Rockin’ Hill Band – ACR Consulting

Band Information:

We are seasoned musicians from the Brainerd lakes area playing Rock, Pop, Blues, and Jazz. To better serve your needs we now offer multiple versions of the band with a range of affordable cost options.

Four members make up the bands core, and includes 3 singers, piano/keys, guitar, bass, and drums. This core team plays everything from dinner listening to dance music from artists like Van Morrison, Billy Joel, Eagles, Stray Cats, Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, Blues Brothers, Tower of Power, Herbie Hancock, and George Benson.

Adam Rees – guitars
Darrell Thompson – bass and vocals
Steve Anderson – piano/keys and vocals
Mike Hicks – drums and vocals

The full band includes vibes, horns, with more keys and vocals expanding our repertoire and arrangements to give you the biggest Rockin’ Hill experience. Through our summer lakes concerts our fans are most familiar with this version. Additional band members:

Jim Henkemeyer – vibes and percussionist
Jim Hanson – keys and vocals
TBD – horns and vocals

Summer Band Schedule – 2023

5/27 Saturday 6-9PM Dunmire’s On The Lakes

7/15 Saturday 7-9PM Pequot Lakes Bandshell

7/20 Thursday 7-830PM Gregory Park- Brainerd MN

7/29 Saturday 1-2PM REHT Music Festival – Pine River, Cass County, Minnesota

7/29 Saturday 6-9PM Dunmire’s On The Lakes

8/26 Saturday 5:30-8:30 Dunmire’s On 210

9/2 Saturday 1-3PM Hackensack

9/23 Saturday 5:00-8:00 Dunmire’s On The Lakes

Contact Information:

Adam Rees directly at 507-993-5757, adamrees@charter.net or Darrell Thompson at (612) 205-9635‬, taxman1213@charter.net‬

Band Bios 2023

Adam Rees

Guitars – Jamming with talented players is one of my greatest joys over the past 40 years. I started out in my late teens playing rock and blues being influenced by artists such as Santana, BB King and Duane Allman. In my twenties my taste expanded to include jazz artists like Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, and Mike Stern. While I am not classically trained, I had the honor of seeing Andres Segovia at Boston Symphony Hall just before he passed on. My guitars shift over time, but my main axe is a PRS 509, a blend of both Strat and Les Paul tones. I have also incorporated steel string and nylon acoustic guitar sounds to vary tonal textures. For the electrics my preference is for tube amplification and minimal effects letting the guitar and amp dominate the tone.

Darrell Thompson

Bass and Vocals – Darrell Thompson has been actively singing and playing bass guitar in a variety of regional groups since the age of 16. He spent many years playing with the popular Twin Cities band Sunshine World. Stand out lead vocals and harmony have always been an important part of Darrell’s performances.

Steve Anderson

Keys and Vocals – Retired Community College Band director. Founded the instrumental music department at Central lakes College in 1991, retired in 2018. He led three European tours with the CLC Community Band. He conducts the Wadena Area Community Band. He has been a professional musician and performer for 57 years playing from Wisconsin to Montana. He’s played the Gull Lake area since 1983 at The Quarterdeck, Bar Harbor, The Gull Lake Yacht Club and Irma’s Kitchen on the Cragun’s Resort. He lives in Merrifield Mn with his dog,Trek and his step son Darren Bad Heart Bull.

Jim Henkemeyer (aka Henk)

Vibes and Percussionist – Henk has been a gigging drummer for most of his life. He loves to play Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and Classical. He has performed for large crowds of thousands on many occasions. Jim also plays 4 mallet vibes and steel pan drum and percussion. Some past experiences include; China Tour; 10 concerts, U of Minnesota Wind Ensemble (and percussion) The Anaheim Arena, CA, opening for The Pointer Sisters, 6 annual “We” Festivals, Salt Creek Band, Jeanie Marie Baja Blues Fest, El Pescadores, Mexico, and the Baja Boogie Band. Studied with Gary Burton.

Michael E. Hicks

Drummer – Born in Vicksburg, MS and raised on a farm in the Louisiana Delta; Michael E Hicks grew up steeped in classic country and blues as well as AM and FM radio classics of the late 60s, 70s and 80s. Started drumming and singing at the age of six in church and with with his older brothers. Classically trained percussionist performing in high school and 3 different college bands on while on music scholarships. Started performing in club bands at the age of 17 performing all genres and styles of popular music both as frontman and sideman.

Performed throughout the US and 3 European tours. Shared stages with the Neville Brothers, Ronnie Hawkins, James Burton, Marcia Ball, The Wailers, Hugh Masekela, Urge Overkill, and many others. Continued performing during his subsequent career as Nurse Officer in the USAF retiring as a Lt Colonel in April of 2023. Relocated to MN in JAN of 2023 and is looking forward to his tenure with the Rockin Hill Band!

Jim Hanson

Keyboards and Vocals – Now retired Jim plays with several groups with very diverse styles. In Minnesota he sings and mostly plays a B3 organ style keyboard with Rockin’ Hill. He winters in Texas and plays in groups that feature Classic Rock and Country hits. His first public performance, at the age of 7, was playing accompaniment on the piano while his grandfather and friends performed Scandinavian dance tunes on their fiddles. Through his teens, Jim studied classical piano and played bass, guitar, and keyboards with friends in local Rock & Roll bands. He received his BA in Music Education from Washington State University and taught vocal and instrumental music in public schools for several years. He continued performing with dance bands and nightclub groups, eventually becoming a full-time working musician for several years.