Steelin’ Dan

Ron Hall had an idea and he went with it, forming a tight band with good musicians and top vocalists to perform the complicated arrangements and beautiful harmonies of Steely Dan’s songwriting and presenting hit songs of a past era and bringing it up to date with his presentations of this Seminole band.

The time spent in developing this project has been a plus for fans and audiences everywhere.

The popularity of this group has brought them several awards including Sacramento Magazine’s 2008 Best of Sacramento Award : “Best Stealers”. This tribute band is very popular since the music inspires dancers to jump onto the dancefloor for a trip down memory lane.
The much respected music of songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are well respected by the Steelin Dan members.
The professional presentation of this music by Steelin’ Dan is incredible.  There is no pre recorded music when this act shows up and all the fun and excitement of a live performance and great execution of the music has shown to be a lucrative endeavor.
The band is extremely popular and plays for dance halls everywhere locally and elsewhere in California and many western states. The band members include:
Kurt Shiflet (Guitar)

With an interest with the guitar as a youth, Kurt attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood California where he studied with the legends, Don Moch, Joe Diorio and Chick Corea’s electric guitarist Frank Gambale.

After GIT Kurt attended Sacramento State University where he earned a Music Degree and earned his Master of Arts in Music Degree for classical guitar performance.  Kurt loves both classical and jazz guitar genres and is a full time professor at Sac City College.
His beautiful custom guitar is made by local luthier Joe Dragony. Kurt also teaches private lessons. Charley Langer (Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument, Arranger/Horn Transcriptions)
Charley Langer graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance. He has performed concert saxophone with  Morton Gould, Zita Carno and the Pacific and Santa Monica Symphony Orchestras. He has worked for radio and television venues and while living in Hawaii played with Jon Basebase, The Bobby King Royal Combo and the Willie Barton Orchestra.
He has worked with such Christian artists including Julie Dupre, Pablo Perez, Gregg Stone and many others. He enjoys playing for the worship team at the Rock of Roseville. He plays a vital role in Steelin’ Dan as sax soloist and arranger/writer duties and leads the horn section. With Ron, he is the longest standing member of the band.
Ron Hall (Band leader/Bassist)
Ron Hall began his musical experience at a very youthful age when he played piano, guitar and decided on the bass at the ripe age of thirteen.
He is inspired by the old school Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Rock, and Blues. He has played for years in San Francisco Bay area and through out California.
He received the Sacramento News and Review award for the Sammies with The Blue Prairie Band.  In 2003 his love of Steely Dan’s music led him to the Steelin’ Dan band project. He continues to write and arrange for the band and other musical artists.
Maurice Montgomery (Trumpet and Flugelhorn)
Maurice was awarded a musical scholarship at the University of Nevada where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He also got a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music and studied with Herb Pomeroy and world-renowned Carmine Caruso.

Maurice is a member of California Musical Theater Orchestra performing in Broadway Shows at the Sacramento Community theater and Music Circus.
He has played with such legends as, Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, The Beach Boys, Cher, Natalie Cole, Liza Minelli, Pointer Sisters, Lou Rawls, John Denver, Frank Sinatra and the Manhattan Transfer.  He has worked with orchestras for TV shows including the Tony Orlando Show, Dionne Warwick Show and the Sammy Davis Show. He gives private lessons at the Country Day School and Tim’s Band Instruments music store.
Bob Williams (Trombone)
Veteran trombonist and very sought after musician Bob has played through out Northern California. He has an impressive resume in both jazz and classical music. He also has played with Internationally famous band the Wooden Nickel. He was a fixture on the Dixieland and Traditional Jazz circuit for many years. In addition to being a member of Steelin’ Dan he also works with Sister Swing,
The Fulton Street Jazz and several groups with the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. He is a freelance player with great bands and is always in demand with his awesome skills and specialization in a variety of genres.
Ray Merrill(Drums and Percussion)
Ray Merrill started playing drums at the age of sixteen, after playing trumpet for many years in jazz and stage band venues.  He soon fell in love with the drums and has studied with Joe Porcaro, David Garibaldi of Tower of Power, Brian Melvin, Scott Morris and Pete Magadini.
He has done live recordings and played with Al Stewart, Burt Bacharach, Gary Lamont Dosier, Trine Rein, Ronnie Montrose, Lee Roy Parnell, The Indigo Girls and many others. In addition to being a member of Steelin Dan he also plays with his pwn Jazz-Fusion band.
Julie Adams(Vocals)
Julie Adams is an accomplished singer and conductor and has made quite a difference in her community work. She received a Bachelor of Music Degree from California State University Long Beach and her Masters Degree of Music at the California State University Sacramento.
Also with classical and jazz styles she has conducted and performed with large choral groups classical and jazz ensembles for many years. She began teaching at American River College in 1992. She served with the music faculty at California State University.

She has presented choirs and workshops to the American Choral Directors Association and the California Music Educator’s Association. She is an active guest conductor, judge and clinician and has been honored with performances at state-wide and regional events.
In 2005, she was Philanthropy Day Distinguished Honoree for her work with the acapella ensemble, Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace (RSVP) that Julie established in 2000.