Band Member Biographies
Dr. Brad Bangstad, keyboard: Brad was born and
raised
in Buffalo Minnesota, not far from "the Cities".
He started playing piano, organ and trumpet at an early age, performing
in his hometown Lutheran Church ( complete with church basement potluck
"hotdish", lutefisk
and lefse). At an impressionable age, he toured full time with the
Johnny Holm band.
Brad graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead
Minnesota, majoring in music and
biology. After his undergraduate work, Brad received his
degree in
optometry from Ohio
State University. While in Columbus, he was the featured organist at
two churches. Brad moved to Gainesville in 1986, and practices
optometry.
He continues his music ministry by arranging music for the Trinity
United Methodist Church in Gainesville, and performing organ music at
the Church, including presenting the dedication concert for the
Church's new organ in 2000. Brad is married to Laurel, and
they have two
teenage
daughters, Kelsey and Kristen.
Doctor Brad
Bill
Barnard, guitar: Bill is a dyed-in-the-wool blues
fan. He serves as the president of the North Central Florida Blues Society. He
has played guitar since the Beatles and the "British Invasion", and
quickly found a love for the blues. He played through college; then put the
guitar away until 1999, when he resumed playing. In 2002, Bill attended
the National Guitar Workshop Blues Summit in Connecticut. Master classes were taught by
noted blues guitarists Ronnie Earl and Robben Ford. Bill was a founding member
of Gainesville's
The Unusual Suspects Blues Band . The Suspects opened for
national headliners Mem Shannon, Nick Curran and Debbie Davies. Bill is
active in the Sonlight Youth Choir and Band at Trinity United Methodist
Church in Gainesville, and performs with them when they tour.
Bill
Professor Steve Bingham, tenor and alto saxophones, flute,bass guitar, trumpet: Steve
("Bing") holds a PhD in music from the University of Florida. His full
time "gig" is as the jazz band director and music professor at Santa Fe
Community
College. As such he can read music, but it hasn't seemed to hurt him
none in playing the blues. Bing plays several instruments, including a
mean blues sax and melodic flute. Dr. Bing also instructs the
youth and tours with the Sonlight
Youth Choir and Band at the Trinity United Methodist Church in
Gainesville.
Doctor Bing
Heidi Biorn, vocals and
harmonica: Heidi is a
Mezzo Soprano. She recently relocated to Gainesville
from Los Angeles
where she was pursuing successful theatrical and musical careers. Her formal
education includes attending the University
of Florida where she will earn a
degree in Fine Arts, private voice studies in Los Angeles with Elizabeth Graham, and the
Burt Reynolds Institute for Theater Training. Her performing credits include
three motion pictures in which she was either the lead or co-star, 3 episodes
on the B.L. Stryker television series, and over 20 theater productions,
many featuring her singing, including The Rocky Horror Show, Damn Yankees and
Evita.
Heidi
Steve Hart, tenor, alto and baritone saxophones, trombone: Steve played his first gig at age 13 and worked
professionally through college. His band, Bill and the Bachelors,
played 3 summer-long stints at Chicago area
resorts, clubs, and special events.The Bachelors was the house
band at Porky's in Fort
Lauderdale Florida.
Two players in the Bachelors, Curley Cooke and Tim Davis, co-founded
the Steve Miller Band. Steve took a long sabbatical from music to
attend law school ( University of Florida),
practice law, and raise a family. In 1998, through a project at the Old Town
School of Folk Music ( Chicago), a horn-driven blues band , Code Blues,
was formed; Steve became a member in 1999. Code Blues played at
well-known Chicago area clubs ( Cubby Bear,
Chord-On-Blues, Flatlanders), corporate events ( Abbott Labs, Crate and Barrel
), North Shore civic and charitable events, and
festivals. Code Blues also played at the United Center
for the Chicago Bulls.
Steve
Michael Raftice,
bass guitar, string bass and vocals: Michael, a
transplanted Florida
"native" since 1976, has a wide and varied background. His interest
in music was kindled at age 14. Some friends formed a band for a talent
contest; it was pronounced that "if he wanted to join the band he HAD
to play bass." He doesn't recall if they won, but this gentle nudge from
his buddies resulted in a career in music. Michael holds a degree in Fine Arts
from the University
of Florida. He was a
student of the string bass under Kevin Cassidy of the Jacksonville Symphony
Orchestra. Michael preformed with the University
of Florida and the Gainesville
Chamber Orchestras, and the University's Jazz Band. Before joining 6th Street
he played with the Mark Spede Jazz Quintet, the Richard Dickson Dinner
Theater, Gainesville's
Hippodrome productions, Boogie Chillin' , the Jay Willey
Blues Band, and the popular jazz group Unsafe Sax. He is
multi-talented. In addition to string and electric bass, he plays guitar, cello
and mandolin. Michael's day job is as an I.T. specialist with a national income tax preparation company.
Michael
Tobin Wagstaff,
drums: Tobin is the "engine room" of 6th Street. He is
the founder and President of Studio Percussion, Inc., a Gainesville-based non-profit
organization devoted to encouraging children to develop their interest in
music. He has worked in many diverse environments as a student, performer, and
educator. Tobin has received awards and recognition for his leadership and
musicianship through various organizations and ensembles including: solo
performance, orchestras, percussion ensembles, steel drum bands, rock and pop
bands, symphonic bands, marching bands, jazz bands, church music, and Christian
music. Tobin holds a Bachelor of Music, and a minor in Family, Youth, and
Community Sciences, from the University
of Florida.
Tobin