reverend nathon dees (guitars and vocals)
A Native of Sheldon, Texas Nathon Dees cut his teeth in music early on watching local and international acts perform at the world famous Magnolia Gardens beach resort where performers like Elvis Presley, Bob Wills and Rusty Fielding played regularly.
Nathon Dees career as a professional musician started at the age of 17 when his Band "Texas Metal" featuring Texas Bass guitar legend Art Napoli opened for the now famous second annual Wood Shock festival in Dripping Springs, Texas produced by Blain Hurlburt. The event featured such legendary Texas artist as Daniel Johnson, Tales of Terror, The Hickoids, Poison 13, Scratch Acid and many iconic Texas punk and metal acts from that era. With this band and subsequent bands Nathon played Heavy Metal with such Austin guitarists as his childhood friends Ahmed Garcia, Guy Elder, Mike English and Art Napoli who later went on to form the metal band Hurlant and toured with the likes of Texas world renown artists Pantera and Helstar. During this time Nathon had the honor of being chosen to audition for the Prog Metal Band Watchtower after Guitarist Billy White left to replace George Lynch in Dokken.
By his early twenties Nathon had left Rock Music after converting to Christianity and becoming a licensed and ordained minister. During his time in ministry Nathon performed for audiences worldwide in the praise and worship team of Abundant Life Church in LaMarque, Texas televised world wide via Daystar Network and TBN to live audiences of 3 to 5 thousand people weekly. During this time he also formed the Christian Rock band Antidote and played with Icons in the Christian music industry like Tommy Hales of Ocean and the Current #1 Christian Metal band in Texas, Shining Force. During his time at Abundant Life Nathon performed for the Ministries of Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Walter Hallem, and Oral Roberts.
After many years of serving in Music Ministry, Nathon left the US as a missionary to Costa Rica where he owned and operated Nathon's Hostel and performed music to people from all over the world that visited Jaco for surfing and tourism where he performed with famous Worldbeat and Reggae artist like Jimmy Watusi and Gerald Talawa as well as traveling entertainers from all over the world. After returning to the United States in 2007 Nathon formed two bands, The all original Blues/Rock power trio "Ten Foot Hammer" reuniting him with long time bassist Art Napoli and Drummer Guy "Thundergod" Elder and a Classic Rock cover band named "Triple Tree" that played Bike rallies and motorcycle events across Texas for several years before returning to Costa Rica again for four more years.
When Nathon returned to Texas in late 2014 he found himself in Marble Falls, Texas where he founded the "Greater Marble Falls Live Music Society" and started networking and promoting shows in the Central Texas Market building relationships with industry icons such as song writer Hall of Fame and Grammy award winners Alex Harvey, John Arthur Martinez, Mike Blakely, and other award winning Texas Song writers. Nathon was the Co-host of the KBEY FM Homegrown Hour featuring Mel Highsmith before leaving to go on tour with the Texas Rock Band Thunderosa. During his time with Thunderosa, Nathon toured extensively from Coast to Coast and Border to Border ending the jaunt with an extensive European tour of Belgium and Holland burning down the house with his blistering guitar work.
After leaving Thunderosa, Nathon was approached by Drummer/Promoter Gary Delz who encouraged him to perform his own original music and release his incredible guitar talents to the World. With a heavy Blues Rock foundation and a touch of Americana sound, Nathon and Gary founded "REVEREND NATHON".
The Debut release "REVEREND NATHON Volume One" has been in the Global Top 20 on Reverbnation's Blues Charts for over 60 consecutive days featuring heavy spins on singles such as Deep, Walkin On, Goin Fishin, I Find Hope and A Love Like Yours.
In addition to his background in Metal, Gospel and Blues Nathon has also performed with Texas Hall Of Fame inductee Whitey Ray Huitt and life long friend and mentor steel guitar legend Emmett Roch as an Americana singer song writer and has two original acoustic CD's to his name and featuring two recorded singles with Emmett and Whitey Ray.
Nathon is currently in preparations to record his second release as "REVEREND NATHON" this January Featuring Gary Delz on Drums, Emmett Roch on Fuzztone Pedalsteel, and his Son, Bassist and Producer Teagan Shunkwiler in preparation for a 2021 nationwide and European tour granting the subsidence of the Covid 19 pandemic.
In his discography, Nathon Dees is the featured Guitarist on seven different Studio albums with such artists as Whitey Ray Huitt, Emmett Roch, A.J. Mac of Thunderosa, Art Napoli, Gary Delz, and others Texas music Icons. Nathon is also an author of several books that can be purchased on Amazon.
Nathon uses Fender Stratocasters, Marshall Amps, a Morley Bad Horsie Wah Pedal, a Jim Dunlop chrome slide, a Fender Bluesbreaker Amp, a Jet City 20 JCA Amp and Ernie Ball Super Slinky Strings. He also plays a Kona Acoustic Guitar and sometimes an Epiphone SG Guitar for his feature slide work.
Emmett roch (fuzztone steel, guitar, dobro)
Over a career spanning 40+ years Emmett has played/toured/recorded (or a combination of those) with Grammy Award winning artists Gary P. Nunn, Johnny Gimble, Mike Blakely, Freddy Powers, and Sonny Throckmorton.
Additional touring and recording credits of noted artists Emmett has performed with include Dale Watson, Redd Volkaert, Stu Cook, Heather Myles, Pauline Reese, Jett Williams, Billy Joe Shaver, Shelby Lynn, Jesse "Guitar" Taylor, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Joe Ely, Buck Trent, Norma Jean, Larry Joe Taylor, Rusty Weir, Kevin Fowler, Sheb Wooley, Jesse Dayton, and several country/bluegrass/rockabilly singers and bands while living in Barcelona, Spain.
Emmett appears on the new Volume 2 CD and at various larger shows with the band.
Emmett plays a 1976 MSA single-neck (E9 tuning) 3+2 through either a Crate BFX15 (one 12") or a Peavey Nashville 112 and currently uses a Vox Tonelab LE for for the "Fuzztone Pedalsteel" effects that create a totally new level of sound within REVEREND NATHON.
teagan shunkwiler (bass guitar, production)
Bassist Teagan Shunkwiler joins REVEREND NATHON to continue to take the new sound to the people and be the anchor of the rhythm section with drummer Gary Delz.
He also is a veteran sound engineer, producer and sound production staff member of major rock and worship music events across the U.S.
As a Producer and Engineer, Teagan has served in many musical capacities for The Cornerstone Music Festival, the guitarist, producer and vocalist for Among The Wanted, producer of the Sophomore album for Kairos Theos, directed the production of The Fellowship Church in Texas City, Texas, he has produced 200+ live services and singles for ministries and independent artists.
Teagan also mastered and produced the REVEREND NATHON Volume 1 CD and will continue his production services for the future recordings of the band.on bass guitar.
Teagan uses a Schecter Custom Diamond Series five string bass, a GK backline HS with a custom 15" cabinet.
gary delz (drums, promotion, road management)
Noted longtime Texas Drummer Gary Delz completes the rhythm section for REVEREND NATHON.
Gary spent the past 40+ years backing artists such as Grammy Award winning Gary P. Nunn and John Arthur Martinez. His touring and performance career reads of a who's who of Texas artists including Brian Black, Don Walser, Red Steagall, Johnny Rodriquez, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, Alan Haynes, Larry Joe Taylor, Tommy Alverson, as well as numerous other Texas cover acts.
In the early 90's Gary formed his own Blues Rock act The Gary Delz Power Trio that eventually morphed into The Texas Power Trio. He released three Indie CD's with various lineups of artists in the band. The band was a featured act on the PBS show Live At The Texas Music Cafe that was also released as his second CD. He also appears on televised shows including Austin City Limits, The Texas Connection, BBC, Stars Over Austin, Dallas Mid-Day, Houston Nights and Midland At Noon.
Delz retired and moved to the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico in 2019 and joined up with local blues artists to form the Bad Habits Band. Upon the Covid evacuation orders for ExPats he returned to the States and partnered up with Nathon to form REVEREND NATHON.
Gary has been a producer, manager, road manager, booking agent and promoter for 20+ years of various bands, singer-songwriters, special events, fundraisers and festivals.
Gary currently endorses TAMA drums and Sabian cymbals, he plays a TAMA Imperial Star Classic kit, Sabian cymbals and high hats, Mapex pedals and hardware.