Rachel Brown

Rachel has been singing since before she could talk, playing violin since she was 3 and piano since she was 8. She’s played in orchestral, a cappella, indie, rock, and choral groups, and even performed in an Elvis cover band with a few of the members in this group.

Rachel graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2018 with a degree in neuroscience. During her time there, she founded, directed, and arranged for an a cappella group called the Vocaholics, who you can still see performing today! (Yes, it’s kind of like pitch perfect.) It was in that group that she met Stephen Hastings and Antonio Ortiz (and then more recently, London Brinkman – see below!). She enjoys continuing to use her directing skills in rehearsals!

Rachel works as a spine medical device sales rep, and enjoys running obstacle course races, climbing mountains, and swing dancing in her free time. She hopes you enjoy yourself at our shows!

London Brinkman

London has been immersed in music since her earliest years. From as early as age 3 she was singing harmonies in the car to hit Broadway musicals and always putting on original performances for her family members. Through grade school London trained vigorously as an actor, singer and dancer with a goal of going to college for musical theatre. After attending Belmont University in Nashville for a year as a BFA Musical Theatre major, London decided to switch gears because of some health reasons and began to explore other passions. Even through the transition, music has remained at the center.

She transferred to the University of Cincinnati and graduated two years later with a degree in marketing and communications. During her time at UC, she was also a part of the Vocaholics A Cappella group and served as a music director for the group her senior year. The best memories of her college experience were with this group. Through this experience, she met Rachel (see above) who reached out in late January 2024 about an opportunity to join Reel2Real.

London is a qualitative marketing analyst at a research firm and is also a competitive bodybuilder, something that has taught her what true discipline is. She is extremely grateful to be a part of Reel2Real and cannot wait to rock out on stage with everyone!

Stephen Hastings

Stephen Hastings is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Green, Ohio, where he started learning the piano at the ripe age of 5. He moved to Cincinnati in 2015 where he attended the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He graduated with honors in 2019 with a degree in Commercial Music Production. In addition to being a Keyboardist and Vocalist, Stephen is well-versed in the world of audio recording, editing, and live mixing. In his very limited free time, Stephen also enjoys astronomy and sleeping.

Tim Woodland

Tim Woodland, born in Springfield Ohio, started playing drums at age 3. His mother said that when Tim was a baby, he would move and kick his legs to the beat of the music in his crib. As a toddler, he would sit with headphones on, listening to records for hours. Tim joined his first band at age 10. At 12 years old, he learned to play bass guitar to be able to play in church and tour with a gospel quartet. 

Tim is a lifelong Elvis Presley fan.  In 2008, he put together a sixteen-piece band to pay tribute to Elvis’ live Vegas-style shows.  This group called The TCB Band of Ohio (later Comeback Special) was invited to play at Graceland by Elvis Presley Enterprises for the 35th anniversary of Elvis Week.  During that performance, Danny McCorkle from E.P.E. took the stage during a song, grabbed a microphone and told the audience, “I have hosted many Elvis bands over the years, and I want y’all to know that this is what an Elvis band should sound like!”.  Danny also told Tim that he knows Ronnie Tutt very well and that he has never heard a drummer play like him. He then said, “You sound just like him. You are hitting all the licks that he plays!”  For Tim, that was the best compliment ever! 

Later, Tim formed a group dedicated to exactly reproducing the sound of classic rock tunes.  That band, “R2R” (Ready to Rock) has evolved into Reel2Real.  Tim is honored to be the drummer of R2R, not just to play music with these super talented top-notch musicians, but to part of their family!  

Frank Meade

At age 11 Frank Meade was inspired to play music by his father Bill Meade, an accomplished steel guitarist. His passion for playing the Bass guitar led him to join his first band in 1971 consisting of himself, his Father Bill, Brother Rick Meade and two lifelong friends David and Jimmie Sloas.  His 50 years in music has spanned a variety of genres from the early years of playing Country and Gospel music, to his later years of Elvis to Classic Rock. During his early years of playing Country Music, Frank has shared the stage with many major performers such as, Tom T Hall, Bobby Bare, John Anderson, Mel Tillis, Freddy Fender, Keith Whitley and more!

His personal life is filled with the roles of being a loving father and grandfather. He recently retired after 37 years with UPS. Frank now looks forward to a future filled with bringing joy to his family and to a variety of audiences.

JD Brown

JD grew up listening to classic rock and R&B. Elton John was his biggest influence. He is a retired pilot USAF 25 years (THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!) and is now a commercial pilot, a dang fine pianist and vocalist, and a very proud father who, although he resides in Chattanooga, TN, cannot resist coming north to play music with his daughter. (see Rachel, above)

Dan Hyland

Dan Hyland is a human male product of the late 60’s & 70’s. He imagines that he is what you would get if you were to combine Evel Knievel, Speed Racer, Ultraman, Jim Henson, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix , Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, John Cleese, Douglas Adams, Gene Wilder, Gandalf, Albus Dumbledore, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Edgar Allan Poe. He isn’t nearly as cool as any of these people but he imagines this nonetheless. A man can dream.

Dan loves Julie, his wife of over 30 years, their kids, grandkids, and grand doggies. They all live just south of Dayton, Ohio and when he’s not making music, or passing on his passion for performing by teaching and directing kids at School Of Rock, he’s the 4^th  generation leader to run the family-owned manufacturing business.

He often wonders what all the fuss in the world is about since there’s music! …and cheeseburgers!

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