John Zingsheim (Johnny Z) - Lead Guitar
John Zing has over 50 years performing all over the Midwest and Canada in many bands since the mid 1960's. John has spent the last 14 years, since starting the Zingrays, playing lead and rhythm guitar.
It's been a lifelong pursuit of music and melody magic, using various stylistic influences that include: boogie woogie, swing, jump blues, R&B, rockabilly and rock & roll.
His music has been influenced by such artists as: Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Ventures, Los Strait Jackets and Beatles. All of which provide melodic originals to craft a unique sound. The Zingrays embody all of this and more! The good ol' 50's, 60's and 70's was a great dance era, all because of the rock & roll music. The core of the music was Fender guitars. The Zingrays have captured that unique and high energy sound of the past, as they are four experienced, lifelong musical pro's!
> Their goal is to entertain and just have FUN! <
It's been a lifelong pursuit of music and melody magic, using various stylistic influences that include: boogie woogie, swing, jump blues, R&B, rockabilly and rock & roll.
His music has been influenced by such artists as: Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Ventures, Los Strait Jackets and Beatles. All of which provide melodic originals to craft a unique sound. The Zingrays embody all of this and more! The good ol' 50's, 60's and 70's was a great dance era, all because of the rock & roll music. The core of the music was Fender guitars. The Zingrays have captured that unique and high energy sound of the past, as they are four experienced, lifelong musical pro's!
> Their goal is to entertain and just have FUN! <
Bob Coates - Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Vocals
I have always liked music, but did not start playing guitar until 9th grade in Grand Forks, ND. My family moved to St Cloud, MN, and, in high school, I played in a group called the Nightmen. Though underage, they were able to get me into the bars and clubs at which they played. After high school, Pat Curto and I formed a group called Canoise. It was a four piece group patterned after the British Invasion groups with strong vocal harmony. Canoise opened for the Dave Clark Five and Paul Revere and the Raiders. After personnel changes. The group changed its name to Zarathustra, winning a battle-of-the-band at the Roof Garden in Spirit Lake, Iowa. That lead to appearances on Dick Clark's Happenin' 68 TV show hosted by Paul Revere and the Raiders as a contestant in their national battle-of-the-bands contest. Zarathustra won the the contest, but because of college and post-graduate commitments, the recording contract with A&M records was never used.
I moved from St Cloud to Minneapolis. In 1972, I filled-in the Blackwood Apology band backing Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley at the St Paul Auditorium. The original Canoise reformed and has played continuously since 1980.
I co-produced CDs with Nokie Edwards of Ventures fame and with the legendary soul singer Willie Walker.
I joined the Zingrays in 2016. For the first time, I am able to play many of my favorite guitar instrumentals-a la Ventures style. The Zinrgays played at the MN State Fair and the Edina Fourth of July parade.
I moved from St Cloud to Minneapolis. In 1972, I filled-in the Blackwood Apology band backing Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley at the St Paul Auditorium. The original Canoise reformed and has played continuously since 1980.
I co-produced CDs with Nokie Edwards of Ventures fame and with the legendary soul singer Willie Walker.
I joined the Zingrays in 2016. For the first time, I am able to play many of my favorite guitar instrumentals-a la Ventures style. The Zinrgays played at the MN State Fair and the Edina Fourth of July parade.
Bass Guitar
Drums