HOT RODS AND HIGH HEELS

"THE BAND"

Meet the people who help make the magic happen!

Hot Rod HIgh Heels Girls

THE girls

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Hot Rod HIgh Heels The band
Hot Rod HIgh Heels The boys

THE boys

Portraits of people from around the globe
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THE BAND

Jonathan Headshot
Jim Hot Rods and High Heels
Anthony Hot Rods and High Heels

Dino Strunk

Known as a 30-plus-year veteran of the Branson, Mo. music scene as well as in Nashville, TN, Dino got his start singing professionally at the ripe old age of 4 years old. He was born and raised on a farm in Taylorville, IL., where he graduated from high school. As a child, Dino toured the Midwest and southern states during the summer fair season and other times while not in school. He also did several recordings based out of Nashville, TN. Mostly self-taught, Dino started playing guitar at the age of 6, and by age 10 he was proficient at playing 11 different instruments. The guitar was his calling, though. And it wasn’t long until he was in demand as a guitarist with many bands and on many shows in the Central Illinois area. After graduation from High School, he moved to Osage Beach, Mo., to work on various shows in that area. This led to him being noticed by several entertainers involved in nearby Branson, Mo’s booming show scene. After 6 years he made the move to Branson, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Dino has worked alongside countless major country music acts, including Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, TG Shepherd, Hank Thompson, Barbara Fairchild, and many more. Shows include “Pierce Arrow”, “The Dalena Show”, “The Brumley Show”, “The Branson Brothers”, “Roy Roger’s Jr”, “Alabama Revival”, “Joe Diffie-Live”,“Doug Gabriel Show”, “Mike Walker’s CONWAY Tribute Show” Wrangler's Star-Studded Honky Tonk, and many others. Dino has also had the honor of being voted “Branson’s Guitarist Of The Year” a remarkable 8 times and was also a part of the world-renowned “International Steel Guitar Convention” where he held the position of “staff guitarist”. He also stays quite busy in the recording industry. From country and blues to jazz, western swing, classic rock, soul, and pop…if it’s guitar playing you need, Dino can provide! And he still sings a great song, too! These days, you can catch Dino performing on the Hot Rods & High Heels show at The Clay Cooper Theater in Branson, Mo., as well as the Great American Chuck Wagon Dinner show at Shepherd Of The Hills.

Anthony Walter

Anthony Walter was born and raised in the Branson, Missouri area and started hitting the skins at 3 years old. Coming from a musical background his father helped him get his start playing in Honky Tonks at a young age. Anthony has played with multiple artists and acts including Johnny Lee, Shoji Tabuchi, Mickey Gilley and many others. In his spare time Anthony likes to go camping, fishing, and just all around adventuring.

Jim Garstang

Jim Garstang‘s résumé reads like a Who’s Who of the music business. He’s been playing piano professionally for over 50 years, starting with the Southern Gospel group Dixie Echoes. He performed with some of the top gospel quartets, including two years with the most award-winning gospel group of all time, the Cathedral Quartet.
After moving to Nashville, he spent two years playing on the road with Leroy Van Dyke before becoming pianist for Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tilis. He worked for Mel for over 30 years until the end of Mel’s and prestigious music career. 
Jim has also worked with Bobby Vinton and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Ray Price and The Platters,
Jim is currently performing with hot rod and high heels at Clay Cooper Theatre, Ozark Gospel and Ozarks Country at Grand Country Theatre, and cowboy church at God and Country Theatre. 
He has played on countless recordings and recently started producing recordings for various artists, primarily Southern Gospel.

Jim Garstang

Jim Garstang‘s résumé reads like a Who’s Who of the music business. He’s been playing piano professionally for over 50 years, starting with the Southern Gospel group Dixie Echoes. He performed with some of the top gospel quartets, including two years with the most award-winning gospel group of all time, the Cathedral Quartet.
After moving to Nashville, he spent two years playing on the road with Leroy Van Dyke before becoming pianist for Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tilis. He worked for Mel for over 30 years until the end of Mel’s and prestigious music career. 
Jim has also worked with Bobby Vinton and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Ray Price and The Platters,
Jim is currently performing with hot rod and high heels at Clay Cooper Theatre, Ozark Gospel and Ozarks Country at Grand Country Theatre, and cowboy church at God and Country Theatre. 
He has played on countless recordings and recently started producing recordings for various artists, primarily Southern Gospel.

jonathan black

Jonathan Black was born in Jasper, Alabama, and is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He moved to Branson in 1995 to perform with Barbara Fairchild. Jonathan has since performed with Lost in the 50’s, Stuck on the 70’s, Cowboys Heroes and Friends with Canadian artist Eli Barsi, The Buck Trent Morning Show, The Baldknobbers Jamboree, Grand Gospel Jubilee, Grand Country Jubilee Sunday Show, The 70’s Music Celebration starring Barry Williams, Billy Dean, Hot Rods & High Heels, Dean Z The Ultimate Elvis, and #1 Hits Of The 60’s. In 2017 he joined the band of Clay Cooper’s Country Express playing saxophone and keyboard. He was awarded 2016 Branson’s Best Keyboard Player Terry Award and 2011 Critic’s Choice Best Keyboard Player of the Year. In his spare time, Jonathan practices martial arts. He is in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2010 for Outstanding Martial Artist and won 2012 Black Belt of the Year.

mark evans

Mark Evans is originally from Sandpoint, Idaho. At only 16 years old, Barbara Mandrell hired him as the bass player for her show, and he performed the Grand Ole Opry with her. Mark later toured with Johnny Paycheck and then decided to take a break from performing. He worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, Bristol Bay, and Southeast for halibut, salmon, and shrimp. He later came to Branson and performed in several shows in town including 50’s At the Hop, Breakfast with the Classics, Moe Bandy, Barbara Mandrell, Barry Williams 70’s Show, and now Clay Cooper’s Country Express. He has also played with Kathy Mattea, Red Simpson, Nat Stucky, George Jones, Billy Dean, and the Edgar Winter Band. When he isn’t working, he enjoys taking long walks, fishing, and spending time with his beautiful girls, Madison and Shelby.