"Lieutenant Dan" is the character Gary portrayed in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, a role for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. And so the name for his group was an easy choice: Lt. Dan Band! Along with his Lt. Dan Band, Sinise has performed hundreds of concerts on numerous USO/Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) tours.
While serving as a combat engineer in Vietnam, Kimo performed in a band that traveled to remote fighting areas, often setting up their drums and amps in the deep jungle mud with their music at times competing with artillery. Kimo, who co-founded the Lt. Dan Band with Gary Sinise, is also a composer who uses music to speak from the deepest part of his soul. He has said, “Music is the conduit to the hearts of people”.
A Singer/Songwriter Gina has been on the music scene for almost twenty years. She has traveled all over the world as a member of the Lt. Dan Band and wrote the heartfelt song, “A Letter Home” which is featured in the movie.
Mari Anne Jayme (pronounced “high-me”) has been touring the world with The Lt.Dan Band since 2004. Mari has performed with renowned jazz artists George Duke, Bunky Green, the late Joe Williams, Maureen McGovern, Carl Allen, and Kenny Werner.
Julie had her first taste of the stage at age 5 singing with her mom's band, and then performed on Star Search when she was 15. She later attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC and toured Europe in the Musical, “Hair”.
Jeff is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/actor/dancer, originally from Chicago, now residing in Los Angeles. Over the last fifteen years he's performed literally hundreds of times with numerous bands from Chicago and L.A.
A veteran of the Chicago jazz scene, Kirk honed his skills in the United States Air Force Band. After leaving the Air Force, Kirk has appeared with Clay Aiken, Michael Bolton, Aretha Franklin, Steve and Eydie Gorme, Herbie Hancock, Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Michael W. Smith, Barry White, Joe Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, The Four Freshman, The Temptations, and more.
Saxophonist/composer Mitch Paliga is originally from the small town of Libby Montana but has made the Chicago area his home since 1990. Mitch has performed with Randy Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta, Kimotion, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Temptations, Marie Osmond, Bob Newhart, and Victor Kraus and is honored to be a member of the Lt. Dan Band.
Danny is one of the most popular drummers in jazz and contemporary music. While best known as a founding member of the original Pat Metheny Group, during the past 30 years, Danny has recorded or performed with Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Gil Evans, Sting; John Mclaughlin, Gary Burton, Booker T and The MG's, Bobby Rydell, Dr. John, and many more. Danny has been featured on over 300 recordings to date, including 4 Grammy Award Winners, and has been a member of the Lt. Dan Band since 2005.
Beth is an internationally recognized performer, teacher, clinician, and soloist, whose experience covers the entire musical spectrum. She has performed and/or recorded with the Disney Company, Andy Williams, Henry Mancini, Peabo Byrson, Celine Dion, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Natalie Cole, Shirley Jones, Tony Bennett, Sandi Patti, Roger Williams, Carol Channing, Kansas, Milton Berle, Henny Youngman, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Victor Wooten, Muriel Anderson, Johnny Mathis, and many more.
Ernie is proud to be one of the original members of The Lt. Dan Band, with whom he has performed for some of the largest and most receptive audiences and seen more of the world than he ever had in his lengthy career. Ernie has recorded or played live with Richard Marx, Dennis DeYoung, Sheila Jordan, Von Freeman, Terry Callier, Dave Valentin, Bobby Hart, Airto Moreira, Howard Levy, Darryl Jones, Liquid Soul, Ira Sullivan, Paul Wertico, Victor Bailey and many other musical artists.
Ben, an original member of the Lt. Dan Band, is an eighteen-year veteran of the Chicago music scene. He has performed and recorded with numerous artists, including vocalists Jackie Allen, Grazyna Auguscik, drummer Vinnie Calieuta and saxophonist Steve Cole, among others. He has toured as a Jazz Ambassador to West Africa and East Asia.
