Press Kit

Introduction

Welcome to the world of music brought to life by the husband-and-wife duo “Now and Zen” with outstanding vocals, and unique musical performances elevated by the combination of modern technology and a rare, fascinating instrument called a Zendrum.  Their repertoire includes a diverse list of top hits including current rock, classic rock, pop, dance, and country with a "lead-percussion" twist. The handheld MIDI controller, or Zendrum, combined with additional advanced technologies, allows them to customize their sound and style to fit whatever combination is needed for any occasion, up to and including the experience of a much larger band.

 About the Duo

During their 50 plus years in the music industry, Rod and Kathi have graced countless stages and shared their passion for music with audiences from small intimate settings to venues of thousands including night clubs, concerts, wineries, festivals, fairs, churches (Gospel fests and concerts), corporate events, wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions and venues in between for many years.

Notable Performances:

 Throughout their 5 decade career, they have had the honor of sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in the music industry as the opening act for music legends like the Elvis TLC band, JD Sumner and the Stamps, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ronnie McDowel, Ron David Moore, comedian Chonda Pierce and various other iconic country stars and gospel singers.

Some of the venues were Rod and Kathi have performed:

 Peoria Civic Center, Bradley Fieldhouse, Heart of Illinois Fair Grandstand, Exposition Gardens, Peoria Gospel fest and Andersonville TN Gospel fest. Additionally, they have played in many of the Central Illinois Night clubs and country clubs playing and singing various styles of music from country to swing to hits from top 40 and Classic Rock. They have also served at a local megachurch for 20 years as featured soloists, volunteer worship leader, instrumentalist, producer and director.

Original Material releases:

 In their time together they have released a contemporary Christian Double Album "The Road to Forgiveness (Splash Studios)", two country singles, "Give Me Your Hand" and Daddy's Girl (Willow Wind Studios) and provided vocals for the City of Peoria (Golden Voice Studios).

Versatility:

 Since Rod’s main talent is a drummer who is also a lead vocalist, they have developed their style using a "lead-percussion" twist. Having spent over 45 years in the Information Technology industry, Rod has employed the use of a handheld drum set, or Zendrum, combined with additional advanced technologies. The unique use of music technology now allows “Now and Zen'' to be closer to and interact with their audience.

Repertoire:

 Their repertoire spans across genres, from timeless classics to contemporary hits. Whether they are belting out the classics of rock 'n' roll, crooning the heart-wrenching melodies of country, or taking a nostalgic trip to the sixties and seventies, they do it all with authenticity and finesse.

Stage Presence:

 With decades of experience, their stage presence is polished and professional. The energy they bring to every performance is high and heartfelt, and their connection with their audience makes every show a delightful experience.

A note from Now and Zen

We will work with you to give you the musical experience you want paying special attention to your needs! We do our very best to connect with our audience wherever and whenever we perform and our family friendly music creates a fun, party-like atmosphere for any event and has something for everybody at a volume that won’t make your ears bleed! We can provide hours of music using our equipment or yours, provide you with our song list for your review and work with you to customize it for your venue. For booking inquiries, interviews, or more information, please reach out to our contact information below.

Contact Information

Booking: Rod and Kathi Simpson

                    Nowandzendrum@gmail.com

                   Phone: +1 309-369-3646

                  Address: 105 Independence Dr., East Peoria, IL 61611

Social Media: https://facebook.com/nowandzendrum

Website: https://www.nowandzenduo.com