Bennie & The Jets

^{Greg Ransom began playing the piano at 10 years old.  Thanks to a piano instructor with a slanttowards Rock, Greg’s interest in playing piano ran through high school,learning Theory, Harmony I and II, Stage band, and Madrigal singers.  Whilein High School, Greg and his classmates formed a band they called ‘TheAwakening.’  They opened for local MTVBasement Band-winners The Breakdown at Central High School 's Halloween danceand played a dance at Springfield's private MacDuffie School. Their big hit wasa song called "Swashbuckler," a catchy gospel-inspired pop song.  Other crowd favorites were a blues song Gregco-wrote called "McPherson Avenue" and an evergreen ballad called"Serenade."}

^{At age 21, Greg was playing piano in a downtown hotel barwhen the owner of the hotel requested an Elton John song.  Greg played “I Guess That’s Why They Call ItThe Blues.” The hotel owner approached him afterwards and told him he soundedlike Elton vocally, and that he should consider putting on the hat and glassesand forming a tribute band.  By 1995,Bennie and the Jets were formed with Greg Ransom on piano and vocals, DanMoraski on guitar and backing vocals, Bob Lilja on drums and backing vocals,and Ken Walpurgis on bass.  They playedtwo local gigs in the Springfield area before receiving a call from anationally known entertainment broker who needed an Elton band, so Greg senthim a tape.  From that day forward Bennieand the Jets became an international touring act. Bob Lilja was soon replacedwith Steve Lawton on drums and backing vocals and Ken Walpurgis was replacedwith Mike Gibbs on bass and backing vocals. This remains their current line-up. Bennie and the Jets has performedaround the world for a wide variety of venues. Bennie and the Jets would loveto perform for you.}

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