I’ve been in a band of some form since high school, where I started as a drummer.

Currently:

• Guitars, keyboards and vocals for Sugar Buzz, where I have been a member for almost 15 years.
• I enjoy working on, writing and recording original music with a subsection of Sugar Buzz (Mark and Beth) called Creatures in the Parlor.

Training:

• 3 years piano lessons
• Band all through my school years where I learned to read music and general music theory
• U of M extension course, sound engineering

Influences:

All of my early aspirations came from The Who, Yes, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Steppenwolf to name the main ones.

Steely Dan is still my aspiration for songwriting

Being part of Sugar Buzz is rewarding beyond words. I’m great friends with the 5 coolest people I have ever known and I get to spend a lot of time with. From the logistics of the show to the rush of being on stage, I love every minute of it and feel very fortunate.

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I’ve been lucky enough to perform with many groups over the years, including:

• Growing up in Redwood Falls, MN: The Jannilings (my Dad’s version of the “von Trapp Family Singers” – my brother and sister and I were just little kids, and for a long time we figured that all families must do stuff like dressing up and performing skits and songs in church basements, caroling for neighbors, and hosting piano recitals in our house); The Shadows (my first rock band!), and the almost-internationally-acclaimed “Good Time Singers” (we had pink shirts and sweet moves!)

• College years in Northfield, MN (St. Olaf College): General Eclectic, Groon, Ipso Facto (played trombone at several gigs with this fun Minnesota-based reggae band), and bass trombonist in the St. Olaf Band and other musical/theatrical groups on campus

• Late eighties / early nineties: The Bookkeepers, Pop’s Garage, Platonic Boom, and The Front (o.k. honestly, these were basically renamed versions of the same band, just trying to stay ahead of the authorities and such)

• Turn-of-the-century ‘til now: Montage, Kicked to the Curb (a.k.a. Two Feet from the Curb), Blue Rumor, Hicktown Mafia (occasional guest keyboardist), Creatures in the Parlor, and Sugar Buzz since we started way back in 2001!

I am eternally grateful for too many people and things to mention – but among them are:

• My parents, for being musical and for forcing a few years of piano lessons and then encouraging (and paying for) a few more, when it really started getting fun

• My teachers, not just of music but really all teachers – your patience and hard work may have seemed lost on some students, myself included, but those seeds you plant can and do eventually improve lives and the world, so thank you!

• Musician friends I’ve gotten to know over the years (including the amazingly talented and fun people who are or have been in Sugar Buzz!), with whom I’ve had the pleasure of jamming, joking, practicing, harmonizing, composing, recording, producing, performing, occasionally train-wrecking, and happily creating countless crazy memories, many of which seemed perfectly legal at the time

• College dorm bathrooms, which can be very dark at night but offer an acoustically fine environment to learn to play guitar without looking AND keep your corridor-mates wondering

• My family, friends, and fans, whose support and smiles just encourage me to do more music (and dabble in related things, such as the theremin . . . science + art!)

• Musicians who have inspired me (and countless others); some of my favorites include Elvis, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Barenaked Ladies, Cat Stevens, Gary Numan, Yes, Elton John, Billy Joel, Alice Cooper, Bach, Devo, Pink Floyd, Mozart, Led Zeppelin, Vangelis, The Cars, Vince Guaraldi, Steely Dan, Beethoven, Aerosmith, Nickel Creek, Van Halen, The Carpenters, Rush, Roxette, and of course, the Soggy Bottom Boys

• Everyone who supports MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT! Venues, music stores, agents, studios, festivals (Moondance Jam!), entertainers, promoters, sound & light ‘guys’ and all the folks who work at or come to places that make it happen (especially friends of Sugar Buzz!) – – y’all make the world a better place!

• Brevity (not a strength of mine, but a great development opportunity!)

Speaking of brevity, I will end with a final heartfelt THANKS to all of you who are part of the Sugar Buzz family! Thank you for reading all the way to the end here, and I sure hope to see you soon!

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At age 11, Henry picked up a friend’s acoustic guitar with only three strings and started playing popular TV theme songs. After hearing his next door neighbor cousin play House of the Rising Sun on his electric guitar, he was hooked! He soon purchased his cousin’s guitar and amp and learned by ear to play popular songs from the 60’s. He and a friend from Church formed a band that performed their first gig at their 7th grade school dance. Then in high school, they played at local events and college parties. When Henry enrolled at UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin, he joined a band called Smoke, a high-energy rock group. Smoke embraced the 50’s return by adding a 2-hour Back to the 50’s show called Hurst and the Shifters, performing both acts the same night! Doing shows in Ashland, Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire and Decorah, Iowa! After a short stint with a group called Dancer, playing Led Zeppelin, Yes, type rock, Henry moved back to the Twin Cities in the late 70s, joining a band called Brandy. Then on to Woodbridge up to the early 80s. He performed with Snak Attack for 10 years and now enjoys his time performing with Function Junction and the rock band Sugar Buzz.

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1964: Chicago Heights/ Steger Illinois:

I began my musical journey in when I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan February 9th 1964, nine years old. I liked the idea of girls screaming/fawning over the band, “Beatle boots” and the long hair. I bothered my parents for a guitar and finally got an acoustic with a Mel Bay beginner’s book…first song “Row, Row, Row, your Boat” (one chord). I was able to find local, likeminded, aspiring friends to hack away at songs.

1969 was my first professional gig on a six string electric guitar. We played at my school’s 8th grade graduation to cement my standing as a pro in the “summer of love” wearing a gold-colored Nero collar shirt. I was playing guitar in a 4pc combo when the bass player passed from a terminal brain tumor…I was now the bassist.

1970-1972:

I played in a trio doing original’s, Savoy Brown, Johnny Winter, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, etc., playing high school concerts, mall shows and private parties, was in the lineup once with Styx…Fun times seemed to last longer than 2 years.

1973-1997 FLORIDA

Moved to New Port Richey, started college, (to major in music) met three local musicians who changed my life forever. We created a band called “Witness” and had the “magic chemistry” that only happens a few times in life if you’re lucky. I initially was going back to Chicago land and was ready to leave the next day. The guitar player found out and came looking for me (way before cell phones) and just happened to pull into a gas station where I was making a call in a phone booth. He begged me to stay, I did, and what a great decision.

I lived on Madeira Beach performed as a bassist in the local beach scene, the keys, the islands, recorded an album at “Telstar studios” following The Allman Bros, played the Tampa A circuit, lived on “the road” performing six nights a week, had fun and gained mega experience and many musical styles.

1997-2019: MINNESOTA

Came to the state with the intention of building a second career, became a General Contractor and played music part time, revived my six string chops and searched for likeminded players/chemistry.

2019:

I went to local jams to meet players and filled a void to perform. Through that medium I met Beth. She happened to come to one of my shows where I let loose on the bass. Beth called on the chance I would be interested. Now I am in the band after procuring the last audition spot. Now, for the second time in my life I am in a band that has the “magic chemistry”… changing my life again.

Nick name: …a guitarist when introducing me would say “Dale on bass!!! Lookout he’s “Dangerous” on that thing!! Hence “Dangerous Dale”

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Resume:

• Sugar Buzz: 2018 – Present
• Frayed Katz: 2004 – 2013
• Against All Odds: 2002 – 2004
• Spoof Band: 1982 – 1987

Bio:

I’d have to credit my mom for getting me interested in music. She had a beautiful soprano voice and I remember singing next to her in church as a little kid. She would harmonize all the time which made me bold to try it too. She insisted that I take piano lessons and then when I wanted to buy my first set of drums she and my dad forwarded me the cash and I paid them back over time. I still sing in the choir at church, and now enjoy the thrill of playing with some top-notch musicians in Sugar Buzz! Like my cousin Step, the former drummer for Sugar Buzz, KISS has always been one of my favorite bands. My first concert was Van Halen at the St. Paul Civic Center (1981 I think?). Some of my favorite drummers are Peter Criss (of course), Stewart Copeland, Carter Beauford, and Neil Peart. I thoroughly enjoy many genres of music especially classic country of late. Buck Owens, Conway Twitty, George Jones and the like (Don’t be hatin’). I’m super blessed to be a part of this group and thankful for your support!

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Resume:

• Sugar Buzz: 2009 – Present
• Jicky Jack: 2000 – 2003

Bio:

It began in lovely Aitkin, MN with a hand held audio recorder with a flimsily attached mic – at age 3 I had recorded “Farmer in the Dell” and, dare I say, I rocked it. I also did some Twinkle Little Star, Jingle Bells and even Neil Diamond on that tape- just to round out the “set”. The only other thing you can hear on the tape is my father trying to take it away from me and my reply “ I’m not feeeshyet” (I’m not finished yet) – shades of things to come.

Anyway, fast forward a bit through high school – lots of performance there I was Rose in Bye Bye Birdie and then University of MN- Duluth college days of Jazz Choir – we toured high schools and I got my first chance to perform with a smaller subset of the group – I took the lead on “Boy From New York City”. It was there I got my first and only request for an autograph. I still smile at that one. I’m sure whoever she is, she’s cleaning out her hope chest and has come across this thing thinking “Oh Lord, whatever happened to….and why in the heck did I ask for her autograph?” Wherever you are, just know it made my DAY!

After moving to the Cities from Duluth, I made a second living at karaoke competitions – but my addiction to music had hit a fevered pitch – I needed a new and bigger “fix” and so I joined my first band.

It changed names and players several times, and the band finally dissolved (boo!) – I gave that all up …until… you guessed it, a karaoke competition. I realized then I could NOT kill the bug that was “showbiz” – and only one thing beats karaoke – and that’s a LIVE BAND. (and yes, I still compete in the occasional karaoke competition and hold a few national and international titles.)

So Halleluiah! I picked up my tambourine, learned a few chords on keys and I’m back with a vengeance…. Or not …I’m really back to have fun, truth be told. I’ve found a talented, great group of guys to do just that with, so I’m forever grateful….& they seem to dig my warped sense of humor so I’m IN!

What you’ll see from me: a lot of vocal range, (I love challenging songs vocally) and “where does she get all that energy?” is the question I’m asked most frequently. SIMPLE ANSWER: it’s simple joy in singing and performing. The worst day of doing that is better than the best day of doing nearly anything else. It’s my wish you all feel the joy we exude when we play.

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