Bio
STEELYTOWN is a 10 piece Calgary based group devoted to bringing the songs of Steely Dan to music lovers. The group is comprised of seasoned veterans with many years of combined experience in live, studio, and theatre performance. The playlist is a mix of original recorded versions, live versions, and hybrids of both to bring an unforgettable night of entertainment to disciples of Dan.
John Thiel - Guitar / Vocals
John has been involved in the Canadian music industry for over 40 years. After performing in western Canada for more than a decade, he toured Canada and the US extensively for another 12 years. Recording became a passion and upon relocating to Calgary he focused on studio sessions and producing projects for artists, while continuing to perform with many of Canada’s top artists. John studied classical guitar with Jacob Soloman at the University of Calgary and has appeared on over 100 full albums, producing well over half of those projects. In addition, he has played on and produced hundreds of demos, ep’s, jingles, commercials, documentaries and soundtracks, as well as performing with the CPO and live theatre and soundtrack productions for ATP, Stage West., and The Summerstock Series. John was musical director for the Nashville North Star Contest at the Calgary Stampede for 8 years. Ever since hearing the Can't Buy A Thrill album for the first time, he has had a fascination with Steely Dan's music, and is dedicated to sharing their magic. John is the co-owner and engineer/producer at Horizon Music Recording Studios in Calgary, and acts as the band leader and main contact.
Joe McIntyre - Drums
Joe has secured himself as one of western Canada's most in demand live and studio drummers performing with many of Canada's top artists. He has been playing professionally for over 25 years and has performed with Chris Cummings, Tom Jackson, Beverly Mahood, Duane Steele, Patricia Conroy, Lace, Thomas Wade, and Shania Twain. In addition he has recorded hundreds of tracks for numerous artists and has performed in live theatre productions with ATP. Joe owns and operates Eclipse Recording Studios in Edmonton.
Thomas Kehler - Keyboards
Thomas’s introduction to music started in the basement with family Christmas carol sessions where he was in charge of playing the spoons — literally jingling spoons in a beer bottle — but he kept learning all the way to a BMus degree from the U of C. Thomas has worked extensively with his fellow Steely Towners on variety of projects. In the ‘80s, he joined John and Shirley touring with Headlines across North America. He performed in Philadelphia for “Hands Across America” and through that event was connected with a Philadelphia group that released a record with Atco Records. In the late 80’s, Thomas returned to Calgary to settle down with the love of his life, Maureen. He then worked his way through law school while playing with Calgary favourites, The Boomers. The 90’s found him working with Brad and Deanna on The Saviours of Soul. Thomas is thrilled to be reunited with many of his former band mates, as back up for Keith. If he’s not playing classical music on his piano, you might find Thomas in his studio exploring the intricacies of electronic music production or cajoling his daughters to sing with him. A huge Steely Dan fan, Thomas bought all of the band’s albums in the ‘70s. And he still has them.
Brad Steckel – Guitar/Vocals
Born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, guitarist/producer/engineer Brad Steckel, an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music, has been playing guitar professionally for the past 50 years in as many styles and venues as that period of time has offered, including being a session guitarist since 1974. As well as running his own production company and recording studio, Nevin Park Productions/Recording in Calgary, Alberta, Brad has been the ‘resident guitarist’ at Stage West Dinner Theater Calgary for the past seventeen years, as well as the occasional guitarist for Theater Calgary and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Brad was also an original team member at QSound Labs where he became chief audio engineer. In his ten years at QSound Labs (1988/1998), Brad had the opportunity to work in many of the world’s best studios with artists like Sting, Madonna and Luther Vandross. He has also engineered and produced projects with artists as diverse as Mark Murphy, Benny Green, Joey DeFrancesco, Amos Garrett, Cindy Church and Ron Sexsmith. Brad remains busy producing projects at Nevin Park, playing shows at Stage West and elsewhere. Brad is extremely excited to be a part of this most extraordinary Steelytown project!
Shirley Lange - Vocals
Shirley has been performing for over 30 years. She has toured Canada, the US, and Japan. In the 80’s she fronted the pop group “Headlines” which released several Adult Contemporary singles in Canada, and toured extensively throughout Canada and the US. In 2000, she released a country album “This Time” and three nationally charted singles and videos on CMT. She was nominated for several provincial and national awards, and in 2002 won “Best Music Video” at the ARIA awards. Shirley currently teaches music as well as vocal coaching at Horizon Music. She is also very active in the studio recording lead and background vocals commercial voice overs, as well as songwriting and co-writing with various artists. Shirley also is the co-owner of Horizon Music Recording Studios in Calgary.
Deanna Dubbin - Vocals
Deanna has enjoyed 40 years of singing that has allowed her to travel to exotic parts of the world, spend 15 years in Musical Theatre, sing back ground vocals for recording artists in the studio, perform on radio and television jingles, record two C.D’s, perform with Party Bands, Big Bands, Nightclub Bands, be the featured artist on large fundraising events, host her own nationally televised Christmas Special, create her own
vocal group performance groups, become a regular performer on locally televised Telethons and perform with some of Canada’s top musicians. What a thrill to be involved in this amazing Steely Dan Tribute Band project, Steely Town with some amazing world class musicians and singers.
Phil Hall - Bass Guitar / Vocals
Phil is one o Canada's most recognized bass guitaists. Phil has worked with many mentionable artists including, Colin James, Luke McMaster, The Rankins, Bruce Guthro, George Fox, Michelle Wright, Chris Cummings, Lisa Brokop, Duane Steele, and The Good Brothers. He acted as the Musical Director for Tom Jackson's national concert series The Huron Carole for over a decade, and Phil is a graduate of the Humber College Music Program in Toronto, Ontario.
Gareth Bane - Baritone Sax
Since returning to Calgary from New York City in 2011, Gareth Bane has continued to push the boundaries of the Baritone Saxophone. Modern improvisational Jazz concepts and the roots of Blues combine with a
“take-no-prisoners” approach to the horn thus creating a unique and powerful voice on that instrument. His influences include Nick Brignola, Gary Smulyan, Ronnie Cuber and Pepper Adams
Time Big Band, The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, The Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble and the Ray Charles
Mike Clark - Tenor Sax
In 1989 Mike’s career as a professional musician took centre stage when he moved to Calgary. Within weeks of his arrival he was hired to perform with the legendary Clarence “Big” Miller. Mike’s huge tone, authentic approach and expressive solos was the calling card he used to introduce himself to the hierarchy of performers in the city and expeditiously established himself as the number one call saxophonist on the blues and roots scene. Mike truly is one of Canada’s premiere blues and roots artists and has been nominated for a Maple Blues Award in the category of “Horn Player of the Year” for three consecutive years. He has performed with Albert Collins, Son Seals, Amos Garrett, The Downchild Bluesband, and Dutch Mason to name a few. He’s recorded with Johnny V (If My Daddy Could See Me Now), Donald Ray Johnson (Pure Pleasure), Tim Williams (Live at Kaos), Ray Montana (Hip October), Steve Pineo (Steve Pineo with Horns) and can be heard on many other sessions. Mike is also the owner of Mikey's Juke Joint, and Mikey's on 12th live music venues in Calgary.
Dave Prentice - Trumpet / Horn Section Leader
As a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (B.Eng.Hons, Chemical Engineering), Dave now lives and works as a Software Engineer in Calgary, Alberta. Dave moved to Calgary in 2007 having served 15 years as the trumpet player and horn section arranger for Edinburgh based 1950s Rock'n'Roll band The Dreamliners. Dave also served almost 10 years as Musical Director of the Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra from 1998 - 2007 where he continued composing and arranging for large jazz ensemble. Dave has given instruction in school clinics as well as privately through Time Music Studios in Calgary, and continues to write and arrange for the big band format. Dave's charts have been performed by notable bands such as Calgary's Prime Time big Band and the Wednesday Night Big Band, for whom Dave is entering his 10th year as Lead Trumpet.j