Larry Hester - Lead Vocals/Acoustic/Harmonica
Raised in rural South Alabama on the Mississippi line, Larry Hester began his musical journey singing in the North Oak Grove Church near his birthplace of Waynesboro, Mississippi. He started writing songs at the age of ten and by the age fourteen he was playing in garage bands and performing at local events. At nineteen Hester hit the road touring and moved to Los Angeles, California and played with a number of rock bands performing at all of the famous venues on the scene, The Whiskey, Madam Wong's, The Starwood, The Troubadour and The Rock Corporation to name a few. He formed a group called The WildKatts and eventually Rebel Faction with his longtime friend and guitarist Terry Quinn, landing a deal with Polygram Records in the late 1980's. While in LA, Hester has written for and appeared in both film and television.The song "Burning" with its huge fan base can be heard in the skateboarding cult film "Thrashin" where it first appeared in a motion picture sound track. This song also made the soundtrack of the Touchstone Pictures film, "Can't Buy Me Love" starring Patrick Dempsey more recently known for his work in "Grey's Anatomy". The Hester penned song "Love on the Radio" also made its first motion picture debut in that same movie. Another major film,"Gross Anatomy" featured both these songs as well. Hester moved back to Mississippi in 2008 and began the "Here I Am" project with drummer Tommy Noland. He is currently touring in support of their first effort and has written fourteen new songs scheduled to be released on "Right As Rain", their second record scheduled for release in 2013.
Joe "Kidd" Taranto - Bass Guitar
Born a military brat, Joe buried his roots in Biloxi
Mississippi. He became addicted to rock n roll and was inspired heavily as
a teen by the world’s most notorious rock band, Motley Crue. He found a
love for Blues and Southern Rock by listening to bands such as Tom
Petty, Cream and ACDC. “Blues is where it all started. I’ll have a
full back piece tattoo of Robert Johnson before it’s over with ”Joe
states. He started playing music in his early teens in garage bands, at
school functions and pretty much anywhere else that he could,
learning all the music tips and tricks he could get his hands on.
He picked up a bass guitar in 2006 and never looked
back. He describes the feeling as “The Powerhouse, the Bass, the
Foundation of every Song”. Sharing some of the most
notorious stages in the past few years in South
Mississippi, where bands such as Three Doors Down got their start, Joe
quickly became familiar with the local music scene. He is known for his
electric energy on stage. His passion and drive as a musician has brought him
to many places, and taught him many things.“I’m content with my past and
take time to prepare for the demons of my future. Mistakes are the teacher and
life is the test. Right?”.
He says joining HESTER is one of the best decisions of his music career to date. From the feeling of the music, to the bond between the band members, this is the Rock-n-Roll Family he’s been looking for.
He says joining HESTER is one of the best decisions of his music career to date. From the feeling of the music, to the bond between the band members, this is the Rock-n-Roll Family he’s been looking for.
Tommy Noland - Drums/Percussion
Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi (home to Willie Dixon) heavily influenced by the Blues and Rock and Roll, Noland began playing drums at age ten, performing on Sunday jam sessions with the infamous "Cash Cotton and The Bo Weevil's" at the Popp's Ferry Fish Camp in Biloxi, Mississippi. He received a bottle of Barq's Rootbeer and a bag of Rice's Potato Chips as pay for that first gig but after that he was paid his share from "Passing The Hat" around the bar, a common practice back then. Actively performing on the "Biloxi Strip" with a few notable bands in the 1970's, moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and toured with Possum Kreak, an original Southern Rock Band under management of Al Nalli (Brownsville Station, Motley Crue) and toured with them as opening act for Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, Sugarloaf, Blue Oyster Cult, Spooky Tooth, Montrose, Jo Jo Gunn, The Raspberries and Catfish Hodge. In mid 1979 he moved to Los Angeles, California playing with The Horizon Band and Johnny Blue, original rock acts that played The Whiskey, Starwood, Madam Wongs and The Rock Corporation, all notable venues in the LA area. The group Johnny Blue evolved into a group called The WildKatts and eventually Rebel Faction landing a deal with Polygram Records in the late 1980's. Noland left LA and moved back to Mississippi where he landed drumming duties with Bryan Austin who had just signed a record deal with Capitol Records/Nashville in 1993 and toured the US, Japan and Europe until 1997. Playing with a number of bands in the late 1990's up to 2008 when he was re-united with long time friend and singer/songwriter/musician Larry Hester and they began the Hester project spending most of their time in studio sessions recording the "Here I Am" tracks. He is currently on tour with the band and working on their next project "Right As Rain".
Chris V "Loepke" - Lead Guitar
Chris V "Loepke" Chris Vee hails from Elwood, Indiana. Music runs deep in his family, he is the great grandson of Gloria Marshall Loepke, songwriter, author and Carnegie Hall concerto pianist. Early influences were the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and underrated guitarist Johnny Winter. His current influences include Brad Paisley, Steve Stevens, Brent Mason, Johnny Hilland, Doug Seven and Dan Meyer. Chris started playing gigs at the age of 15 and wound up in a band called The Invincibles whose leader was Frank Parente, former lead sax and arranger for Country Artist Brenda Lee. Chris got his musical education working with Frank and credits him for the success he has had in the music business all of these years. After high school The Invincibles toured the U.S. and came to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1976 working several night spots on the infamous "Biloxi Strip". The group also toured with Freddy Fender and Marty Robbins, touring the Southeastern U.S. for awhile.
He left The Invincibles and formed Stick Horse with band mate Joe Jordan and continued touring for several years. Chris has worked with other acts including V Speeds Band, Henrietta Boggs and Company , Apogee , Ethnics, and more recently with Total Eclipse. He joined Hester in 2012 as lead guitarist bringing his expertise to the table for their very original sound. As their guitarist he states "I plan to help the band take it to the next level and I am very humbled and honored to be in such company !" He is currently on tour and working in the studio with Hester on their upcoming release "Right As Rain" available online and at your local record outlets early in 2013.
He left The Invincibles and formed Stick Horse with band mate Joe Jordan and continued touring for several years. Chris has worked with other acts including V Speeds Band, Henrietta Boggs and Company , Apogee , Ethnics, and more recently with Total Eclipse. He joined Hester in 2012 as lead guitarist bringing his expertise to the table for their very original sound. As their guitarist he states "I plan to help the band take it to the next level and I am very humbled and honored to be in such company !" He is currently on tour and working in the studio with Hester on their upcoming release "Right As Rain" available online and at your local record outlets early in 2013.
