Fat Danny - Vocals, Lead and Slide Guitar
High Desert Bluesman, Fat Danny Bennett, is the heart and soul of the Hard Tymz. He writes and sings all of the original material. Danny's songs come directly from his life. The good, the bad, the ups and the downs. Danny says, "Sing the Blues? Hell, I'm living the Blues." A multi-talented instrumentalist, Danny counts Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Link Wray, and all the "Kings" among his influences.
nickname: Are you kiddin' ??
favorite color: Black.
little known fact about you: I watch a certain soap opera every day on T.V.
Who is da' Man? Albert King. If I was stranded on a desert island and i could have only 1 cd. It would be his 1967 cd Born under a bad sign. There was not a bad song on that cd. It was about as perfect an album as ive ever heard.
What's in your Eye-Pod right now? Jimmy Reed
Doyle Smith - Hammond organ & Wurlitzer electric piano
Born about 20 miles from where Robert Johnson played his last gig, Slim hails from Leflore County Mississippi. He honed his blues chops playing on the Barbeque joints and Elks Clubs on the chitlin' circuit throughout the Deep South. Influences include Billy Preston, Marvell Thomas, Carson Whitsett, and Booker T.
nickname: Mississippi Slim
favorite color: dark blue
favorite blues lyric: "Your husband went to the war and I knowed it was tough... I don't know how many mens he killed but I know he killed enough" -Elmore James
little known fact: shares a birthday with another Mississippi white boy, Mose Allison.
Who is da' Man? - Muddy is the Man!
What's in your Eye-Pod right now? Johnny Shines w/ Big Walter Horton
Jay Schermer - Harp
Jay was raised up in North Hollywood California. In 1970 he sold his hoopti and traveled throughout Europe for three months., One day while Germany he bought his first Hohner Harmonica and has been hooked ever since. Jay loves playing the Blues most of all and especially playing with Fat Danny and the Hard Tymz. Jay's
Nickname: Lips
Influences: James Cotton, John Mayall, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf
Eddie Clothier - Electric Bass
Born and raised in the blues-rich town of Kansas City, Eddie started playing honky-tonks and private clubs at the tender age of 14 with still long-time friend Jim Feighner. “What an education that was!” He was musically trained in elementary and high schools by former John Phillip Sousa band member Ed Hoskins Sr. and his son Ed Jr. “Thanks for teaching me about the beat guys!”
“Hawaii? Oh Yea! That’s one great place to gig.” Eddie enjoyed playing with Cecillio & Kapono (Frank Zappa - Civic Center Concert ’72) and the Goldrush (Waikiki House Band). Then in 1976 he came to Los Angeles and got lost in the shuffle.
“Been a lot of blues since then, but ain’t none like Fat Danny!”
nickname: FAST EDDIE? Does this mean I don’t get to eat?
favorite color: Midnight Blue
little known fact about you: Drafted a part for the X-30 Space Shuttle
Who is da' Man?: There's a lot of "Mens" out there, but I still find Robert Johnson to be very mesmerizing.
What’s in your Eye-Pod right now?: Electronic Components, Circuit boards, and Mechanical Parts.
Gary Falasco - Drums and Percussion
A native of the San Gabriel Valley, Gary's earliest influences were Joe Morello, Buddy Harmon, and Ringo Starr. Gary's steady, in-the-pocket, effortless, groove comes from his soul and a set of vintage Ludwigs that he bought "back in the day."
Nickname: G-Man
Favorite Color: Green (the color of Money)
Little known fact: If "The G-man" is not driving his Mustang to the gig, you'll find him behind the wheel of a '60 Caddy that Muddy Waters himself might envy.
Who is da' Man? Gene Krupa cuz he started it all
What's in your Eye-Pod now? Fat Danny's Power of the Blues