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This site last updated on Friday, June 5, 2009
WELCOME TO THE RETRO ROCKETTS WEB SITE. IF YOU HAVE A "LIVE" MUSIC EVENT COMING UP, MAKE IT OUT OF HIS WORLD! DON'T BOOK JUST ANY BAND - BOOK A PROFESSIONAL SHOW WITH HARMONY! WE'LL EVEN HELP YOU PACKAGE YOUR EVENT.
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A BRIEF HISTORY. . .
It all started in the spring of 2005 when Don Swanson, who has played the guitar and sang since he was 11 years old, started to put together a duet. That duet lead into a trio which lead into 4 members which lead into 5, then 6 members that became The Retro Rocketts. For the past 12 months, the band has had 5 members.
Don had a lifelong love affair with rocketry and the space program and the fact that the band played 'retro' songs, the name The Retro Rocketts seemed perfect for the band. The two Ts in Rocketts was in tribute to the famous Rocketts female dance group because at the time there was three female back up singers/dancers.
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The Retro Rocketts are a multi part harmonizing band based in the San Diego area playing all of your 'Retro' favorites from the Beatles, Eagles, Moody Blues and much more.
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Don has always loved the Beatles and for years Produced and Promoted some of the most successful Beatlemania theatrical shows in San Diego history. Designing the best props and stage equipment, hiring the best Beatles tribute talent from all corners of the United States, hiring the best sound people with the best equipment and placing the events in old, historic live theaters, the shows were an extremely popular Holiday Season attraction. The performances included songs from The Ed Sullivan Show era, Sargent Pepper era and Abbey Road era.
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The Retro Rocketts band uses only the best instruments and audio equipment to produce their one of a kind, unique sound.
The current band line up is Don Swanson, Vocals/Rhythm/Solo Guitar Mike Muenich, Drums Jennifer Thieme, Bass Guitar/Vocals, John Pegler, Lead Guitar/Vocals and Jackie Hurley, Vocals and Hand Held Percussion.
Don Swanson, the band Founder and Leader plays a semi-hollow body Guild Custom Starfire IV, a Guild 12 String Jumbo Acoustic, a 1967 EKO Ranger Dreadnought 12 string acoustic electric and a Guild X-160 Hollow Body electric through a Fender Stage 160 amp and/or a Fender Ultimate Chorus amp and/or a Vox Cambridge 30 Reverb Twin Amp.
Mike Muenich plays a set of Pearl drums.
Jennifer plays a vintage Fender Bass through a Peavey Combo Bass.
John plays many different guitars and also uses various effects to produce his sound.
Vocals start with Shure SM58 microphones through a Yamaha Powered Mixer, TC Electronics M300 dual engine processor and then into 2 complete Yamaha PA Sound Systems for awesome tone and clarity. Cerwin Vega and Yamaha monitors provide the final touches.
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The The Retro Rocketts Band is available for Corporate and Charity fund raising events, Private estate parties and more. For booking or additional information please contact: Don Swanson - 760-500-1997 or Stephanie Sullivan - Public Relations, Event Coordinator - 858-232-8482 or TheRetroRocketts@sbcglobal.net.
The Retro Rocketts take you on a musical journey from the 60s through the 80s and are capable of performing over 125 songs, showcasing music from the following artists/bands. . .(in alphabetical order)
BRYAN ADAMS
ALLMAN BROTHERS
AMERICA
BEATLES
CHUCK BERRY
MOODY BLUES
JIMMY BUFFET
DAVE CLARK FIVE
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
BOBBY DARIN
DOOBIE BROTHERS
EAGLES
GO GOS
GEORGE HARRISON
BILLY IDOL
CHRIS ISAAK
KINKS
JOHN MELLENCAMP
RICKY NELSON
ROY ORBISON
THE OUTSIDERS
PETER & GORDON
JOHNNY RIVERS
ROBERT PALMER
SANTANA
SANTO AND JOHNNY
SEARCHERS
DEL SHANNON
SPENCER DAVIS
SPIRIT
STEPPENWOLF
STRAY CATS
B.J. THOMAS
MARSHALL TUCKER
VENTURES
ZOMBIES
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EVENTS CALENDAR from 2008, into 2009 - Please check below for past and upcoming tour dates...
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EVENT CALENDAR - 2008
June 13, 7:00 - 10:30 PM - Private Event
June 27, 7:00 - 10:30 PM - Private Event
July 12, 8:00 - 11:30 PM - Private Eevent
July 25, 7:00 - 10:30 PM - Encinitas Elks Lodge - 760-753-2243
August 10, 3:00 - 6:00 PM - Ocean House - Carlsbad, California - 760-729-4131
August 31, 3:00 - 6:00 PM - Ocean House - Carlsbad, California - 760-729-4131
September 7, 1:00 - 4:00 PM - The Torrey Del Mar Annual Car Show - 13859 Carmel Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92130
September 13, Private Event - Rancho Santa Fe, CA
September 20, Corporate Event - Newport Beach, CA
September 26, Private Event - Encinitas, CA - 760-753-2243
October 5, 3:00 - 6:00 PM - Ocean House - Carlsbad, California - 760-729-4131
October 10, The Retro Acoustic Trio - Private Event - Encinitas, California
October 31, Annual Halloween Bash - 7:00 - 11:00 PM - Escondido Moose Lodge - 760-745-1874
November 1, Annual Halloween Bash - 7:00 - 11:00 PM - Encinitas Elks Lodge - 760-753-2243
November 14, The Retro Rocketts full band or The Retro Rocketts Acoustic Trio - 7:00 - 10:30 - Encinitas Elks Lodge - 760-753-2243
December 1st and 2nd - MiraCosta College Studio Recording, Oceanside, CA
December 20, Party, Public Welcome (FREE Show) - 7:00 - 11:00 Encinitas Elks Lodge 760-753-2243
Event Calendar - 2009
January 29, 2009, The Sunset Market, Downtown Oceanside between Pier View Way and Tremont Street on the Main Stage - 4:00 - 8:00
February 6 - Private 40th Birthday Party - Encinitas
February 13 San Diego - Tentative - Charity Event
March 1, San Diego Tentative Charity Event
March 14, 8:30 PM - 12:00 AM - Ocean House - Carlsbad, California - 760-729-4131
April 18, Saturday - 3:30 PM - 4:30+PM - Days Of Art - Ditmar Stage, Oceanside, CA (760) 433-3632
April 26, Sunday - The 26th Annual Encinitas Street Fair - Main Stage/Beer Garden - 11:30 PM- 2:00 PM- (760)-753-1950
June 11, Thursday - The Sunset Market, Downtown Oceanside between Pier View Way and Tremont Street on the Main Stage - 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM
June 13th, Saturday - JBA Performance Center Customer Appreciation/Summer Kick Off - Show & Go Hot Rod Car Show. If you like Cool Cars, this is a great event. LIVE Music from around 11:00 AM until mid afternoon. Food, entertainment, door prizes, drinks, special offers on products and services and more! 5135 Convoy Street, San Diego, CA. Admission is FREE! For more event info: JBA Performance - 858-495-3395 or The Retro Rocketts- 760-500-1997
June 27th - Retro Rocketts Band Grand Prize Raffle - House of Blues, San Diego, CA. 7-10 PM
July 4th, Private Party, 5-9 PM, Cardiff by the Sea, CA
July 18th, Wedding Ceremony reception, Rancho San Diego, CA
October 22, Thursday - The Sunset Market, Downtown Oceanside between Pier View Way and Tremont Street on the Main Stage - 5:00 PM- 9:00 PM
For ticket information, check with the venue/event or feel free to contact us
For more photos of the Retro Rocketts please visit our Official Photographer's web site - www.Italifin.com
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Don Swanson and The Retro Rocketts use only the best equipment to make your event the best it can be. Please consider these fine brands listed above that we use when purchasing your professional music gear. They are available at most guitar retailers.
We are proud to have on board Up Front Communications from Carlsbad, California. Up Front Communications will continue handling all of our audio and video recording, editing and content. Up Front Communications President Dan Walsh is a name synonymous with quality sports and musical related arenas. A Producer, Director and Camera Operator with over 30 years of experience working for Seals Communications, ESPN, ABC Sports and others, Dan Walsh and his company of qualified staff members will be taking our band on a Digital World journey. If your company would like to capitalize on this modern advertising medium and reap the benefits of a meaningful and profitable video ad campaign, you can reach Up Front Communications at 760-942-2863 or by clicking on their link below. Tell Dan we told you to call.
Don Swanson would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to his family and friends for always encouraging him and to three very special, long time friends - Dave Gonzalez, Jimmy Pou (pronounced Poe) and Gerry Walker for their years of inspiration. Dave was the front man for the 3 piece Rockabilly band, The "Paladins" for 25+ years and (for the past several years) with The Hacienda Bros. www.HaciendaBrothers.com. The Hacienda Brothers played this past year at the American Music Awards and Dave was also listed in the Top 101 All-time Unsung Guitar Heroes as selected by Guitar Player Magazines February, 2008 issue. He now has a band called the Stone River Boys.
Jimmy Pou is hands down, the most famous, most popular and original actor/musician/singer to ever perform as George Harrison in Beatlemania shows Worldwide since 1977. Jimmy is so well versed at his craft that people aspiring to play in Beatles tribute bands as "The Quiet Beatle" are told to just "do it the way Jimmy Pou does it." Jimmy was the original George in the West Coast/Broadway Production that went on to be one of the best theatrical musicals of all time, thrilling people of all ages Worldwide. Jimmy has performed with more than a dozen different Tribute shows including playing bass (yes bass) for the Beach Boys Family and Friends show with original Beach Boy, Al Jardine and Brian Wilson's daughters, Wendy and Carny. Jimmy now performs with a very elaborate show based on the East Coast called Beatlemania Now. I encourage you to check out one of Jimmy's shows whenever you can. www.BeatlemaniaNow.com
Gerry Walker is a 7 time San Diego Music Association and also The California Music Association - "Best Pedal Steel Player". Gerry is a classically schooled musician that is also a virtuoso on guitar and bass. Gerry owns Stereo Steel, a specialized amplifier company that caters to the Pedal Steel player Worldwide. www.StereoSteel.com. Gerry also is our back-up bass player/vocalist in the band.
The Retro Rocketts are grateful to also have the continuing help and support of these other people and businesses:
John Valenty from the Earnware Corporation, Rob Greenstein and Neil Waite from JNR Pro Sound, Scott Cox from Resource Marketing, Beaver Theodosakis, Dave Ombrello Photography, Ken Burrows from Premier Jet Center, RJM Music and all of the great people at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Global Moving Systems is our official transportation company. For all your home, business or military Worldwide moving needs, contact Global Moving Systems at 858-824-1903.
Images in The Retro Rocketts banner courtesy of Starships.com and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. www.SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org
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