---

Tad Hough

Keyboards, cowbell, tamborine, spoons, accordian, backing vocals

Tad Hough has been a professional keyboard player for over three decades with a body of recording and live work ranging from rock and funk to jazz and country. His performances have taken him on tours throughout the United States primarily in the southeast. Tad was born into a musical family in Gastonia, NC. His dad played jass saxophone and his mother played piano and sang. He was surrounded by the classical, church, and the 60s rock and soul music of the day. "Suddenly I knew I had to be involved in music for the rest of my life!"

His father arranged for him to study under Charlie Hooper to learn various techniquest and chord theory through his early grade school years. When in the 8th grade, Tad bought an organ. The next week he started playing in a local rock and soul band. By the time he graduated high school, the influences of the 60s British invasion, Motown, southern soul, and phychedelia had all left their mark. After a short stint studying music at UNC-Charlotte, the band Tad was in was invited to move to LA to record their originals. The band Wide Open had developed a loyal fan base in the Southeast US, but it was time to move on. After a period in the California music scene, the band returned to the Carolinas with a recording, but sadly, no contract. IT was very disappointing, but that did not stop him from continuing his musical career.

Tad then started playing keys in a wide variety of regional bands and studying music with Ziggy Hurwitz, a legend in the Charlotte music world. HE has played with many recording artists, the likes of Percy Sledge, Original Drifters, Billy Joe Tyoal, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, and the Poor Souls. George Hatcher contacted Tad to record keys and arrange strings on the Coming Home album, distributed in both the US and Europe. Tad has played as a local session player for various artists who request his keyboard talents.

Previously, Tad could be seen playing at his church, Forest Pointe, as well as with power funk group ETB – Extra Terrestrial Brothers and other local acts.