Acoustic Bass, Fretless and Fretted 5 String Electric Basses
Hank was born in North Carolina, and migrated to Michigan where he first attended Central Michigan University and received a Bachelor's of Music in string bass performance. Next, he attended Michigan State University and earned a Master's of Music in string bass performance. Over the years he has performed in a miriad of venues, with a wide variety of artists, spanning numerous styles. Being schooled, both academically and in the real world, in wide ranging types of music,
has been one key to success....rock, pop, jazz, country, classical, blues, latin...and anything else you can put in front of him. Needless to say, he is a great reader. Currently he is based in Chicago where he performs and records with various artists, as well as keeping a touring schedule through the US, Canada and Mexico.
Partial list of Credits: Hank Horton has performed and/or recorded with: Styx, Dennis Deyoung,
James Young, Todd Sucherman, Peter Noone, Michael Ingersoll, Mark Colby, Kalii Palmer,
The Brass Tracks Jazz Orchestra, The New York Pops Orchestra,The Saginaw Symphony,
Bill Watrous, the College of Dupage Jazz Band,Peter Graves,Epicycle, Mark Vickery, Due West,
TNT, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, Bob Newhart,
Joan Rivers, Don Rickles...and on and on...truly a variety.
Recent Theater credits include The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Can-Can.
Playing with many bands throughout the years, such as The Trend, The Crybabies, TR Touch and Mammoth, I have played all types of genre. Rock, Funk, Blues, Swing, and Southern Rock are just a few examples. Inspirations have been acquired from many famous artists such as Deep Purple, Foreigner, Journey, Bon Jovi and of course Styx . Current artists include Rascal Flats, All American Rejects, and the Fray just to name a few. There are so many talented musicians out there contributing to the music industry that it is hard to say all that I have drawn from. I played with recording artist Alive -N- Kickin, who boasts a gold record for their famous hit, “Tighter and Tighter”, for many years as their lead/rhythm guitarist and second vocalist. During these years I toured with many great acts such as Blue Oyster Cult, Brooklyn Bridge, Jay and The Americans, and Tommy James just to mention a few.
Having the opportunity to play in this Styx project is extremely exciting. Styx music and the influence they have had upon my life makes this project, and the line-up of musicians I am working with seem to be faith at its peak. Not very often do you get together with a group of musicians and know that it was “meant to be”. Time to Rock the Paradise !
Pags, being born and raised in Copiague, NY has been playing the piano for as long as Styx, three decades. Johnny studied classical music in his younger days and played the Long Island circuit at fun, classic places like Rum Bottoms, The Oak Beach Inn and Solomon Grundies. He took some years off to raise a family of 3 and now is excitingly back on the circuit and we’re lucky to grab him. He has recently performed at The Nutty Irishman, Callahans, Mulcahy's and Fire Island. John is a member of the ISSA (Island Songwriting Services Association), which consists of many songwriters across the Island who get together for workshops. John himself has written over 40 songs in the last few years and just recently signed a recording contract with a California Studio. John's major influences undoubtedly are Billy Joel, Elton John and Bruce Hornsby. John grew up on classic rock and still loves to play, write and perform and is energized about becoming the keyboardist in Rockin the Paradise.
“Passion, Focus, Strength…STYX” Some kids received an Atari for their 13th Birthday in the 1980s; “Jimmy” received a stage! Mr. Vignato has been schooled for "musical theater/voice" and has starred in dozens of local and regional musicals over a twenty-year span thus tweaking his stage performance and vocal style to date. From his teen years through today, he has performed continuously throughout his career. In doing so, Jim’s male masterful voice matured into a strong, versatile sound that truly is one of a kind. Presently, Jim is a Hi-Tenor and can easily blend Broadway legit style with a hard rock voice for an all around edge that gives him great versatility when approaching any project.
As the voice of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw and Glen Burtnik, Jim has an uncanny ability to totally assume the roles and antics of rock's greatest icon's. In addition to his on-stage mannerisms, complimenting overall look, Jim comes out dressed as Dennis DeYoung, complete with the striped shirt he wore in the Return to Paradise DVD, enhancing his physical appearance and completing the package as a perfect tribute to the band as it was in the 70's and 80's. Jim has a deep appreciation of STYX's musical phenomenon and is truly excited about the success of their tribute show (“Rockin the Paradise”) to the greatest band in the world, STYX.
Jim has also starred in HIGH SCHOOL STORIES on MTV; Fronts "Incognito" an incredible cover act, Annouces the debut of FREE4ALL: Tribute to 80's Rock in 2012 and is currently working with members of the writing staff from Broadways MOVIN OUT on his own ROCK MUSICAL.
Jim has performed nationally with a song made popular by Sam Harris's (Star Search) a powerful-showstopping version of "Over the Rainbow" while receiving "standing ovations" on the high notes nightly at over 19 cites across the country over the course of three months. Jim brings that level of performance to every song he sings with Rockin' The Paradise: EXTREME STYX.
