HANK WARD

Hank Ward brings an upbeat alt-country sound to the stage with his experienced 5-piece band.  With Burke Carroll on pedal steel guitar, Gary Craig on drums, Bob McApline on guitar, and Mark Willms on piano, Ward has put together a talented band with a powerful and unique sound. 

Gary Craig, drums

Gary is a Toronto Canada based drummer/percussionist who has performed live and in the studio with many artists including Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn, Colin Linden, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tom Cochrane, Jann Arden, Kathleen Edwards, Marc Jordan, The Rankin Family, Jimmy Rankin, Gregory Hoskins, Jenn Grant, Stephen Fearing, Jesse Cook, Suzie Vinnick, Jason McCoy, George Canyon, The Wilkinsons, Allanah Myles, John Bottomley, Lawrence Gowan, The Kings, Eddie Schwartz, Karyn Ellis and Trudy Artman. 

Doug Elash, bass

Doug Elash has played with countless acts both live and in studio and is one of Toronto’s go to bass players.  Currently touring with Canadian country star Tim Hicks, Elash was recently nominated for CCMA bass player of the year.

Bob McAlpine, guitars

Bob McAlpine has been an in-demand session player and "go-to" guitar man on the Toronto music scene since the mid-1980s. His guitar work has been heard on scores of albums, television shows and jingles, and most recently on the 2015 Adam Sandler major motion picture,"Pixels". Bob's versatility and sight-reading skills have landed him work with such diverse artists as David Clayton-Thomas (guitar sub 2005-present), Roger Whittaker (2005 tour), Gowan (Strange Animal/Criminal Mind tour 1985-86), Rik Emmett, Suzie McNeil, The Canadian Idol House Band, A Foot In Coldwater, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, Shirley MacLaine, and a host of R&B stars including Ben E. King, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, The Chambers Brothers, Freda Payne, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. 

Jason Wilson, piano

Dr. Jason Wilson is a two-time Juno-Awards nominee and Canadian Reggae Music Award winner from Downsview, Ontario. Born to Scottish parents, Wilson was the protégé of Studio One keyboardist Jackie Mittoo and is the cousin of UB40's Michael Virtue. Wilson played his first night-club gig with Messenjah when he was only fourteen. Known for incorporating jazz and Scottish and English folk influences atop a reggae foundation, Wilson is a multi-instrumentalist though is perhaps best known for his piano skills. The singer-songwriter has performed and recorded with UB40, Alanis Morissette, Sly & Robbie, Ernest Ranglin, Pee Wee Ellis, Dave Swarbrick, Ron Sexsmith, The Mighty Sparrow, Percy Sledge, Brinsley Forde (Aswad), Dick Gaughan, David Francey and many more. Wilson has extensive studio-session experience on his native instruments the piano and voice, but also on bass, guitar and accordion. 

Mark Willms,  organ/wurlitzer

Mark has been singing and playing piano for over 50 years; professionally for more than 40, yet is only 55 years young. Look for him as 'Carl West' in Sophia Coppola's Oscar winning movie, "LOST IN TRANSLATION", starring Bill Murray. He sings "So Into You" in a pivotal scene, and provides all the piano tracks for the bar scenes throughout the movie.   Mark currently resides in Kitchener, and entertains all over Ontario, from Muskoka to Windsor.    Mark has travelled to many incredible places, all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and many others.  He has lived for months in these amazing places, not just days or weeks, giving him a unique perspective on the world.  His songwriting reflects this, as his album 'Release', is an ecclectic mix of styles and messages.  New recordings are on the horizon, as are many new live projects.  Mark's story is rich and complex, with many highs and lows, and his passion for life is evident is his live performances.  Thanks for supporting live music.

Burke Caroll, pedal steel

Toronto’s Go To pedal steel player Burke Carroll has toured the globe extensively, backing artists such as George Fox, the Good Brothers, Shania Twain, Luther Wright and the Wrongs, the Brothers Cosmoline, the Wilkensons, Scotty Campbell and Kelli Trottier.