Heartdream

Like many others of his generation, Steve Bangs decided to become a musician after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show!  He learned to play the guitar by listening to records, figuring out guitar parts by slowing down 33 1/3 rpm record albums to 16 rpm.  With his high school friends, he formed a garage band (or more accurately, a basement band) in Webster Groves, Missouri, called the Blues Salvage.  Steve then moved to California to attend a prestigious private university near Palo Alto, but it turned out he was more interested in playing music than in academic studies.  So when he pulled all-nighters, it was to play guitar, not to cram for exams. 

Steve became the lead guitarist and vocalist for Bay Area rock band Creekfrog.  Their biggest gig was as the opening act for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at a concert at the College of Southern Idaho.  After Creekfrog rocked the CSI gymnasium that night, the Twin Falls area was never quite the same! 

By this time, Steve had already met Mirabai (then known by her middle name, Laurie), and they fell in love at first sight (that’s a whole ‘nother story - click on BIO - STEVE & MIRABAI BANGS on the left for more exciting details!).

Steve is an accomplished guitarist, playing acoustic, electric, and slide guitar styles.  In addition, he plays electric bass, keyboards, drums, and percussion instruments.  Two other interesting facts about Steve are that he is a great whistler, oftentimes jamming with the local mockingbirds outside the window late at night, and cheek flutist, producing sounds by tapping his fingers on his cheek!

 Mirabai Bangs has always loved singing and writing poetry, ever since she was a little girl.  She has a minor in vocal music from San Francisco State University, and has trained both classically and traditionally with renowned opera singer Edna Garabedian and Susan Witt.  In addition, she also studied classical Indian singing and harmonium with famous Indian musical saint Swami Nadabrahmananda.

After meeting Steve, they transformed many of her poems into celestial songs of divine love.  Mirabai has a soaring soprano vocal instrument which was described by famous Indian spiritual teacher and yogi, Swami Vishnudevananda, as a “flute voice”!

Mirabai has a master’s degree in early childhood education with an emphasis in creative dramatics.  This, combined with her many years of elementary school teaching experience, has enabled her to understand the heart of the child when writing songs, stories and plays, both spiritual and secular, for children.  Many of her children’s songs appear on Heartdream’s children/family CD, “God’s Love Is the Treasure.”  Mirabai has also directed the children’s choir and children’s plays at Unity of Walnut Creek for Easter and Christmas Eve for many years.

Mirabai’s free-flowing vocal improvisations are a trademark of Heartdream’s celestial pop sound.  Her songs feature vivid imagery and visions of universal love and global unity.

Nathaniel Bangs started playing drums at age 6 and earned his music degree from Sonoma State University, where he studied with renowned jazz drummer George Marsh.  Nathaniel also studied tabla at the Ali Akbar College of Music, and received his first tabla lessons as an infant from the famous Indian musical saint, Swami Nadabrahmananda.  Nathaniel provides a solid rhythmic foundation for the Heartdream band.  Blessed with a great sense of humor, Nathaniel adds a lighthearted touch to the musical mix.  In addition to being a member of the Heartdream band, Nathaniel also performs with several other groups.

David Brooks started his 10 years of classical piano training at age five!  In the 6O's and 7O's he was the keyboard player with the touring rock group Bodine, which released an LP entitled "Bodine" in 1969.  David was the organist for Unity of Walnut Creek for 11 years.  He enjoys composing and playing many different piano styles, but really gets down with his "Oakland Funk Boogie" Spirituals.  In addition to being a member of the Heartdream band, David performs as a soloist, and with the Unity of Walnut Creek Joyful Noise Choir.  David is also an accomplished artist and sculptor whose works have been displayed in local galleries and art shows.

John Shinn has been sharing his vocal harmony and 12-string and 6-string guitar talents with a variety of musical groups since the '70s, turning his focus to ‘spiritually enriching’ music in the early '90s and performing at a range of venues around the San Francisco Bay Area.  He joined Heartdream after hearing them perform and finding a special resonance with their melodies and lyrics.  He has since added several of his originals to their repertoire.  In addition to being a member of the Heartdream band, John also performs as a solo artist and with the group Starlight.  John is also a key member of the group "Engineers Without Borders", which supports community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with local partners to design and implement sustainable projects for healthy living.  In addition, John collects and studies crystals to promote universal harmony and healing.