Like A Rock: The Bob Seger Revival

When finding a “Seger” for the band, the most important thing a singer could do was capture the tones, phrasings and spirit of the songs. Like A Rock has found this in Ty Wilson; a young and powerful singer. Thanks to his family he was raised on the soulful sounds of Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band and other country-rock greats, and is able to bring a personal performance to every hit.

Ty signed his first record deal at 16 years old, his second at 22. He has spent years as a journeyman musician, playing bars and small clubs across Canada. From Toronto’s premier music venue The Opera House, to busking on the streets of Victoria B.C., Ty has learnt how to connect with his audience and bandmates.

Fun Fact: Ty’s Grandmother was a well-known country musician, opening for legends Johnny Cash, and others, during early 60’s

With so many textures and sounds, Bob Seger’s music has always demanded the most of its musicians. With the addition of multi-instrumentalist Bill Evans, Like A Rock is able to meet the challenge and recreate the musical soul of every song. As a most sought after session player, Bill has performed along-side the likes of musical legends Peter Noore (Herman’s Hermits), Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds) Del Shannon and Melissa Manchester. As an original recording artist, his band The Beat Kings has opened for such notables as The Allman Brothers and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Bill released his solo album The Blue Martini 2006 to critical acclaim.

Bill discovered music at the age of four and was immediately enrolled in piano lessons. With a drive to practice, unmatched by any normal person, he continued studying music into his adult life receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University in Jazz Performance and Composition. After years touring with his band Random Chants, Bill went back to school and received his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto.

Fun Fact: Bill has performed on numerous records and film scores, including Ron Korb’s Grammy award nominated album Asia Beauty.

Anyone who knows the songs of Bob Seger and Silver Bullet Band, knows, solid guitar work is a big part of the sound. Like A Rock has found, in Kevin Vienneau, a player that can effortlessly complement all the parts. Originally from Cole Harbour Nova Scotia, Kevin has been a fixture on the Toronto and Canadian music scene since 1989. He can often be found playing with a myriad of artists in Toronto’s top clubs, and over the years has performed with modern lineups of such widely known acts as The Temptations, The Drifters, The Shirelles, Bo Diddley.

The son of a semi-professional country guitarist, Kevin began performing in elementary school and lived the rock of the 70s and 80s, throughout high school. He later studied jazz in university, and it is his wide spectrum of styles that have made him one of Toronto’s most sought after players.

Fun Fact: Kevin has performed with 70’s funk icons War.

An accomplished bass player, music producer & recording engineer, Steve has worked with a wide range of great Canadian talent including; Rik Emmett, Honeymoon Suite, Suzie McNeil, Alannah Myles, Amanda Marshall, Jason Blaine, Marshall Dane, The Morganfields, and The Gandharvas.

Steve trained in analog recording at London Ontario’s acclaimed MIA program, and later studied bass at Humber College in Toronto.

A Georgetown Ontario native, he studied classical piano at an early age, and played in local rock bands. He developed his love for the bass guitar after listening to bass legends like Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee.

Equally at home in concert halls, studios, or clubs, one of Steve’s career highlights was recording, mixing, co-producing, and playing bass on the 2016 Mascot Label release, Rik Emmett and RESolution 9.

What would a Bob Seger song be without the percussive piano and swelling Hammond tones? Rich Roxborough is more than just your typical keyboardist and vocalist. While performing alongside classic rockers like Alannah Myles and The Kings, to Canadian Country Artists like Jason McCoy, Aaron Lines and Patricia Conroy, Richard has honed his skills at “dialing in” the sounds and textures that fill out Like A Rock’s powerhouse delivery.

A Toronto native, Richard is proud to call Canada home. Starting his musical journey on guitar at 6 years old, then bass at 11 and piano at 18, the momentum keeps ‘Richie Rox’ on road and inspired to perform at the top of the game.

Fun Fact: Over his career, Richard has performed in some of the most unique locations; Europe, Morocco, Central America, the North Pole, the Sahara Desert.

As a versatile musician with over 35 years of experience, Chuck has toured internationally and recorded with acts such as Big Wreck, Suzie Mcneil, Fathead and Jeff Healey. He has also worked with members from the Muddy Waters band and jammed with Prince.

Chuck has played on numerous albums, several radio hits and worked with record producers such as Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains)

Through his travels Chuck has performed on stages opening for acts such as: Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Alice In Chains, Slash, Alan Jackson, BB King and Journey.

Chuck endorses Sonor drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks.

Fun Fact: Other accolades include five Juno nominations, three Maple Blues nominations, a Road Gold Award and CMW Indie award. Chuck has an Honors diploma from the Ontario Institute Of Recording Technology. 

There could be no Bob Seger sound, without the iconic, signature sax licks and grounding tones brought to life by John Panchyshyn. With a career that spans decades, John has been one of Canada’s most sought-after session players and has shared the stage, or studio, with everyone from Etta James to Ian Thomas, Dominic Troiano to Long John Baldry, Mary wells to Liberty Silver. His experience and musical cool, is just right for Like A Rock.

John began his career at an early age, performing with his father, becoming classically trained and then as a youth completing Humber College’s premier music program. Later in life, surrounded by the forest of his countryside home, he connected with the storyteller in Bob Seger through tunes like, Shame On The Moon and Turn the Page and brings his attachment to the songs to stage on every performance.

Fun Fact: Has been on International Canadian Armed Forces tours including The Arctic Circle, Germany, Cyprus and The Middle East.

Inspired by the great country folk artists of our time, singer-songwriter and session musician, Brian Hawley fills out that lush guitar sound that Seger is renowned for. With over 30 years performing across Canada, Hawley adds his name to the list of music veterans Like A Rock has on board.

Brian was born and raised on the east coast of Canada where he honed his craft touring around the Maritimes at a young age.  Finding his way to Ontario he joined the well-known Muskoka-born band Laganza and released two studio albums, numerous radio releases. When he’s not on the road performing you can find him in his home studio writing, recording and studying sound engineering.

Fun Fact: Brian co-write for the theme song of the Ontario Winter Games in 2009.

Loralee McGuirl is a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and versatile vocalist known for her soulful sound and dynamic performances. She has performed extensively across Canada and internationally. Her latest project, BIRDLAND, features collaborations with legendary artists like Guido Basso and other renowned musicians. Loralee is excited to be a part of the Bob Seger Revival as a backup vocalist.  When not performing, she’s busy as a music educator, vocal
coach, and writer while recording and producing as well.

Diane Chase is a Canadian country music artist enjoying her role lately as a one of Like A Rock's Bobcats, that sing all those velvety background vocals. Chase has released three studio albums in her career from the 2000's In the Middle of Something, 2004's The Ride and 2009's Gettin' There. Her debut album produced two charting singles on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, of which the highest was the No. 11 peaking title track. (Source: Wikipedia)