Electa & Gunfire
Biography
On Feb. 26th 1988 in the city of Wageningen NL a baby girl was born by the name of Antoinette Maria Johanna Electa Thomassen. But the baby with the long name was on the move. She first lived in Driel NL and then moved to Veenendaal NL where she lives today with her mother, father and sister Angelique. This baby was to become Electa Winter, country singer extraordinaire. Electa claims she chose her stage name Winter because she was born in the dead of winter however some think she may have chosen that name because there would not be enough rome on a CD for her full name. At the age of eight Electa auditioned for a youth choir called The Willy B-Kids. Even though she was a year too young for the choir because of her singing ability she was accepted. Electa was not one to rest on her laurels. She wanted more then the choir could offer and the result was a solo career. Her inspiration for this solo career came when she heard a country band play "Grandpa", a song "The Judds" made famous. However Electa also had other things that inspired her, such as a father that likes to write country music and who is now her manager. In 1997 things started to happen for Electa. In that year she started to perform in English and this same year she entered her first Dutch singing contest in Tolbert (Gr) and won second prize in competition against adults. She knew then what she wanted in life and set out in pursuit of her dream. In April 1998 she won an incentive prize in a Dutch singing contest in The Hoeve NL but that was still not enough for this young rising star. She also won a first and third prize in singing competitions in Rhederburg (Gr) and Borculo (Gld). Since then Electa has won too many contests to count. Electa's favorite festival is across the boarder in Germany. It's called the Ellie Brandler country festival in Alphen-Drupt. This festival has been a boon for Electa's career. From there she played venues in neighboring countries like Belgium. You can find Electa in Belgium at the country and western association in Meulbeke where Jan Vermeersch is the owner of this western town / museum. Electa is there every August and in the summer of 2000 she was named as a guest of honour of Wichita, Belgium. In 1999 Electa received a nice present on her birthday. It was the release of her first CD that she had recorded in July 1988 "On Her Own Country Road". 1998 was a turning point in Electa's career. While performing at the Zevenbergen Festival, organized by John Melissen, she met producers from the USA. Even though Electa was only ten years old she was invited to America for the year 2000. Apart from TV appearences, numerous radio shows with Rob Stenders and Eric Dikeb on Radio 3 FM in Holland she still has time to follow her hobbies of line dancing, drawing, painting, playing the guitar and of course travelling which is a great hobby if you are an upcoming country singer. Under the guidance of her father Electa's career is running smooth and he makes sure she has the time for friends and being a kid, even if there are times that Electa is impatient to do more and wants to get going. Watch for this young rising star on TV, Radio or a Record near you!
Tobi Zeller
Tobi Zeller: Geboren 1974 in Freiburg im Breisgau und wohnhaft in Karlsruhe. Tobi ist seit 1986 Schlagzeuger und spielt seit Jahren mit grosser Hingabe Country-Rock! 1997 absolvierte er ein Studium an der Berufsfachschule für Musik in Dinkelsbühl im Bereich Pop- und Rockmusik und hatte Schlagzeugunterricht bei Prof. Udo Dahmen (bis 2000). Von 2002 bis 2005 war er festes Mitglied bei "Doug Adkins & One More Ride". Mit dieser Band absolvierte er z.B. Gastauftritte als Side- Man von R. B. Stone, Katja Kaye und Anderen. Neben Electa und Gunfire ist sein neustes Projekt die ToTo-Coverband "Fahrenheit99" aus Karlsruhe. Tobi Zeller Born in 1974 in Freiburg in Breisgau and lives in Karlsruhe. Tobi is a drummer since 1986, and plays Country-Rock, with passion, for years now. In 1997, he finished a study at the “Berufsfachschule” (school) for music in Dinkelsbühl in the range of Pop- and Rock music, where he was taught how to play the drums by Prof. Udo Dahmen (until 2000).From 2002 until 2005 he was a solid member of the group “Doug Adkins & One More Ride”. With this band he did, for example, performances as a Sideman from R. B. Stone, Katja Kaye and others. Next to “Electa & Gunfire”, his newest project is the ToTo-Coverband called “Fahrenheit99” from Karlsruhe.
Born in 1974 in Freiburg in Breisgau and lives in Karlsruhe. Tobi is a drummer since 1986, and plays Country-Rock, with passion, for years now. In 1997, he finished a study at the “Berufsfachschule” (school) for music in Dinkelsbühl in the range of Pop- and Rock music, where he was taught how to play the drums by Prof. Udo Dahmen (until 2000).From 2002 until 2005 he was a solid member of the group “Doug Adkins & One More Ride”. With this band he did, for example, performances as a Sideman from R. B. Stone, Katja Kaye and others. Next to “Electa & Gunfire”, his newest project is the ToTo-Coverband called “Fahrenheit99” from Karlsruhe.
Martin Schmidt
Martin Schmidt: Geboren 1970. Ab dem 12. Lebensjahr klassischer Gitarrenunterricht. Erste Bands mit 17, Auftritte im Rhein Main Gebiet. Von 1991–1996 Studium an der Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt FMW, Abschluß als "Staatlich geprüfter Berufsmusiker und Instrumentalpädagoge für Jazz und Popularmusik". Seit dem 21. Lebensjahr Unterrichtstätigkeit an verschiedenen Musikschulen in den Fächern Gitarre, Ensemblespiel und Harmonielehre. Live Auftritte im gesamten Bundesgebiet mit den Bands MARTIN SCHMIDT BAND, DR. BLUES & THE HIP REPLACEMENTS, LILY OF THE VALLEY u.a. Tätigkeit als Journalist für deutsche und internationale Musikmagazine (Vintage Guitar News, Blues News, Pipeline, Onlinezine, Banzai, Soundcheck). Martin SchmidtBorn in 1970. Eversince he was 12 years old, he had classic guitar lessons. At the age of 17, he played in bands for the first time, and had performances at the Rhein Main Gebiet. From 1991 until 1996, he studied at the Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt (FMW), and got his diploma for “nationally examined professional musician and instrumental pedagogue for jazz and popular music”. Since the age of 21, he teaches at different music schools in the subject’s guitar, ensemble play and harmony teachings. He performs live in the whole “Bundesgebiet” with the following bands; Martin Schmidt Band, Dr. Blues & The Hip Replacements, Lily Of The Valley, and others. He also is active as a journalist for German and International music magazines. (Vintage Guitar News, Blues News, Pipeline, Onlinezine, Banzai, and Soundcheck).
Born in 1970. Eversince he was 12 years old, he had classic guitar lessons. At the age of 17, he played in bands for the first time, and had performances at the Rhein Main Gebiet. From 1991 until 1996, he studied at the Frankfurter Musikwerkstatt (FMW), and got his diploma for “nationally examined professional musician and instrumental pedagogue for jazz and popular music”. Since the age of 21, he teaches at different music schools in the subject’s guitar, ensemble play and harmony teachings. He performs live in the whole “Bundesgebiet” with the following bands; Martin Schmidt Band, Dr. Blues & The Hip Replacements, Lily Of The Valley, and others. He also is active as a journalist for German and International music magazines. (Vintage Guitar News, Blues News, Pipeline, Onlinezine, Banzai, and Soundcheck).
Kai Bauer
Kai Bauer: War schon von frühester Jugend an ein großer Rock ´n´Roll-, Blues- und Country-Fan. Holte sich Inspiration von Künstlern wie Ricky Nelson, Guy Mitchell, Elvis aber auch Duke Ellington oder Elmore James. So entdeckte er den Kontra- und Elektrischen Bass als Instrument für sich. Es folgten viele nationale und internationale Bands und diverse Studio-Jobs. Daraus resultierten Happenings mit folgenden Künstlern: Hannes Bauer (Udo Lindenberg + Das Panikorchester), Jürgen "Mob" Böttcher (Rogau Monotones), Doug Adkins, R. B. Stone und vielen Anderen. Kai Bauer He already was a big Rock ‘n ‘Roll-, Blues- and Country-fan, in his youth. He got inspired by Artists like Ricky Nelson, Guy Ritchie, Elvis but also Duke Ellington or Elmore James. This is the way he discovered the Contra- and Electric Bass as an instrument for himself. He appeared in a lot of national and international bands, and did many studio-jobs. As a result there were big happenings with the following artists:Hannes Bauer (Udo Lindenberg + Das Panikorchester), Jürgen „Mob“ Böttcher (Rogau Monotones), Doug Adkins, R. B. Stone and many others.
Andi Knapp
Andi Knapp: War bisher in fast allen musikalischen Richtungen tätig, tourte mitverschiedenen Bands durch Deutschland und andere europäische Länder. Auch TV- Werbejingle- und Schallplattenproduktionen (u.a. mit Eddie Constantine) gehören in seinen Tätigkeitsbereich. Einige Jahre lang spielte er fast ausschließlich Bass (auch fretless). Seit etwa 9 Jahren beschäftigt er sich leidenschaftlich mit Countrymusik und ist auch in dieser Szene ein gefragter „Sideman“. Andi Knapp Until now, he was active in almost all kinds of music directions. He toured with several bands in Germany and other European countries. Also TV-, advertising jingle-, and record-productions (among other things with Eddie Constantine), are part of his field of activities. He played almost strictly Bass (also fretless), for a couple of years. The past 9 years he plays country music passionately, and also in that music scene he is a frequently requested “Sideman”.
