Chicago Live Wedding & Corporate Events Band

DAN HAYES

Chicago Wedding & Event BandMusical Education: He began classical piano studies at age eight. He studied & played trumpet, guitar & drums through high school. He studied voice for 20 years with Inez Crofts of Riverside, IL. He has an Associate Degree of Music from the College of DuPage.

Professional Education: Degree in Medical Technology, American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Theatre Background: Besides playing in countless bands & musical projects, Dan began performing in the Chicago Musical Theatre, appearing in principal roles of 25 popular Broadway Shows!

He performed as Lead singer of Mariah, a 12 piece Show Band performing 250 Corporate events annually throughout the United States.

Present: He has produced & performed with the Dan Hayes Band, Chicago’s Premier Dance Band. Since inception, Dan Hayes & his musicians have performed & produced shows with: Jay Leno, Dana Carvey, Martin Short, Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind & Fire, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and The Spinners, to name a few!  The Dan Hayes Band has played approximately 1,500 weddings, 700 conventions & corporate events & 250 concerts throughout the country.

The musicians that make up The Dan Hayes Band have worked together for over twenty years! This longevity is unique, as is the warmth & friendship of the group. This is self-evident when you watch them perform. Following is a brief summary of their individual professional experience!


 

NANCY HIXON

Chicago Wedding MusicianNancy has her Degree in Music & Psychology from the University of Florida. She began singing professionally at the age of 16 in a nationally touring Show, made up of eighteen Singer/Dancers.  While in school, she had leads in countless musicals & Opera productions. She has studied Opera for over 20 years & still performs private concerts & recitals in this genre, most recently at Symphony Center & the Civic Opera House. Her Pop credentials include 20 years with The Dan Hayes Band!


 

DAVID VEASEY

03Dave has a deep seated love of performing, which dates back to his childhood. He has sung all his life with choirs of varying styles, a contributing factor to his innate ability to blend, in addition to his Lead Singing. His experience includes many clubs & concert appearances prior to joining The Dan Hayes Band & the various performing & recording projects associated with Prism Entertainment. His voice is often compared with the styling of Luther Vandross. He’s handsome with sweetness & charm all blended into a very lovable character!


 

FRANCINE SMITH

04Francine studied both music & medicine in school, attaining her Nursing Degree & Master of Science from the University of Illinois & at the same time studying at the American conservatory of Music in Chicago. Her performance background is various & impressive, including national & local television appearances, radio commercials & industrial films for the past 20 years. She performed back up for Herbie Hancock & Jon Lucien in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. She has appeared on WTTW’s Soundstage with The Marshall Tucker Band & most recently with Michael McDonald. She sang & appeared in a video for pop/country singer B.J. Thomas. She sang on the soundtrack for the movie Hoods produced by Bill Dukes & starring Vannesa Williams & Lawrence Fishbourne.


 

DAN HUNT

05Dan’s experience & inspiration is firmly rooted in Gospel, he has a three octave vocal range & has the height for center on the Bulls Basketball Team! He has an active recording career, recently releasing a C.D. of R&B music, many selections written by him & has become an integral part of The Dan Hayes Band, as well as being the tallest member.


 

MARIANNE ORLAND

06During her school years, she participated in countless Musical Reviews & productions as a singer, dancer, choreographer and/or vocal director. She as developed a successful Voice Over/Jingle business & has been heard as the voice of popular dolls/toys, telephone mail systems, ATMs, promotional & instructional videos & radio commercials, including WXRT promotions, the Voice of Fox Radio & various independent video productions. Prior to her commitment to the band, she appeared with many different Night Club productions touring the Midwest. She has performed for 20 years with The Dan Hayes Band!


 

STEVE HOLLIS

07It is difficult to condense the vast experience of this extraordinary musician! Steve received his degree in music from Western Kentucky University. He has traveled internationally on the Queen Elizabeth 2, Scandinavian World Cruises & Royal Viking Cruises both as a Solo Performer & Musical Director of the Shows & musicians. He has been Musical Director for a wide variety of Musical Theaters all over the country, including the Marriott Lincolnshire Theater & Drury Lane Oak Brook locally. His extensive knowledge of all styles of music & his tremendous skill on the keyboards make him the first choice in the extensive Prism roster of Pianists. Being 6′ 7 – (second tallest in the production) & handsome as a movie star doesn’t hurt either.


 

HANK HORTON

(Bass & Lead Vocals)

08Hank’s parents are both music teachers. He received his earliest training as a percussionist & jazz guitarist, performing in large regional theater productions into his teens. He went to Michigan State University and majored in string bass performance, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in three years & went on to receive his Masters. He eventually moved to Chicago & has become first call for studio & recording sessions, not only for his tremendous skill as a bass player but also because he’s a phenomenal singer! In the Prism production Chikago II, our tribute to the bands Chicago & Blood, Sweat & Tears, Hank sings the Peter Citera numbers (many say better than Peter himself!). He has toured in the past with Styx & is now the bass player & principal back up vocalist for Dennis DeYoung.


 

DON STEGER

(Drums & Lead Vocals)

09Don received his degree in music from the University of Arizona, while on a Gymnastics scholarship. While attending university, he performed in the Jazz Band & various other projects as both singer & drummer. Following graduation, he returned to the Chicagoland area & was recruited for numerous bands, Show Bands & recording projects. He soon joined The Dan Hayes Band, along with being a principal in all the various Prism productions. He is also a vocal ringer for Kenny Loggins, as well as looking just like Yanni!


 

MIKE POWELL

(Lead Guitar)

11aMike received his degree in music from Northeastern University. Mike has traveled throughout the country in various music projects, becoming best known amongst his peers for his extraordinary solos in all styles of music: R&B, Jazz, Rock & Country. He has appeared with Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Rufus, Percy Sledge, The Isley Brothers & Peaches & Herb, to name a few. He is a popular guitar teacher & is also a skilled guitar builder.


 

TOM FOX

(Lead Trumpet)

11Tom is one of Chicago’s most well known and respected trumpet players, because of his high notes and incredible power. He toured throughout the 1970’s with Dave Major & The Minors, Chicago’s most popular show band at that time, in which he played a variety of instruments & sang lead vocals. He currently is one of the top salesmen for Quinlan & Fabish, the Midwest’s largest supplier of musical instruments to educational institutions, conducting seminars, workshops & concert series for students. He leads one of the few big bands (19-25 piece) left in Chicagoland, Brass Tracks, specializing in Jazz & Standards.


 

TOM TALLMAN

(2nd Trumpet)

12Tom is an Associate Professor of Music at the College of DuPage, receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Augustana & Masters from the University of Texas. He is currently a candidate for his Ph.D. from U of T. As a performer, he has worked with Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd, The Spinners, The Four Tops, Dizzy Gillespie, Roger Williams, Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller and many more.


 

CHRIS LAY

(Trombone/Principal Arranger)

13Chris received his Degree in Music from DePaul University & throughout his career as a trombone player, has appaered with Jay Leno, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Donna Summer, The Ojays, Peabo Bryson, Liberace, Frank Sinatra Jr., Ray Charles, Joan Rivers, Mel Torme, to name a few. He has a thriving music production company, which composes & scores music for radio and TV advertising, documentaries & feature films. He arranged and scored most of the repertoire for The Dan Hayes Band as well as the other Prism productions.


 

DAN HESLER

(Saxophone)

14Dan received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from DePaul University and his Master’s from the prestigious North Texas State, internationally known for their Jazz studies. Dan is sought after for his skills in Jazz, Reggae, R&B, Latin & techno-pop. He is also a well respected writer/arranger & has put together his own Jazz projects performing at most of the exclusive Jazz clubs in the city. He doubles on Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Flute, playing in the styles of David Sanborn & Kenny G.


 

Sound/Technical

15MARK GRYZBEK (Sound): Mark heads up our sound & lights crew. He began his career at sixteen, touring the country with the famous Blues show, Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows. He has provided sound in every major venue in the Chicagoland area, including The Allstate Arena, The United Center, Arie Crown, Chicago Theater, Navy Pier, the Civic Opera House, etc. He is familiar with the specific details of load in and set up in all the banquet facilities and hotels in Chicagoland and has developed excellent relations with the appropriate banquet and room managers. His sound is tasteful and appropriate to the occasion.