About the Band
With the hustle and bustle of today’s world, Karen remembers a time when things appeared more simple. We moved at a slower pace, expressed more love, shared peace, and enjoyed great music. So, she bought a hippie bus, prepared music for an acoustic group, and started travelling back in time. The Hippie Project name represents the many things we’re all working on. For us, it’s an effort to slow down, share peace, accept others for who they are, exercise the freedom to express our love for others…and yes, restore the Hippie Bus! The Hippie Project performs music of the 70s in an acoustic style, where the words tell a story, the music is the sound of love, and the harmonies touch your soul. Our goal is to perform music that shares memories of Peace & Love, so we can all travel back in time, even if only for a couple of hours.
Raised in and residing in Downs, Mike is a graduate of TVHS. Mike’s grandfather, dad and cousins are musicians. Growing up, his mom’s family always had music playing on the radio. At the age of 15, Mike started to teach himself to play the guitar. Since joining The Hippie Project, he has come to appreciate the way each member of a band has a very important job to do. Even a ‘simple’ song has many different parts. All of the members of a band have to come together to make it all happen. While Mike likes to practice and enjoys his job preparing personal and small business taxes, he loves cheering on his son and daughter in their school sports and activities. Mike is feeling groovy!
Peggy is a Downs native and proud graduate of TVHS Class of “69.” Her life as a language arts and geography teacher has taken her from Seattle to Boston to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands and back home again. In addition to travelling, theatre performance, hiking and camping, sailing, and dancing, she loves music. From Motown to Mozart, Marley to Mahalia, Peggy enjoys listening to, dancing to and singing along with all types of music. She’s learning that being in a band is a whole new relationship with music. It’s a more personal connection physically, mentally and emotionally. Peggy has gained a deeper respect for the creativity of composers and performers, and feels The Hippie Project brings together challenging music, the joy of harmonizing, and the fun of singing with friends. Peggy is diggin’ it!
Kenny started his singing career in the Downs ‘ Methodist Angel Choir a few years ago. Kenny is a graduate of TVHS and participated in music related activities throughout high school. Since then, he has been enrolled in five different choirs at Illinois State University, one of which, Civic Chorale, he still sings with regularly. Kenny has performed Gilbert and Sullivan with Prairie Fire Theatre and in the Christmas show at Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. Most recently he appeared with the Holiday Spectacular organization’s 4th of July show “Celebrate America” at Bloomington’s Miller Park. He also performs with the Biscuits n Gravy Band, The Fedoras, and Two Tenors, Two Basses. Please don’t hate him because he’s beautiful.
Karen was raised in Downs and is a graduate of TVHS. She started piano lessons at age 4. At 13, she asked her good friend Raymond Prince to teach her to play the guitar. Karen’s father has a great ear and never misses a pitch. Her Grandma and Grandpa Bustle also shared a love for music and played with the Salvation Army on the street corners of Bloomington, many years ago. Karen was involved in music throughout high school where she also played brass instruments. She continues to incorporate music into her everyday life. Karen is the leader of the Biscuits n Gravy Band. She loves a challenge and continues to learn new instruments. Karen loves to support her two sons in their school sports and music activities, and volunteers her time as the director of the annual TV Variety Show. The Hippie Project allows Karen to perform music that is very instrumental in her love for music, and she is so grateful that Peggy, Mike and Kenny agreed to travel this journey with her. Karen is feelin’ Peace & Love.