Judge for THE KHU

Kevin Toler, founding member of many rock and alternative bands was born in March of 1964. Kevin Toler grew up in the late 70's, an era where blues, rock, heavy metal and prog rock was still very popular. He started playing the guitar when he was 11 years old. His formative musical years took place in the Chicago suburbs where he played the clubs and toured the mid-west with a variety of bands, playing covers from Led Zeppelin, Yes, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith and everything else that was popular at the time (and still is...). He then opened his still developing ears to the likes of Jean Luc Ponty, Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Al di Meola, Chick Corea, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays, Lenny Breau, Joe Pass, Joe Diorio, The Yellowjackets, etc. It was around that time when he merged his rock chops with elements of jazz and fusion that he started to develop his own sense of style. Even though Toler claims to be more of a rock and roll player, it was the influence of jazz that led him to the style of playing and composing that he is now recognized for.