The GREAT UNKNOWNS - So who are these guys? The best band you never heard of - until now. . .
Chuck Hendrickson never met a stringed instrument he couldn't learn to play. Guitar, fiddle, banjo - and who knows what else. Chuck's guitar work is both versatile and outstanding - from country to jazz to rock. Have a listen and you'll agree. Chuck is also our "fiddle man", playing sweet melodies or crankin' out smokin' fiddle runs. You'll also find Chuck helping out on vocals, sometimes singing lead or adding harmony. Chuck takes his music seriously - but has a lot of fun making it. With his wife, Marcia and their three children, Chuck lives in rural Lennox, SD. When he's not making music you might find Chuck in the barn. The Hendrickson's are definitely "horse people".
Jim Wright is the guy in the cool hat behind those drums. A drummer who can play many styles of music from country to jazz. Jim not only ably handles the drums, but he is equally at home on a microphone. With a great lead voice (that's Jim belting out Mustang Sally) and an uncanny ability to pick out the last harmony part on any song, Jim's vocal talents are as much an asset to the GREAT UNKNOWNS as his solid drum rhythms. A computer "whiz", Jim and his wife Nancy live near Brandon, SD and are proud parents of triplet teenagers - and you thought you had a challenging life. The triplets are musically talented just like their parents. Maybe Jim should start a family band? Maybe not - The GREAT UNKNOWNS just wouldn't be the same.
Kevin Ryan lays down those solid bass lines that make everybody want to move. Even non-dancers have been heard to say "Honey, I can dance to these guys". Kevin is equally talented on both the six and twelve string guitar. His finger picking style is a joy to the ear. At the request of TGU - to help us out on Man of Constant Sorrow - Kevin can now include the banjo on his list of instruments. A versatile and talented musician who also lends his strong voice to both lead and harmony parts. By way of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Kevin and his wife, Mary and son now call Sioux Falls home. The GREAT UNKNOWNS couldn't be happier with his choice of a place to call home - or his choice of a band to perform with.
Brian Baumgartner spends most of his musical performance time with TGU behind the keyboard. He can make those keys sound like a symphony, a "squeezebox", a concert grand piano or a Hammond B3. Watch out though, because sometimes we unleash some of his versatility and feature Brian on one of his saxophones or the harmonica. Brian's wealth of musical performance pays off big with the GREAT UNKNOWNS. Brian can even be found on the bass guitar and often adding a needed harmony part. True to his German heritage (Baumgartner means "tree gardener"), Brian operates a successful family landscaping business in Sioux Falls. Brian also serves as worship director for his church. Brian, his wife Sherrie and their two children are at home in Sioux Falls, SD. A very busy man, TGU fans are glad Brian carves out time to share his musical gifts with the GREAT UNKNOWNS.
John Mills' rich tenor-baritone voice handles most of the lead vocals for the GREAT UNKNOWNS. John also compliments the TGU sound with solid acoustic guitar rhythms and sometimes even breaks out his ukulele - that's right - ukulele. From soulful ballads to the best country to classic rock, John's vocal styling is right on target. A builder/developer when not on stage, John and his wife Joy (now officially "empty nesters") make their home in rural Brookings, SD with a small menagerie of pets including cats, dogs and even a pair of Llamas . John, an avid outdoorsman, is also an accomplished songwriter who is currently working on "going public" with his first CD.
These are The GREAT UNKNOWNS - the best band you never heard of !!