Marnie Chastain


JOHN CHASTAIN-GUITARIST & VOCALIST A Tucsonan since 1955, John started playing guitar when he was five. At fifteen, his first band (The Chevells) began playing regularly a high school proms, private functions and frat parties. By nineteen he was teaching guitar at Seagondollar Music Store. He joined the Marines and formed a band with a fellow Marine and two Navy doctors while serving in Vietnam. His band was honored to perform at USO shows, military clubs and on hospital ships. They once opened a show for Bob Hope. Upon returning to Tucson in 1968 he joined a local rock band called The Poppies, led by Rusty Terry. They were successful at The Dunes in Tucson and at Mr. Lucky's in Phoenix and Denver. In 1974, John turned to country music and hooked up with Garry Rust and The Country Kings at The Maverick. Over the years John has had the privilege of working with such greats as Merle Haggard, Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Charlie Pride, Freddie Fender, Kevin Sharp, Collin Raye, and Diamond Rio. After leading his own band, The Chastain Gang and managing the entertainment at The Bar M Cattle Co. for several years, he decided to branch out and play practically every room, casino, honky tonk and resort in Tucson and the surrounding area. He ended up back at The Maverick for almost four years, where he met his wife Marnie and together they formed The Marnie Chastain Band.

BILL DINARDO-DRUMMER Bill's grandfather was a professional drummer who led his own dance band during the 1940s. There was always an old Slingerland drum set in the den at Bill's grandparents' house, and the drums have been part of his life for as long as he can remember. Bill started his first band in 1964 when he was ten years old, with a friend on acoustic guitar, another friend on trumpet, and Bill on snare drum. Their first rehearsal started with Bill saying he wanted to figure out "I'm Into Something Good" by Herman's Hermits and ended with looks of utter bewilderment. Not one to give up so easily, Bill continued to either form or join bands over the next thirty years. In Los Angeles, he worked with the progressive rock band Polar Bear ( think Yes meets Duke Ellington ) and the rockabilly band The Cool and the Crazy. In Tucson, Bill joined Jadi Norris and Overdrive, which was led by John Chastain. While working with this band at the Maverick in the late 1990s, Bill was fortunate to meet and work with Marnie. Bill is now currently working with The Marnie Chastain Band and The Jack Bishop Band. He is thrilled to be working with both Marnie and Jack at the Maverick.

KEITH CAUDILL-BASS & VOCALS BIO COMING SOON