Billy Hanson

Billy has been singing for many, many years. His love of music was nurtured at his childhood home in Ironton, MN. There was always some sort of country music playing at home on the radio or CD player. Billy played the saxophone all through elementary and high school. He also was always part of the choir in school. Billy was the recipient of the National School Choral Award and Louis Armstrong Jazz award as a high school senior. Billy always wanted the chance to perform the country music he grew up on. Shortly after high school he started playing in a house band comprised of family members. His dad, Bill, played bass and sang. His mother, Gayle, sang and backed up on harmony vocals. His Brother Curt and Ryan took turns on the drum set and his sister Anna sang some leads as well.

Billy has played in many bands to this date. He was a saxophone player in a ska band called Krabelrasser, Fishbean and Schtoltz. The group didn’t have the commercial success it was looking for, but it was a really fun group to be with. Since then he has been in many country bands around the Twin Cities including Iron Horse, Canyon Cowboys, Unbroken, NuWaves and now ANR.

ASHLIE KEITH

Ashlie Keith has been singing since the age of two. Since her mom was a children's choir director and her dad played in a band, it was no surprise that music was in her blood. She sang all the way through college and just never stopped. She now joins Billy Hanson on lead vocals for ANR, and the harmony they've achieved after a decade of singing together is literally 'music to the ears'! Ashlie is also is maintaining the family's musical legacy by handing down that passion to her own children. Her oldest son, Spencer, sings for one of the premier university male choruses in the U.S.--and occasionally sits in with ANR, where he joins his mother in beautiful harmony. Her youngest daughter, Caroline, has sung in church choirs, middle school musicals, and will soon be joining the same Bloomington MN show choir group her mother performed with, as a high schooler. Whether Ashlie is harmonizing in her church worship band, singing at weddings, or watching her own children perform on stage, Ashlie loves the transformative way music touches lives. The camaraderie she has found in her ANR bandmates has certainly touched her own.

Dave Young

Dave was fortunate to be born into a family of musicians. As the youngest of five kids, there were many influences that led him to his love of music. Dave’s dad favored jazz guitar and his mom was an exceptionally accomplished pianist. Dave also had three older brothers and a sister, who each played guitar or keys. There was no shortage of encouragement or role models. However, more than their musicianship, it was their choice of music that had the most influence on Dave, and there was no band more influential than the Beatles.

Dave started piano lessons at the age of seven, where he had his first experience performing in front of an audience. He was terrified! Shortly thereafter, he followed his older brothers and switched to guitar. Dave started playing in garage bands and unpaid gigs at the skating rink, at school and even a hospital. By age 13, Dave was playing at the local VFW, bars, and hotels with musicians more than twice his age, playing a mixture of pop, rock, country. His hair grew long and rock & roll was his passion. Dave recalls with great fondness playing in a local band named Buster Foyte, where he joined his late brother Bill on dueling guitars.

When Dave was 20, he joined the Air Force, but his passion for music never wavered. He played in a series of local bands with stints on six-string, bass, keyboards, and backup vocals. One thing remained consistent as he traveled through life—his collaboration and friendships with other musicians. Today, Dave professes, “I have the honor and good fortune of performing with five extremely talented musicians and vocalists. We call ourselves ANR”

Wade Baron

Wade grew up in Canada listening to Rush and Led Zepplin. He started playing guitar when he was 14 years old and soon was playing in bands with his Gibson Les Paul and Marshall amp just like his hero's Alex Lifeson and Jimmy Page. In the early 80's he played full time in a 'big hair' band, playing 6 nights of the week in bars throughout Western Canada.

A few decades later and Wade still has a love for Gibson Les Pauls and playing classic rock and blues but with a lot less hair. He currently enjoys listening to various musical styles ranging from Pink Floyd to Diana Krall.

Joe Salato

Joe started playing the drums as soon as his foot could reach the bass drum pedal on his Dad’s Sonor kit (age 6). His father, Louis Salato, played in a popular 4-piece band in upstate NY in the 1960’s. In addition to his Dad’s tutelage, Joe also took lessons throughout school and at Speno’s music store, located in Auburn NY. During his time spent in NY, Joe’s involvement in sports didn’t leave much time for music, however he did play in a few garage bands and sat in on the skins for an occasional private event before, relocating to Minnesota.

In Minnesota, Joe met Ashlie and Billy at an elementary school, where all three had children. The trio formed a band to help raise money for the school’s STEM initiative in 2010. After a few more benefit events, the band grew when Billy and Joe met Dave and Wade at a Mad Dog Open Mic night in Bloomington. The rest is history.

Other than his dad, Joe’s other drumming influences are: John Bonham, Ringo Starr, Neal Peart, Buddy Rich and Phil Collins.