally since 1983, including tours with full- time traveling country bands, including Buckshot. Jim also performed with Cleveland-area rock bands, including Onyx and Roxx. His hard-driving playing style provides a solid foundation for the unique CONESTOGA sound. He studied business administration at Cleveland State University and is the band’s booking agent and business manager. Jim is known throughout the area for honesty and fairness in his business dealings. In the words of Cleveland Country's Tim Rizzo, Jim's word is gold. DON WEAVER began playing upright bass in 1967 and has performed professionally since 1971. A former rock musician, Don works with Jim to provide the foundation for the CONESTOGA sound. He is one of the band’s backing vocalists and occasionally sings lead vocals. He has performed in many bands, including the Akron-based Doors tribute band Morrison Hotel. Don, the band’s producer and technical specialist, is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. GARY WYATT was born into a musical family. His distant cousin JOE MAPHIS was a highly-regarded country guitarist, widely known as “The King Of The Strings” in the Fifties and Sixties. Gary began playing drums at the age of seven, but switched to guitar at age 11. He started playing in his father's band when he was 14. He has since performed in many bands, including “Southern Cross” with fellow CONESTOGA guitarist JOHN DIETRICH. After taking some time off from the music scene for personal reasons, he resumed performing a couple of years ago with the band “Backbone”. Gary brings his own creativity and virtuosity on the guitar to CONESTOGA worthy of his legacy. Come out to a gig near you to see and hear Gary rock it hard! JOHN DIETRICH has returned to CONESTOGA for a second "tour of duty". John performed in the well-known traveling band HIGH RIDIN' HEROES for most of the '90s before joining CONESTOGA in 1998. During his days with the HEROES, John opened for many national acts. John left CONESTOGA in 2003 and performed in several bands from 2003 until he re- joined CONESTOGA this year. John can do many things well...lead vocals, backing vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and fiddle!! He has been performing for more than 30 years. Welcome back, John!! Lead vocalist / guitarist JON CRANE was born in Northeast Louisiana, not far from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Jon is no stranger to competitive performing...a talent agency flew him to New York City in 2004 for a series of competitions, where he placed second in a field of 5,000!! He was a member of Cleveland rock/blues band Vad Glista, which won the Ohio Battle of the Bands at Peabody's in 2006. He placed second in the 2010 Cleveland Idol competition. His victory in a local TV contest sent him to Hollywood for a national singing competition. He was a popular regular in local karaoke contests before joining CONESTOGA. Jon brings a great deal of talent and energy to a venerable band and is sure to put a charge into CONESTOGA. Welcome to CONESTOGA, Jon!! CONESTOGA uses no pre-recorded tracks, no MIDI, no drum machines, no bass machines...all music is performed LIVE. Where we come from, people singing (and playing) using pre-recorded instrumental music OF ANY KIND is called KARAOKE. It's just not a live band! |
CONESTOGA
| CONESTOGA BIOS |
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