About Shameless

John Todd and Shameless formed in early 2006 with a common goal....to entertain Garth fans around the world. With a 7-piece, high energy show that features all the components of the real thing!! From the sweet sounds of the violin, to the heart and soul of country music....the pedal steel guitar. With precise bone-chilling vocals, John Todd and Shameless bring to life the full Garth experience!! Ask anyone who has seen them perform and you'll hear the same thing...."Unbelievable!!"

Interested?? Come out and see the magic for yourself.

John Todd

Born and raised in Cleveland OH, you wouldn't think John Todd would be able to capture the down home nature and "Oklahoma drawl" of Garth Brooks....You thought wrong!!! People across the nation are beginning to experience the musical phenomenon of the dead-on vocals and downright eerie likeness to Garth himself.

Growing up in a traditional southern family, he has roots that reach down through West Virginia and into Georgia. So it is no surprise that country music was, and always will be the mainstay of family entertainment. As he began to develop musically, a few unique artists were in their prime, and were big influences in the style of his singing. Some of his favorites being George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., John Michael Montgomery, and of course....Garth Brooks.

Dedicated to his family, and fans...John Todd is a perfect example of hard work and determination. He looks forward to entertaining people around the world, and continuing the legacy of GARTH!!

Mike Delaney

Bachelors Degree in Music Composition from the Berklee College of Music, Boston Mass. Masters Degree in Music Composition from the University of Akron. Recorded with the Akron University Jazz Band directed by Roland Paolucci. Played in the Pit Band for The Carousel Dinner Theater.

He has played in numerous rock and country bands throughout the years and has had the honor to open for acts like Aerosmith, Canned Heat, J.Geils, Edgar Winter, Focus, Joe Walsh, Uriah Heep, Cheech and Chong, and Ernest Tubbs....just to name a few. He has also recorded on numerous CD's working as one of the best studio musicians in the area.

Mike's love for music is obvious, and since 1969 he has been teaching students his beautiful art of guitar.

Guitars - Banjo - Vocals

Gerry Simon

Gerry began driving his parents crazy at the age of 5, incessantly tooting on his harmonica. So it should be no surprise that he had to wait until after college to begin his relationship with the pedal steel guitar.

He has been performing in bands in Ohio, California, the Virgin Islands, and Florida since 1968, ranging from jug, blues, country, folk, and rock and roll.

His bands have shared billing with acts as diverse as Loretta Lynn, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Walsh and Barnstorm, McKendree Spring, Lester Flatt, Hazel and Alice, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Gene Clark of the Byrds.

Pedal Steel Guitar - Harmonica

Bob Malinky

As a kid, Bob had visions of being a rodeo clown after a vacation in Wyoming. Back home, realizing that Ohio wasn't the place for cowboys and outlaws, banging on pots, pans and whatever went "BOOM!" was equally amusing to the soul. At age 6, it was a toy drum set, then school orchestras and marching bands.

Recorded and performed many styles of music: rock, jazz, metal, country...(anyone can play the blues!) A member in many copy, original and tribute bands that have opened up for acts like 38 Special, Badfinger, Ginger Baker, Leslie West, Dave Mason, Derek St. Holmes amongst others. Biggest musical inspirations are Buddy Rich, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Frank Zappa and Dad (for diverse interests in music).

With Bob's outlandish style and loveable personality, he is a perfect match for Shameless. Bob always finds his "happy place" by beating on something!!

Percussion

Dale Hubbard

Born and raised in northeast Ohio, Dale is a self taught guitarist who has played in a wide variety of bands since the late seventy's. Rock, Metal, Blues, Country...Even a wedding band. We believe he tried out for the great Frank Yankovich and his Yanks, but his yodeling wasn't quite up to par. ( just let it go man !!)

Some of his musical influences are Trower, Dave Gilmore, Satch and Steve Vai to name a few. With his solid blues background and great attention to detail, he's another perfect fit for Shameless. Dale adds just the right amount of rock and roll to the well rounded and balanced Shameless.

Lead Guitar

John McComb

As an orchestral bassist John has studied with some of the best teachers and players in the country. His passion for music has lead him to tour Europe twice, performances at Carnegie Hall, and several music festivals from Washington D.C. to Graz Austria and Blossom where he played with the Cleveland Orchestra. He is currently a member of the Akron Symphony and is a part-time member of the Columbus and Canton Symphonies. John's experience with playing in bands goes back to his high school talent show. He has played everything from heavy metal to jazz in bands like PowerHitter, The Front, The Kingbees, and The Jack Ripper Jazz Trio.

Growing up as a coal miners' grandson John has fond memories of being a youngster hearing all the great country artists of the 70's on the AM radio in the family car. John feels that playing in Shameless is therefore a natural progression, coming full circle, on his musical journey.

Bass

Michael Houff

Michael Houff received his undergraduate degree in Violin Performance from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Gary Kosloski. Post graduate studies were done at the Cleveland Institute of Music under David Russell and Peter Salaff. Michael has worked with orchestras in Springfield, Erie, Ashland, Mansfield, Toledo, and the Nienburger Kammer Orchestra in Germany. His solo career has put him in front of the Springfield and Nienburger Youth Symphonies, the Lima Symphony, and the South Euclid Community Orchestra. He is currently concertmaster of the Lima Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a member of the New Century Quartet, recently featured on WGTE radio in Toledo, Michael is also first violinist with the Amphion String Quartet, whose performance is regularly featured on WCLV Cleveland. Michael also teaches violin lessons in Brecksville, Ohio and works as an independent piano tuner/technician.

The newest member of our Shameless family, his style of play could be compared to all the greats!! You have to hear him for yourself...you won't be dissappointed!!

Violin