Christian James Hand is a British musician, music producer, radio personality, and voice-over artist. Born in Tittensor, Stoke-On-Trent, England on January 27th, 1969, his family then moved to Botswana, Africa. In 1976 the family returned to the UK and lived in London until re-locating to Port Jefferson, Long Island.

Hand attended The State University of New York at Purchase (Purchase State College). While there he was instrumental in revamping its college radio station, WPUR (now WPSR). Upon graduation from Purchase State University, Hand was offered a job touring with P.M. Dawn part as of the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) Festival with Peter Gabriel. His official title was drum technician, although he was originally hired as a lighting tech, and he also acted as ad-hoc Stage Manager.

After returning from the tour, and unwilling to spend his life out on the road, Christian started work with British hip‐hop Label, Gee Street Records, as an A&R (artists & repertoire) assistant. In 1993, he went on to become the Stage Manager for The Gravediggaz while they toured together with Public Enemy, Gangstarr, Ice Cube. Korn, and Biohazard, amongst others. At the insistence of producer Prince Paul he was given the moniker “MC Skullcap” and performed with The Gravediggaz in place of RZA on part of their European tour.

Disillusioned with life in the Major Labels Christian left Gee Street and took on the job of managing the local live venue in Port Chester, 7 Willow Street. While there he was responsible for helping book such acts as Soul Coughing, Face To Face, The Bogmen, The Goo Goo Dolls, and many others before they went on to national acclaim. It was also during his tenure at the club that he met the Street Team from the local Alternative radio station, X-107. He soon quit 7 Willow Street and joined on at X-107 in the role of Promotions Assistant.

In the winter of 1995 there was a re-shuffle of the air-staff at the station and he through his name into the hat to become the overnight DJ. He was hired within hours of delivering his demo and went on-the-air in the overnight slot using the name “Chase.” He was then promoted to afternoon drive after a few months and also began working with Mike Savage on the groundbreaking electronica show, “X107 Hardhouse.” When the WRGX changed format to country, he transferred across the nation to sister station Y107 (KLYY) in Los Angeles. Unfortunately the name “Chase” also came with him to LA.

When Y-107 flipped format Hand joined Sirius/XM’s “Faction” channel as the Night Time DJ, initially using the name “Debbie Hernandez”, as well as afternoons on “Alt Nation.” He would also contribute to the Jason Ellis Show on occasion. It was during this time that Hand and Ellis came up with the hugely popular ”Naked Vocals” segment, where only the vocal parts to a classic rock song are isolated and played over the air.

After leaving Sirius/XM Hand took the segment and expanded upon it as guest on the Mark In The Morning Show on KSWD 100.3 The Sound. He introduced the host and co‐hosts to Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine”, breaking it down to all of its individual tracks, not just the vocals. It soon became a fixture of the show and Hand would continue to be a guest on the morning show doing these music dissections. He then joined with Andy Chanley to become the co-host of the, short-lived, Andy In The Afternoon Show. During this time he started to do live music breakdowns called “The Sound Sessions at Swing House” once a month. These continue to occur and routinely sell-out with an audience of 200 in attendance.

It was with Hand’s dissection of Toto’s Rosanna that he received national attention from Guitar World magazine’s website. He was given his own one hour show on 100.3 The Sound titled “If You Like That” that appeared Sunday nights at 9:00pm. The concept was to introduce listeners to new music by coupling it with a similar sounding classic rock song from an established artist. An idea that hadn’t been heard before. Many listeners considered it the best hour of radio on the station.

Today, Christian can be heard on Monday mornings at the legendary 95.5 KLOS, where his 20 minute segment, The Session, teams him up with Frosty, Heidi and Frank.

He continues to expand his live shows beyond the Los Angeles area, having traveled to Texas and Ireland recently. There are also future “Sessions” planned at NAMM and The Grammy Museum.

He also still finds time to produce music, among the artists and groups he has produced are The Mowgli’s, Alexa Melo, The Jet Morgans, The Absolute, Analog Saint, and Mark Mackay, along with many others. His greatest joy is not having to make records for the Majors anymore.

Originally from the Chicago area, Emerson Swinford is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, composer/songwriter and producer. He is currently a touring and studio guitarist for Rod Stewart. His guitar work can be heard on much of the 2015 album release by Stewart, called Another Country on which he also has bass, vocals, and co-writing credit. It has achieved platinum sales status in the UK. He also played guitar and co-wrote on the 2013 album Time, which also went to number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and has reached Double Platinum sales status there. Time went to number 7 on the US Billboard chart. Emerson was also the musical director and touring guitarist for Tony award-winning actress and singer Idina Menzel, famous for her roles in Disney's Frozen, Broadway's Wicked, Rent and the TV show "Glee."

Emerson composed the theme and under-score music for the hit comedy Hot in Cleveland, along with co-composer Ron Wasserman. Their work won them 2011, 2012 and 2014 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards. Emerson also co-wrote the theme and under-score music on the TV Land network comedy series The Soul Man (TV series) and Retired at 35. Additionally he has had many TV and film song placements including songs on MTV/"The Hills", "Pimp My Ride", " The Ghost Whisperer", and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Emerson is a co-writer of the hit single "Barenaked" for actress and singer Jennifer Love Hewitt.

As a session guitarist, Emerson has recorded with a diverse roster of artists such as Rod Stewart, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Delerium, Paul Oakenfold, Liz Phair, Jim McGorman, P.J. Olsson, Fisher (band), Kimberly Locke, Natalie Cole, Kenny G, Robbie Nevil, Dianne Warren and many others, as well as performing on the soundtracks for the movies Just Like Heaven, Planet of the Apes (2001) and "Power Rangers." His guitar work is also featured on several national TV commercial spots including "St. Ives" and "Coors Light."

On Stage

Kenny Aronoff is a member of the John Fogerty Band (singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer of the original Creedence Clearwater Revival band). He also records and tours with Heaven and Earth. Kenny has recorded and toured with Fogerty for 22 years and with the BoDeans for 26 years, when not working with John Fogerty. He is a member of Supersonic Blues Machine, a world-touring super group that features artists like Billy Gibbons, Walter Trout, Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Warren Haynes and Eric Gales. He recorded their first record in his home studio, Uncommon Studios, and he has been touring with them in Europe and the USA.

Kenny has his own band called “Kenny and Friends” who performs in LA at the famous jazz club, The Baked Potato. Kenny has recently performed as the drummer for all artists at special tribute events like John Lennon’s 75th Birthday Concert in NYC, MusiCare’s honoring Bob Dylan in LA, the Dr. John tribute in New Orleans, the Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman in Atlanta, and a tribute in Los Angeles honoring the Beatles 50th year anniversary of their performance on the Ed Sullivan Show “The Beatles: The Night That Changed America” where he performed with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Dave Grohl, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, John Mayer, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Jeff Lynn, and Danny Harrison. Recently, Kenny has played shows with Joan Jett, The Goo Goo Dolls, and STYX.

He also performed with two artists at the Grammy Awards with both The Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, and Blake Shelton) and Ringo Starr. He performed at the Kennedy Center Honors for seven consecutive years from 2008–2015 with artists like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, and many more.

Backstage with Kenny

What do John Mellencamp, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Sting, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Dave Grohl, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler, The Smashing Pumpkins, Meatloaf, B.B. King, Rod Stewart, and John Fogerty have in common?

All of these rock ‘n’ roll superstars have performed with Kenny Aronoff as their drummer, keeping the beat in the studio or on the road.

So how does one become such a sought-after drummer? It all began in 1964, when a young Kenny watched The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan show. He asked his Mom to call The Beatles because he wanted to play in their band. Little did he know that fifty years later he would get to perform onstage with Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as countless other professional musicians, during the CBS Special The Night That Changed America.

Before that lifetime achievement, Kenny began his rock career touring and performing with John Mellencamp for 17 years! When Mellencamp decided to take time off, Kenny was motivated to embark on his own. He fulfilled a lifelong goal–and became a sought-after session drummer, as well as a touring drummer.

Today, Kenny Aronoff spends his time touring, recording in the studio, and teaching people how to embrace adversity and gain confidence in their personal and professional lives. His life lessons, the stories, the music, and the adventure come to the stage with Kenny Aronoff–one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world!

Visit KennyAronoff.com to learn more!