BIOGRAPHY
Formed in 2000, The Hitmen are one of Vancouver’s most unique musical acts. Playing hits from the 50’s to the present, The Hitmen will apply their vast knowledge of pop music to your special event and truly make it a night to remember. With their strong musicianship, soaring vocal harmonies and playful sense of humour, the band will entertain you , rock you, and generally make you wanna move ‘n’ groove!
When you watch the Hitmen in action live onstage, you will be amazed at their killer musicianship and audience rapport. Just a quick glance at their massive song list will tell you that The Hitmen are capable of just about any style of music. Browse through their photo gallery from recent shows to get a sense of the band's "runway-ready" good looks, and one listen to the ultimate demo recording and you will be convinced.
Contact your nearest event planner or entertainment provider, and insist on The Hitmen for your next "must-see" event.
The Hitmen : The Players
Tom Nathen Russell Shawn Rachael
As an established artist in Vancouver, Tom wears many hats; keyboardist, composer, arranger, producer, musical director and actor. His debut jazz CD " The Turning", was released in November 1998 to positive critical reviews. Tom recently musically directed “All Grown Up” at Richmond Gateway Theatre. Tom was the musical director for the Jessie Award-nominated musical, “Red Rock Diner” and for “Cheatin’ Hearts”, both at the Arts Club Theater. As a session musician, he has written, produced and sung TV and radio jingles for the Canadian, U.S., Japanese and New Zealand markets. As a performer, Tom starred in the ‘99/’00 Kiss Project at Performance Works on Granville Island and has appeared in the new opera “The Gang” at Harbourfront in Toronto. Tom is the co-leader of four other other bands: The Tom Arntzen Group, Jake and Elwood’s Blues Brothers Revue, Nightshade, and The Showstoppers.Tom's site is Here
Born in Montreal, Nathen has been a professional vocalist/bassist/guitarist since 1977, graduating from Concordia University’s Music Program in 1985. Since calling Vancouver his home in 1992, he has enjoyed making music with numerous local, national and international acts, including ABBA-Cadabra, Randy Bachman, Keith Bennett (Tin Sandwich), Joani Bye & The Homewreckers, Susan Crowe, The Euphorics, Gary Fjellgaard, Babe Gurr, Russell Marsland, Lowry Olafson, Mark Perry, The Aaron Pritchett Band, Lyndia Scott, Shari Ulrich, Bill Usher and Edith Wallace.
For more information on Nathen and his debut CD, Little By Little, please visit, www.NathenAswell.com
Russell Marsland is one of Canada's premier guitarists. Being a child prodigy, at age 17 Russ became lead guitarist at a famous nightclub called Lassetter's Den, named after owner Bill Lassetter from the BC Lions. The house band consisted of the likes of Tom Lavin from the Powder Blues Band, as well as David Lanz, keyboardist for the late great Frank Zappa. He later co-founded the legendary Rhythm and Blues Allstars, performing along B.B. King, the Allman Brothers, and War.
After having performed and recorded with hundreds of other artists, Dig Deep is Russell's first CD under his own name.
For more info, please see Russell's website. Here
Shawn Soucy
Shawn is a drummer/percussionist in the local, national and international scene. Some highlights of Shawn’s performing/recording career include...
Being nominated for a Juno with “Alibi” for Country Music Group of the Year in 1988.
Being nominated 3 times for All-Star Drummer by the Canadian Country Music Assn.(1996-93)
Awarded 5 times as All-Star Drummer for the BC Country Music Assn. (1993-97
Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong), Susan Jacks, The Odds, Holly Arntzen, Leonard and Sample, Ellen MacIllwayne, Lisa Brokop, Patricia Conroy, Doug and the Slugs, Johnny Ferriera and Swing Machine, Farmer’s Daughter, and Gary Fjellgaard are some of the many recording artists he has worked with.
Shawn has also appeared in front of the camera many times in music videos and as a drummer in musical variety shows and film productions. He recently played John Denver’s drummer in the ABC Movie of the Week, “The John Denver Story”. Also he was John Savage's Stand-in and Photo Double for the TV Series "Dark Angel"Shawn has expanded his skills as a graphic designer and editor and now has produced numerous promotional videos for other bands. He also is webmaster for The Hitmen site.
Rachael Chatoor is a singer / songwriter / performer who was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Often a storyteller for causes, Rachael's song (name of song?) has been donated to several Breast Cancer fundraising efforts, concerts, videos and websites, as well as included on a world-wide CD release for "Stupid Cancer", one of Time Magazine's top websites of 2007.
Besides performing with The Hitmen, Rachael works in many capacities on all types of shows: she performs solo at wine receptions for Canada Screens (exclusive pre-screening of Canadian Films), at the Merrit Mountain Music festival, and at charity functions and event openings; she headlines her own band at the Great Canadian Casino lounges; she has found a home with the Vancouver chapter of the League of Rock, where non-pro musicians can check out of the daily grind once a week to rehearse, record, and rock onstage; and several times a year, she works in a project that goes into schools and prepares children to sing with Holly Arntzen & her Dream Band in concerts aimed at understanding and preserving our eco-system.
Also an avid hobby videographer, Rachael can be found filming and editing grassroots videos with fellow singer and dear friend, country recording artist Kelly Brock, for "Kelly & Rach's All Access Pass", in which the girls share a world of backstage and behind-the-scenes activities from the world of music.
Rachael uses her blog to document the wonderful opportunites she enjoys while working as a professional singer in Vancouver, and she uses it as a vehicle to deliver her videos to her audience.
To learn more, visit http://rachaelpachel.blogspot.com
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