The Doug Hart Band: Bio
Doug Hart - Vocals/Guitar
Doug is a native of Dayton, OH. He lived there until the age of 14, when his family relocated to central Georgia. At the age of 15, he picked up a guitar and discovered the sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He played in a few garage bands with high school buddies. Although they were surrounded by the "hair metal" of the time, they focused on mostly early 70's rock, all while having a deep appreciation for the blues.
At the age of 20, Doug moved back to his home in Ohio. He worked restaurant jobs in the evenings. After work, he would come home and play his guitar until the sun came up. He joined a few local classic rock bands who played around the Dayton area.
One night, a friend gave him a copy of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood album. Everything changed. Stevie's guitar playing made him listen more than ever. Not to just one artist, but to all the blues artists he could find. He soon gained appreciation for guys like Willie Dixon, Muddy Watters, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Albert Collins and Buddy Guy. He was also influenced by the blues/rock types like ZZ Top, Robin Trower, Ian Moore, Chris Duarte, and Jeff Healey.
Feeling frustrated and handcuffed with his situation, Doug decided to form his own band. He wanted to focus on the blues, but still be able to play a little rock n roll if the occasion arrived.
In August of 1997, The Doug Hart Band was born. There have been many different variations. 3 piece, 4 piece, two guitarists, keyboardists but the constant has always been Doug striving to grow and improve. There have been over 1800 shows in more than 100 venues in 7 states.
Today the band is revamped, refreshed and ready for anything.
Tom Rastikis - Bass
Tom has been playing music since the age of 14. A native of Dayton, OH, he began his career playing with bands in high school and continued playing guitar until he had the opportunity to start playing bass. First playing at blues jams and then landing a place with Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders, he has gone on to play with other great local musicians as well.
Since the 1980's, he has been working at record stores or live music establishments. During this time he has the opportunity to meet Albert Collins, Son Seals, Luther Allison and many other great blues musicians. Some of his major influences are The Allman Brothers, Frank Zappa, Bach, James Brown and an endless list of artists.
Tom has found music to be a true inspiration. Sharing it with others is a great gift. He looks forward to pursuing his passion for music - in one form or another - for the rest of his life
Kieth Cozart - Drums
A Colorado native, Keith drummed his way through a music/business degree at the University of Northern Colorado. While in school, he worked local tours and house gigs that led to performance appearances with such artists as Johnny Paycheck, Bobby Bear, John Connely, Ray Charles and Paul Winter.
After moving to Indiana in 1995, Keith conducted, performed and/or recorded in concert with Louie Bellson, The Jeff Hamilton Trio, Rex Allen and the Swing Express, George Crum, the Earlham College Jazz Ensemble and the Earlham College Concert Choirs. He also has performed with such local acts as C.W. Express, Madcat Reunion, Blackout (currently known as 36 west), Donald Burns' Next of Kinn, Coy Taylor Band, Tropical Zoo and Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders.
Keith is on the music faculty at Earlham College and Indiana University East of Richmond, Indiana. While serving as Director of Percussion at Earlham, Keith instructs the following three topic courses at Indiana University East: An Introduction to Popular Music, The History of Rock and Roll and the History of Country Music.
Among his other musical activities, Keith travels regularly to Salvador, Brazil to study the roots of Afro Brazillian music as well as crafting and marketing his own hand drums and shakers under the name Cozmann Hand Drums.