Band Member Bios

Dan Lopa - Bass

Danny has been playing electric and acoustic bass for over 30 years. He has recorded with legendary artists such as Waylon Jennings and Matt guitar Murphy, and has performed with Papa Chubby, Ronnie Earl and Luther Jr. Guitar Johnson. He has recorded and toured with Antia Zembersum and the German group Spirit in Boston . Has Played with well known Rochester musicians in bands from Funk to Jazz, to R&B to Fusion, also had formed his own electric jazz band: Pocket Change. He has also done various fill in gigs from that range of music.
 
Danny has studied at the Berkeley and Eastman schools and also with Curtis Stovel, bass virtuoso. Currently Danny is a well sought private teacher and master to young bass players.
 
Playing and performing with The Stone Ojo Band has been a high point of my career.
 
Danny uses 1962 Fender Jazz, 64" Jazz and Pedulla fretless. MarkBass amplifiers + cabinets made in Italy.
 
KRISTEN SHINER-MCGUIRE - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
 
Kristen has been playing drums and percussion since the age of 9. She is known internationally as a drummer, percussionist, singer, composer, and teacher. Her credits range from playing drums and singing lead vocals in rock and jazz groups to performing with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Pan Gaia Steel Band, as well as for artists Johnny Mathis and Clark Terry.  Kristen currently performs with the Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble (www.maelstrompercussion.com) and the RPO Marimba Band.  She is the drummer and lead vocalist for two of Rochester 's finest bands- Elle, an all female jazz trio; and the premier rock/R and B/ funk group, Stone Ojo Band. (It is with Stone Ojo that Kristen proudly plays her Sleishman drum kit!).  Kristen has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica , and at various venues in St. Thomas , among others.
 
 Kristen Shiner McGuire is Coordinator of Percussion Studies at Nazareth College of Rochester, where she has taught since 1984. In 1998 she received the Excellence In Undergraduate Teaching Award.  She is an active performer and published composer: among her compositions are Juniper for solo marimba; and Celestial Welcome for percussion ensemble (Alfred Publishing) Declaration, Song, and Dance for solo timpani (Ludwig Music); and several pieces by Kendor Music for young percussionists.  Her drum set quartet, 'Dis Is How Her Songo, was composed in 2002 for the Women's Percussion Project is available from ReallyGoodMusic.com.
 
 Kristen has served on the Board of Directors for the international Percussive Arts Society; as Secretary for the Executive Council; and as New York Chapter President for PAS. She has published articles in Percussive Notes, The Instrumentalist, and School Music News, and has her own column in the latter.
 
 Kristen has recorded cd's with the Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble (Bank Shots), the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra,  Jon Seiger and The All Stars; A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, The Metropolitan Stompers, and The Pop Tarts, to name a few.
 
 As a clinician for Sleishman Drums, Mike Balter Mallets, Sabian Cymbals, and Regal Tip Calato sticks, Kristen performs and gives clinics throughout the U.S.    She resides in Rochester , NY with her husband and 2 stray animals. For more information, visit www.kristenshinermcguire.com.
 
 JACK NEELIN - Harmonica, Vocals
 
Jack picked up a harmonica when he was five years old.  Since then, he has been blowin' the harp and singing the blues throughout the U.S. and Canada- like his heart's been broken a thousand times.  Jack has recorded and shared the stage with some of Chicago's leading blues musicians such as Raful Neal's sons, James Cotton's band, and Chicago Blues review; not to mention a host of other regional and national musicians.
 
 Neelin has performed at the International Wine Festival and the Syracuse Blues Festival; and double billed with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Patrick Ford, and Howard and the White Boys.   Now Jack's powerful vocals and virtuosic harp solos make him the outstanding front man for Rochester 's hottest new classic rock and blues group, Stone Ojo Band.
 
 CRAIG SNYDER - Guitar, Vocals
 
Born in Pittsburgh , PA Craig began guitar study at 12 and did his first live gig at 16 performing up and down the east coast from New Hampshire to Florida .  Craig and his bands have opened for Frank Gambale, Chris Poland, Black Oak Arkansas, The Outlaws, Johnny Winter, Scott Henderson and Tribal Tech, Mike Stern, Lenny Stern, John Abercrombie, and Mick Goodrick; to name a few. He has also worked as a guitarist for the New York show series with the original Coasters Band and the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Centers version of Hello Dolly in their 2800 seat amphitheater.
 
 Craig has also been active in writing and recording original music from radio jingles to the new music on this site at small regional studios as well as large internationally recognized studios such as Dajhelon and Linden Oaks.  When not in the studio Craig is a popular Rochester area Guitar and bass instructor at Hochstein School of Music and Finger Lakes Community College as well as a highly regarded guitar technician/set up person.