Keith Looney – Guitar, Vocals
Keith is the band’s newest addition handling guitar and vocals. A California local, he’s lived in the Sacramento region for the past 25 years after growing up in the Bay Area. At an early age was taught guitar by his folk music parents. He’s performed in different genres and settings for years, rock, blues, country, folk, gospel. Got his first taste of performing in the 70’s playing acoustic lead guitar/bass for his parents. Soon, the rock genre drew him in. Picked up an electric guitar, bought an amp, and started playing modern rock … I guess now it’s called classic! While at Chico State in the 80’s, played local hot spots both in an acoustic duo and a surf/hard rock band. Since then, Keith has continued to play in a variety of groups and venues, most recently with 70’s/80’s band Beyond the Rails in Grass Valley.
While looking for some local guys to jam with, Keith connected with Hank and John; dug their vibe and now is on the team! Although it’s hard for him to describe his playing style, Keith considers some of his major musical influences as Glen Frey/Don Felder (Eagles), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Steve Lukather (Toto), and Mike Campbell (Petty).
John Marshall – Bass, Vocals
A small-town guy with midwestern roots in Indiana, John Marshall provides bass guitar and vocals for The VinylTones. John’s experience goes back to his teens, where he became enamored with the throbbing, rhythmic bass guitar. John’s early interests included rock, especially soul music of the 60s. One of his groups from those days, The Soul Conspiracy, still occasionally gets together for high school reunions with the original four players. Another group from that era, The Brothers and Sisters Supreme, included four black and four white members. In college, his band was known around the Ball State University campus as the go to party band. Recently, John has played country, country rock, R&B and blues in the St. Louis area.
As a recent transplant to California, John wanted to find some other musicians with similar interests – what John calls Boomer Music. And, in The VinylTones he has found a perfect fit.
Hank Moreira – Drums, Vocals
Born in Oakland, CA and living most of his life in the Bay Area, Hank recently moved to Woodland.
He began his musical career by taking up trumpet in the fourth grade. This was at the strong encouragement of his Mother, whose Uncle played trumpet in a big band. He quickly graduated to Rock and Roll and got his first guitar in junior high. It was not until the age of 21 that he got his first drum kit. Playing the drums was inevitable considering his Great Aunt and Father’s brother played drums. Hank’s two brothers also play drums, all three left-handed.
He has played with numerous bands since the 70’s, but his claim-to-fame is and will always be “The T-Birds” which won the talent show during his high school senior year. The T-Birds is a Sha Na Na-type band that still performs at reunions.
His drumming is influenced by John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones), Larry Lynch (Greg Kihn Band), and David Robinson (The Cars).