ABOUT US

Ian grew up on Stax/Volt and Atlantic R&B and gospel records and thought if he tried hard enough he could sing like Otis Redding and play like Pop Staples.  Failing that he formed a 80’s LA band The Naughty Sweeties, recorded 3 albums and played around the country with a variety of acts including Tom Petty, X, The Blasters, Tina Turner and John Cougar Mellencamp.  He quit writing and singing music outside the family for 20 years until Thads.

Hunter comes from a musical family in Texas. He was raised on equal parts rock and roll, Tejano, and rhythm and blues. He is fortunate to have performed with many of his influences including Archie Bell, Roy Head, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, John Fogerty, and Billy F. Gibbons.

Nolan was born in northern California, and moved to Los Angeles on the seventh hour on the seventh day after his seventh birthday. It was in Los Angeles where he began playing guitar and studying music. A Berklee College of Music Alumni, he has released a self-titled EP, and a full-length album called “Businessman” with the band “Albert,” which features many musicians of the Thad’s community.

Angelo Francois is a believer in the love and deliverance of Christ and also a singer, writer, poet, rapper, producer and percussionist. Angelo has been involved in music for a total of about 20 years. As a solo artist, in 2012 Angelo released a Hip Hop album called, “Falling To Peace is”. Angelo is a singer and drummer in 4 worship groups and is currently the lead percussionist in the band Welcome Home.

Koren is a “gringa con corazón latino.” Born into a musical family, early influences included cowboy tunes, folk rock, and spiritual’s. She found her own muses while studying and playing Brazilian music in Rio and dancing in the LA salsa scene. Koren has sang and played keys since she was a kid and picked up congas in her 20s. She has been in numerous bands ranging from garage to legit, funky Latin to 1950s to the ever evolving, ever inspiring Thad’s ensemble.

Mike Coulter was raised Kansas City where he learned from some of the greats. As a live sound engineer at The Grand Emporium, he worked with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Cliff and Harry Connick Jr just to name a few. He then relocated to Los Angeles where he has been composing and producing music for television, film and multimedia as a part of a partnership called Confidence Head. Mike has had the great honor of performing and recording with the Thads musicians in many different projects over the years and is proud to be a part of Gospel Americana.

Johnny Sneed was born in Japan, and raised in Gulfport, MS. He attended college at the University of Texas at Austin, and Law School at the University of Mississippi. Since 2001, Johnny has lived in Los Angeles as an actor, drummer, and photographer.  He can be seen acting in commercials, TV, and movies.  His favorite role is Hal Blaine in the movie, “Love & Mercy”, about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. A memorable drumming experience happened in 2013, when Johnny and some other Thads musicians recorded songs at Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, NY, for the band ALBERT’s album “Businessman.” A few of Johnny’s favorite drummers are Levon Helm, Brian Blade, Jay Bellerose, Billy Martin, Tony Allen and Elvin Jones.