-Drums

Devon's affair with music began when he started taking private piano lessons at the age of six.  At the age of twelve, after going to see the animated Tarzan movie and falling love with the percussive music composed for the movie by Phil Collins, he realized that while piano is fun, drums are where it's at!  As a drummer, Devon went on to play in various bands throughout high school, and he eventually landed a scholarship at CCM where he studied jazz percussion for two years.  Today, Devon is staying busy finishing up school, and playing music as much as possible.  He currently maintains a teaching practice locally at Music Makers, and loves playing drums for Waiting on Ben, as well as Up Dog, The Firelytes Steel Drum Band, and Laika.

-Drums
-Trumpet

Mark Rudy has played with Waiting on Ben on and off for years now.  A music major in college, Mark brings an incredible amount of talent and versatility to the group.  He is primarily a rock drummer, but can play in many styles--and also plays the trumpet from time to time with the band.  Mark Rudy is a dedicated family man.  He's a proud husband and father of four.  He's also very busy in the corporate world as Vice President of Sales for a global merchandising company.  When not working or playing with Waiting on Ben, Mark enjoys coaching his children's sports teams, going on vacations with his family, and playing drums with his local church ensemble.  We're glad to have him back in the lineup!

-Percussion
-Drums
-Vocals

Kristin Agee grew up in a musical family.  Her mother, father, and older brother are all very talented guitar players.  Kristin, realizing that somehow she had not inherited the guitar gene from her parents like her older brother, began playing drum set at age 10.  By age 12, she was performing with her parents in their musical group known as The Agees.  Kristin studied drum set and percussion throughout high school, and decided to continue her music education in college, graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in percussion performance, and a Master of Music degree also in performance.  Since graduating, Kristin has been living in Cincinnati and working as a free lance musician and music teacher.  She currently teaches about 50 students a week, and performs regularly with the Hamilton Fairfield Symphony, The Ohio Valley Symphony, and the Huntington Symphony.  She also plays drum set in the americana/funk group Jimmelegs, and vibraphone in the avaunt-garde/post rock group Us, Today.

-Bass
-Guitars
-Melodica
-Vocals

Um, a bio, huh?  I hate writing those.   How about:

"Jude Hayden plays bass with Waiting on Ben and The Re-Bops, and is a singer/guitarist/bassist/songwriter with Leisure.  He loves the nightlife, he likes to boogie."

-Jude

-Bass
-Guitars
-Flute
-Vocals

It all started when Jon was 7 years old and wanted a drum set, and nothing else, for christmas.  His parents, not wanting the noise, didn't get him one.  Dreams crushed, Jon decided he wanted to play bass, his parents responded by getting him a guitar, which is NOT what he wanted (ironic, isn't it?).

After years of playing guitar and eventually starting to enjoy it, Jon decided to start playing bass upon graduating high school, and magically ended up in CCM somehow, where he so conveniently met good old Carlos, who then introduced him to the band Waiting on Ben, the rest is history...

Or perhaps, the rest is future, seeing as he is now known as 'the new guy' in the band, Jon can be spotted either playing bass or guitar with the band, maybe even doing a little percussion, as well as attempting to sing.

This guy's other hobbies include: composing, going on adventures, trying exotic beers, getting on Carlos' nerves, saying stupid things into microphones, rock climbing, traveling, and not getting arrested.

-Saxophones
-Keyboards
-Vocals

The band stepped up a notch when David Swift decided to join.  His parts and styles are like the icing on the cake that is Waiting on Ben.  A student of all different kinds of music, Dave is a very versatile player—not only in terms of styles, but also instruments.  At any given moment you may catch Dave playing piano, keyboards, saxophones, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, among other instruments.  He also is a talented vocalist.  Dave is quite a busy guy, and we’re happy when he has the time to play with Waiting on Ben.  He’s married with four children.  “Mr. Swift” is a music teacher at a local high school, where he directs the high school marching band, as well as takes part in handfuls of other extracurricular activities and projects for the kids.  On the side he plays in The Re-Bops as well as his local church ensemble……and if he ever has a free moment, you can find Dave playing frisbee golf or watching his beloved Louisville Cardinals.  Dave and the rest of the band hope to see you out at a show soon!

-Keyboards
-Vocals

I started playing the piano at age 6, and I’ve kept at it ever since.  I recently graduated from Pickerington North High School, after playing for a few years with their musicals, choir programs and bands.  Right now I’m majoring in jazz piano at the University of Cincinnati under a great jazz pianist, Phil DeGreg.  I love to play basketball, and I also love astrophysics.  It’s great to play with Waiting on Ben- they ‘found’ me through the prestigious Carlos “Uncle Taco” Vargas.  Playing with these guys is awesome, and I greatly enjoy it!

-Guitars
-Vocals

Carlos R. Vargas was born and grew up in the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  He started to study classical guitar at the age of 7 at the “Experimental Music School" in Tegucigalpa, he kept playing through the years and is accepted into the jazz guitar program in the National Autonomous University of Honduras where he took classes with Julio Zelaya and Eduardo Acosta.  In 2007 he moves to Cincinnati and is accepted into the jazz guitar program of CCM where he is currently attending.  He is happily married to Emily Vargas, and they also have to dogs, “Guapo Antonio Perrito” (chihuahua) and “Coco la del barrio” (poodle).  He loves to spend time with the 2 things he loves the most, with the wife and doing music.  He’s also crazy about futbol (what you guys call soccer) as every Honduran is.  Carlos Vargas started with Waiting on Ben in the summer of 2007.

Note: this Bio was written by Carlos Vargas.  In case of any written mistake, or misspelling.

-Guitars
-Vocals

Tony has been playing and performing guitar for 50 years.  He plays acoustic and electric six- and 12-string guitars in all styles.  He's a veteran of many bands and countless musical projects onstage and in the studio and toured the northeastern U.S. full time with the New Hampshire-based Fargo Brothers from 1976-78.

Tony's "other band" of 15 years is local blues band The Fabulous Cheap Suits.

-Guitars
-Percussion
-Harmonicas
-Saxophone
-Vocals

Nickname:  Alex or Big Al
Height:  6’1”
Eyes:  2 (blue)
Hair:  Some
Weight:  185-235 (seasonal)
Interests:  Golf, biking, running, basketball, baseball, skiing, and music!

Musical Influences:  Beatles, Rascals, Steven Curtis Chapman

I started playing the ukulele at age 5.  One day after my accordion lesson, my mom brought home a guitar and set it by the fireplace.  One year later, I picked it up, and began to play.  Then I tuned it.  I’ve been picking ever since.  If it has strings, I’ve probably played it!

I’ve played in several groups, and enjoyed over twenty years of vintage rock with The Be-Bops.  Waiting on Ben is a blast for me because I’ve discovered the freedom and creativity afforded when performing original music, and I’m surrounded by great musicians and even better people.  We play a wide variety of styles, and if a song requires more than three chords, I can just play the tambourine and let someone else deal with them!  I feel our music covers the emotional spectrum.  The Waiting on Ben band does not depend on volume to really drive a song.  We would sound the same in a stadium, or in your kitchen —some of my best work has taken place in a kitchen.  No one in town plays acoustic flex-rock better than us!  Heck………….nobody else even knows what that is!

-Guitars
-Harmonicas
-Vocals

Hey everyone, thanks for checking out the website.  You can read more about my musician side on the “bio” page, so I’ll tell you a little about myself outside of playing music.  I’m a very routine-oriented person.  I like things to be organized, punctual, and thorough…..which I’ve been told are rare characteristics for a musician!  It’s odd that the name of my original band (which has also been carried over to this new project) was called “Waiting on Ben,” because I’m usually the first to arrive and the last to leave!  I guess taking a late afternoon nap before a gig and sleeping through your alarm isn’t the best thing to do when your band has just formed and is looking for an appropriate name?

“So what’s the name of your band?”
“Well, we play with Ben Alexander, who isn’t here yet.  We’re actually not sure where he is?!.....
Right now we’re....Waiting on Ben.”

Okay, so there have been a few times I’m not so punctual!

Outside of work and music, I try to keep myself busy.  I’m big into exercise and sports.....more playing than watching.  I play a lot of intramural sports:  basketball, softball, volleyball, broomball, ultimate frisbee, etc, etc.  But I always try to make time for my beloved Bengals, Buckeyes and Bearcats games.  I have also done my fair share of traveling around the country.  Last time I counted, I had been to over 40 states—including Hawaii and Alaska!