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Tommy VanAtta:  Keyboard, Harmonica, Percussion and Lead Vocals.



Tommy is truly one of the most dynamic entertainers on today's music scene.  Along with his unique vocal style,
Tommy's high energy and stage presence is the focal point of the Chessmen Show. His performance in the
tribute to Elvis and James Brown is one of the many highlights of the show. He has performed with such artists
as Brenda Lee, The Platters, and Percy Sledge. Tommy, the only founding member of the Chessmen,
owns and operates Chessmen Entertainment, a production and merchandise company.

 Jerry Garrett:  Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals.



Born in Tyler Texas, Jerry moved to Nashville after the late Jim Reeves was discovered in Kilgore TX.  
His father, the late Bobby Garrett, who is a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and
Nashville Musician's Hall of Fame, played steel guitar in Jim Reeves’ band.  
Jerry has shared the stage with Bob Hope, Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Overstreet, Fredda 
and Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee and Little Jimmy Dickens.  He played on Roy Young’s “Still Young" C D, 
produced by Dennis Morgan and shared lead guitar tracks on "Last Call for Rock n Roll" with Billy Burnett, 
and Jim Horn on Sax, written by Roy Orbison, Steve Cropper, and Dennis Morgan.  
Jerry studied classical guitar at Blair School of Music.

Jimmy Lowe:  Drums, Lead Vocals.




 Jimmy was raised in Nashville and began playing drums at age of 8. 
He knew that was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He started playing 
in local bands from high school, where he met talented guitarist, Jerry Garrett and played 
in several bands with him. Little did he know then they'd re-unite many years later as part of
the fabulous Chessmen. Three days after high school graduation he hit the road touring in
Wisconsin and Minnesota with a Holiday Inn lounge trio, then toured the next year with Grand Ole Opry 
star Stonewall Jackson. After various other gigs, in 1977 he landed a job drumming for Hank Williams Jr. 
as part of his Bama Band. In 1988 Jimmy joined a new Nashville band called The Cloggers, 
who later changed their name to Pirates of the Mississippi. The Pirates signed a 5-album record deal 
with Capitol Nashville and enjoyed several top 20 Country hits over a 6-year period, their biggest 
hit being the ballad, "Feed Jake". In 1990 the Pirates opened for The Judds and Garth Brooks
on the Judds Farewell Tour, and the same year they won the Academy of 
Country Music Top New Vocal Group award. The band toured all over the United States, 
Canada, Japan and Europe before retiring in 1996. Since then Jimmy has been 
playing locally and working as a programmer/analyst. Jimmy loves fishing, spending
 time with his grandkids, and most of all his life partner and biggest fan Pam.

Dennis Stein:  Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals.

Dennis performed with The Reflections Band out of Detroit Michigan for ten years. 
The Reflections Band had the 1965 5 million seller, “Just Like Romeo and Juliet”, which 
was put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Dennis appeared in concert with The Reflections Band
 in South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace where they played along with 
such groups as the Crystals, The Spinners, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Bobby Vee, The Contours, 
Gary Lewis and The Playboys, The Association and The Shirlles. Prior to The Reflections Band, 
Dennis performed live with the Jamie Coe Band. He was a member of the house band at 
Jamie's On 7 Club in Livonia, Michigan. While there, he backed David Ruffin from the Temptations.