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Touch Of Grey - About The Band
 Doc Glatz (Harmonica)
Peter “Doc” Glatz was born in Chicago in 1953. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1975. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1979. He served as a clinical instructor in Fixed Prosthodontics at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry and as a guest lecturer in implant dentistry at Northwestern University. He opened up his dental practice in Springfield in 1979.
Doc Glatz lives in the farmhouse of a once prosperous apple orchard on the outskirts of town. Years ago he remodeled the old apple cooler building into his dental laboratory. Attached to the cooler was the tin shed used to grade and sort apples. It was the perfect place to install a 21 foot walnut bar he had bought at an auction. Doc Glatz named the building "The Last Chance Bar and Lab." One day Doc decided; "What my bar really needs is live music." After opening the bar with a party featuring blues great Fenton Robinson he realized, "Bands are expensive. Why not start my own?" So in the early 90’s he formed the Last Chance Blues Band, which included Touch of Grey guitarist Gary Halford, Every band needs an audience so the Last Chance Blues Band began hosting parties for family and friends. This eventually led to bookings at clubs, benefits, and community festivals. Performance highlights include 1999's ill-fated "Cornstock" Labor Day festival that made national news due to an E. coli outbreak (The band hosted a benefit the following November to raise money for medical bills for the victims), the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 Sherman Homecoming's, the 2000 Athen's Rodeo, the 2001 and 2002 Sangamon County Fair's, the 2000 Springfield Septoberfest, the 2001 Chatham Homecoming and the 2000 & 2001 Illinois State Fairs. It was named “Best Cover Band” in the Illinois Times 2002 Reader’s Poll.
Gary Halford (Rhythm Guitar)
Gary, along with Doc played in the Last Chance Blues Band. It was an outlet to get to play many gigs from garage parties to playing Blues Festivals, State and county fairs on big stages.
Influences include British Invasion, during pre teen and teen years, music from The Who, Beatles, Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, Yardbirds and many others. As kids, my brother and I were sent to bed early where we secretly plugged in our transistor radios and ear plugs to listen well into the night the Top 40 every evening from 1964 on. 1990, brings a new neighbor who noticed a guitar and amp in my front room. Talk was initiated and a blues band was formed! A lot of new music was “discovered” As time goes on newer avenues into other music brought on the formation of the Touch of Grey band.. What is great about the Touch of Grey is the fact that we can play blues music but can “Touch” a lot on the past music that brought a lot of excitement in my life. Rod knows this and has some of this stored in the back of his mind somewhere. It does come out in rehearsal and has come part of our set list! Interestingly enough is the fact that Steve and Les know a lot of the 60’s and 70’s tunes as well as 80’s and 90’s that are cool! Equipment includes Fender Hot Rod Deville, 1993 American Standard Strat w/Texas Special pickups from Fender and 1999 American Standard Telecaster
Larry Harness (Percussion, Drums, Backing Vocals)
Growing up as a child, his father owned a night club, and Larry frequently sat in with some of the traveling show bands that played his father's club.
In the mid 70's he was a member of a group called "Riff" that played alot of Allman, Doobie Brothers. He also played in the Jazz band and Concert band at Chatham Glennwood High school who used to perform on weekend for business groups in larger metropolitan areas. In Jan of '04 he joined the Last Chance Blues Band and played with them until they disbanded. Now in his 50's, he is plays congas with a Santana cover band called the Screamin Vatos. He also enjoys playing with the new group, Touch of Grey, where he plays drums and back up vocals and having the time of his life.
Rod VanSandt (Lead Guitar)
I got my first guitar when I was 13 (I won't mention what year that was!), and have been playing on and off with various bands ever since. My early influences were Jimmy Page, Skunk” Baxter, Joe Walsh and other great guitarists of the era. Later influences were Todd Rundgren, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robbin Ford, and Warren Haynes.
Since moving to Springfield in the mid 80's I have been involved with a number of bands including The Max, Those Guys, Area 51, and now Touch of Grey. I am somewhat of a gear junkie and change my setup frequently, but for now I am playing a Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic or a PRS Custom 24 into a Fuchs Overdrive Supreme 30, sometimes adding a Keeley modded Tube Screamer or Maxon AD80 delay into the mix.
Leslie Hardy (Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals)
I've wanted to play bass in a band ever since I discovered "The Police" in the early 80's. I dabbled with many instruments along the way and have gotten decent at using many of them, however, I keep coming back to bass. Less hard-work to do!
I've performed with PEAPOD JUNIOR (keyboards/vocals), "DEAR ANNA" - formerly DEAD PORNOGRAPHY (bass/vocals), the short-lived "GLASS ONION" (bass) and a high-school talent show band (bass). I produce electronic dance music under the moniker A.M.C.A.A.T. and write/record 80's inspired pop music as "THE HONOUR SYSTEM". Check me out at www.myspace.com/lesliehardy.
Joe Mucciante (Saxophone, Flute, Percussion)
I have always liked to listen and sing along with the radio. Like Gary, I would listen to it at night in bed on my small Arvin radio with an ear plug. I studied accordian with the local legend Roy Bentelli at age 10. I sang in the grade school church choir in sixth grade (I was asked to join, boy what happened to my voice!). I started on sax at 16 and have played sax or clarinet in marching and concert bands, in jazz, rock and a clown band.
The rock bands I've played with include Rectrospect, H, Inc., Libra Mama and Sister Rose, Quasi Mojo, Last Chance Blues Band, Al Rone Band and Touch of Grey. I like a wide variety of styles and believe a musician should be flexible. And, "if you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong." Music can give life to your soul.
Steve Harris (Vocals)
I have been singing since I was able to talk, actually maybe even before then. My grandfather had been in a pretty successful Gospel Quartet (The Goodwills) down in Southern Illinois and even had his own Sunday Morning radio program back in the early thirties. I remember as a small child while most kids were outside playing, I was inside lying in front of the massive stereo cabinet listening to my mom and dad's country music albums. Artists like Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, and Whispering Bill Anderson were the standards in their collection. There were however a few albums that indicated a wilder side of my parents, like Johnny Rivers "Secret Agent Man", Mabeline, YEAH! There was even a little bit of protest side to my parents indicated by the Peter, Paul, and Mary's decade of hits.
I made my first recording when I was five singing that Ol favorite from the grooveyard of forgotten melodies - Silent Night. It wasn't until seventh grade that my music teacher recognizing my talent asked me to sing in the vocal contest that would be hosted by our school. I reluctantly accepted the invitation and got first place for male vocalist. The song that I selected was a romantic poem by Thomas Ford, There is a Lady Sweet and Kind. About that time I discovered Rock. Kiss was a first favorite, then Rush, Bachman, Turner Overdrive, etc. My exposure to many artists was enhanced by joining the RCA record club.....remember??? 12 selections for only a penny with the promise to buy one more at regular club prices??? I got my first guitar when I was 13, took three lessons and decided that I didn't want to learn classical music, so I quit the lessons and taught myself how to play with help from other friends that were also learning. I had a couple of garage bands when I was in my early teens; Black Death, Mirage We actually played a birthday party for one of my friends in her parents garage, the party was abruptly ended because it was discovered that someone had spiked the punch with everclear. Right before joining the military, I had been jamming with drummer Gerald Tannehill(Daddy's Girl and Upfront) we were actually getting pretty good and later got a bass player. We played at an Athen's River Party and then I left for Basic Training. It wasn't until aproximately 3 years later while being stationed in Germany that I hooked up with my squad leader who also played guitar and sang, that I would publicly perform again. Sam and I would sit outside of the BonHauf (train station) and play Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Seals and Crofts, etc. We would set one of the guitar cases in front of us and people would throw German Marks in it! That was how we made our drinking money for the weekend. After getting out of the military I revisited my roots and started singing gospel music and sang at many churches throughout central Illinois. About three years ago I began an acoustic act with Eric Ethel and then solo playing at various clubs, bars and private parties. Not long after that I was asked to sing for a newly forming band which later became Touch of Grey. I love the guys in the band, they are all very talented musicians and I consider it a privilege to be a part of it. |
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