Rob Schweifler
(Guitar / Vocals / Harmonica)
Rob started the Out of Control band in the early 1980s with Jeff Olsen, and in the 25 plus years of existence, opened for acts such as Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson and others.
Musical Influences: Sonny Boy Williamson, Beatles, Jeff O. Motown and Stax recording artists The King Brothers and Frank Zappa.
Stage Gear: includes a Fender Showmaster SE SSS and a Taylor 714 Acoustic and Line 6 Amps.
Bill Jeannot
(Lead guitar / Vocals)
Bill started playing in bands in 1965 as a drummer. After graduating from High School he sold his drums, moved to England and started studying the guitar. His musical influences are as numerous as they are varied. Having played in folk, country, rock, blues, top 40, R&B and soul bands for over 4 decades, Bill has earned the moniker of “Elder Statesman” in the West Michigan musical fraternity. Having played a one off show in an 8 piece horn band with Rob back around 2001, Bill has always hoped to recreate that powerhouse sound that a horn section brings to a band. Opportunity, timing and pure desire finally came together in February of 2008 and the Westside Soul Surfers were born.
Bill lives in Muskegon with his wife Lori where he continues his fight against global warming by brewing homemade wine. Asked how that helps, Bill replied, “I make fewer trips to the store now.”
Al Pepping
(Keyboard / Vocals)
Well. Bio time. I started out in junior high playing bass guitar and continued with that instrument until college. Then I got hooked on the sound of the Hammond organ and have been hooked ever since. I’ve had a Hammond B3 in one form or another since ‘72. I paid my way thru college twice around, doing bar gigs etc. I’m gonna bop till I drop……
Kristina Moore-Arnouts
(Vocals)
Grew up with a musical family including: Dad (Ron Arnouts) plays piano, harmonica, accordion and sings. My brother (Steve) plays drums, guitar and sings. Mom can sing but too shy.
While singing karaoke one night, Rich King approached me and said he wanted to start a band. Shortly afterwards the Little Sister band was formed and my brother played drums. I did that for about three years. I then sang with Alfonso Loera and Tim Turner playing various places.
After taking some time off, Tim and I started doing some gigs again, just the two of us. I am currently filling in for the Michelle Johnson of Down by One, as well as singing for Westside Soul Surfers. There is incredible talent in this group. I am having a great time and learning lots.
Greg Smith
(Bass / Vocals)
Greg started playing guitar at the age of 10, before switching over to bass in 1982. He has played in many bands, including Fat Natural, Trax, the Cedar Creek Band, Obligato, Phase I and Replay. He has opened for artists such as Rick Nelson, Bobby Bare, Richard Marx, Mitch Ryder, Steve Wariner and Shelly West. In his spare time, Greg likes to read and has a world-renowned sweet tooth. He also knows more rock and roll trivia than anyone in the band!
Todd Holle
(Baritone sax)
Todd has been playing various woodwind instruments since about 1958 . That may have been in the late Jurassic Period! He performs with groups as diverse as the Channel View Chamber Winds, the West Shore Concert Winds, and the Scottville Clown Band.
His recent rock/blues/pop experiences have included stints as saxophonist and backup vocalist with Six Foot Mary, the Bad Influence Blues Band, the Fifth Degree, and Rhythm Trip. He is also the former bass guitarist for the bands Martha Lidd, and the Lewis Whitehead Trio. As a vocalist, he has recently preformed with the White Lake Chorale, and while a student at Capital University he sang with the Chapel Choir and
Acapella Ensemble, which performed works of Gabrieli, Schutz, Bach, and others.
Todd lives with his wife Jeannine, son John, and ever vigilant golden retriever Brandi near Stony Lake. He works in the boat repair business in the White Lake area. His recreational interests include salmon and trout fishing, boating, and cooking up some hot pepper sauce.
Jim Beegle
(Trumpet / Vocals)
On trumpet is Jim Beegle, a classically trained jazz player, who tops off a powerful horn section. If you ask him if the glass is half full or half empty, he’s sure to drink it down and order a full one.
Dan Giacobassi
(Alto sax / Tenor sax / Soprano sax / Flute / Percussion)
Dan started singing in his mother’s church choirs as soon as he could walk and talk. He very enthusiastically chose to play flute at the age of 8 and followed his sister and brother into the world of professional music careers. Dan enjoyed the rich musical tradition and training of the Muskegon Public Schools and participated in a Blue Lake Fine Arts European tour. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education at WMU in Kalamazoo, MI and taught music for a couple of years. Dan started playing saxophone in his early 20’s. He states, “I can never, it seems, say no to music and have thus played in a huge variety of musical groups and situations: Classical, Jazz, Big Band, Celtic, Appalachian, Japanese, and South American folk music, Country, Tex-Mex/Tejano, Rock, Blues, Pop variety, and numerous recording sessions in California and Michigan.” Dan also spent a year playing Western music in Japan, while studying Japanese traditional and classical music. In 2008, the inability to say no has landed Dan with the Westside Soul Surfers.
Ed Spier
(Trombone / Misc.)
For Ed, the Westside Soul Surfers are the culmination of a lifelong search. Ever since he heard the groups Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Chase as an impressionable young music student, he has longed to play in a rock and roll band with horns. His musical journey has been long and varied, with stints as a trombone player or bassist in many bands, including symphonic bands, polka bands, country bands, pit orchestras, and many, many, MANY different big bands. He is one of the co-founders of the Truth in Jazz Orchestra (www.tijo.org) which has been performing in the West Michigan area with great success for the past five years. In his spare time, Ed runs and spends a lot of time on the computer doing nerdy things that cause people to make fun of him.
Steve Arnouts
(Drums)
I got my first drum set at age 6 and I was playing in bands at age 17. I grew up listening and appreciating a variety of artists, still do. KISS was always a favorite. The bands I have played in are “Shock”, “View Point”, “007”, “The Weasels”, “Plunk”, “Little Sister”, “Beer Nuts”, “Swingin Rueben’s”, “Where’s Curtis”, and filling in for drummers when needed. I have also had opportunities to open up for big acts such as “The Wall Flowers”, Verve Pipe, “Pat Benetar” and “Cheap Trick”. I am also featured in Sony Playstations NHL “Face Off” 2002. Currently, I am in “Plan B” and “Westside Soul Surfers”.
Influences: Neal Pert, Perry Bozzio and Anton Fig.
