Dan Gasser, the lead singer and pianist of Elton Dan and The Rocket Band, first saw Elton John at Caesars Palace. Since then, he has seen him 26 more times, including seven times during his final “Yellow Brick Road” tour. Gasser has been a fan of John’s music and his humanitarian work for many years, and in 2015, to honor John, he formed The Rocket Band.
“Elton John is my all-time favorite artist, and it was my destiny to lead a project that pays homage to his music,” he said. “Our shows are a heartfelt tribute to the greatest musical artist ever, and I want the audience to feel that. I want to immerse them in a memorable musical experience.”
The band performs songs from the seven iconic Elton John albums of the 1970s and 1980s. There are so many wonderful songs to choose from, and you may well hear “I’m Still Standing,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Crocodile Rock,” and “Rocket Man.” There might well be duets, deeper cuts and band favorites like “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, “Madman Across the Water,” “Levon,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Pinball Wizard.” Through it all, Gasser’s stage presence and rapport with the audience, the great piano playing, over-the-top costumes, and fabulous energy convince you that you are seeing Sir Elton up close and personal.
Since its inception in 2015, the band has performed more than 400 shows in 38 states. During the 2024 season, they played at Kool Deadwood Nights in South Dakota to an estimated crowd of 18,000. Internationally, they have played sold-out shows at the famed Wynn Palace Resort in Macau, and tour dates for Canada, South America, and Europe are in the works.
The family-friendly band believes in giving back, inspired by Elton John‘s philanthropy. Based in the Kansas City area, they have raised more than $170,000 for Children’s Mercy Hospital and more than $300,000 for The Dream Factory, an organization that raises money to grant wishes to children with life-limiting illnesses.
In addition to Gasser, the band includes Dean Christopher on keyboard, Wes Faulconer on percussion, Paul Greenlease on bass, Bill Graham on drums, Ben Eisiminger on keyboard, and Deb Cordero on vocals.
Dean Christopher performed for a Led Zeppelin tribute band before coming to Elton Dan. A fan of Elton John’s music, when there was an opening in the band for a keyboard player, he jumped at the opportunity. This season he will move to lead guitar, where his emotional, animated personality will bring electricity to the stage.
Wes Faulconer has had an impressive career as a drummer and percussionist, deeply rooted in the Kansas City music scene. A fan of motorcycles and fast cars, he brings the same high energy to Elton Dan and The Rocket Band. He has an extraordinary ability to create the many diverse sounds and background enhancements for which Elton John is known.
Paul Greenlease honed his skills at The Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles and toured with a number of bands, including as part of the Armed Forces Entertainment Tour in 2010, supporting troops in Kuwait and Iraq. He is a tremendous bass player who moves from rock to reggae and jazz to pop.
Bill Graham is in his fourth year with Elton Dan. He studied music at Missouri Western State University and completed a music performance degree in percussion. He is a fan of writing drum music and is working on a drum set book, with backing charts, for musicians of all ages and abilities.
Deb Cordero thrives in the role of backup vocalist, which requires integrating and supporting Dan and the band on every song. She is also featured on two Kiki Dee songs, as lead singer, and in a duet. Deb has performed in Las Vegas and has done extensive jingle work for accounts like Pizza Hut and the Kansas City Royals.
If you love Elton John, they’ll be singing Your Song. Don’t Go Breaking Your Heart and miss it.
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