Sharman Strode - Keyboards and Vocals
Shar started playing piano in third grade. She went on to play and sing for school choirs and church groups. Entertaining her big sister by mimicking the singing voice of girls on the radio and ladies in her church was one of her favorite past times. In high school she enjoyed singing and dancing in the swing choir where hot pants and white go-go boots were all the rage.

After high school she went on to sing and play with several gospel and community groups performing in the area. Now, once again she finds herself zipping up her white go-go boots and heading out to play the keys and mimic the vocals styles of the 60s and 70s.



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Ron Romero - Guitar and Vocals

Born on the south side of Chicago and into a musical family, it was certain that someday Ron would play a musical instrument. Starting as a young lad, he played his Mom’s pots and pans in the kitchen under her feet until one day Dad brought home his first drum set, which his Mom and Dad immediately regretted.

Ron’s grandmother was one of many who influenced his musical career. She played several instruments including piano, classical guitar, mandolin and many others. His Dad played trumpet in jazz bands in the early days, and also plays clarinet and harmonica. Ron’s older brother, an accomplished guitarist and organist, has been his greatest musical influence. His Mom, as she states, “plays the radio”…listening to that radio has also been a big influence.

Ron has played bass and guitar for several years, having played in almost every style of band; however his heart lies in 60’s American and British music. His love for genre has brought him to “Checkered Past”.

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Mark Lega - Drums and Vocals

Drummer Mark Lega comes from a talented musical family in which his father and two of his brothers made a living as musicians. His father was Teddy Lee, a Chicagoland legend in the Big Band arena and his youngest brother Chris is an accomplished Jazz Saxophonist who has recorded with Jazz Members Big Band and traveled the world playing alto sax for Ray Charles. His older brother Ted is widely regarded as one of the best High School band directors in the country.

Mark played saxophone as a child, but always wanted to play drums. After a 30 year hiatus from music, he finally got his first drum set from his younger brother John, who plays bass with several local bands, and who encouraged Mark to pursue his passion for 60’s rock and British invasion music. Mark played for 3 years with the No Hit Wonders a suburban Chicago classic rock band and for two years with Mad Fish an eclectic blues, country rock and classic rock band. He is a 60’s rock trivia buff and has studied the varied musical styles of that decade, favoring strong vocal groups like the Beatles, Searchers, Hollies, Byrds, CSN, who showcase complex harmonies. He is also a big fan of the 60’s Chicago bands; The New Colony Six, Buckinghams, Cryan’ Shames, American Breed, etc.




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Keith Weatherhead - Bass and Vocals

Keith was born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago. Both of his parents were involved in music, his father having been a violinist in a local symphony and his mother played piano and was involved in church choirs. Keith’s introduction to music began while he was young, starting out playing violin. As he approached his teen years Keith’s interests began to focus on guitar. Shortly after picking up guitar and joining a band with some local musicians they found themselves without a bass player. After thoughtful consideration, Keith decided to switch to bass rather than searching for another bass player. Throughout high school Keith played bass in local bands that played at many of the high schools, junior colleges and universities in the area. Those bands moved into local clubs and performed all around the Chicagoland area. While the groups enjoyed a large local fan base, they never left the Chicagoland club circuit.

During this time, Keith joined a unique, 45 voice Gospel Choir with a 7 piece backing band that had a special charter project “to save a beautiful, historic church building on the south side of Chicago that was in danger of being condemned due to structural issues”. The choir traveled extensively, recorded two albums and did live television and radio performances to raise the funds to restore the church. As that project was a success and the issues with the building were able to be addressed, the choir was dissolved and disbanded.

For the next several years Keith traveled in a few different bands that were full-time road bands and covered most of the United States and some locations in Mexico. Keith is once again “jamming” and doing what he enjoys!




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Bill McSherry Guitar and Harmonica
Bill picked up the alto sax following in his father’s footsteps and started his musical career in grade school as one of the first members of the Sacred Heart School Band. When Bill moved up to high school he switched to baritone sax and while playing for the Lockport Township High School Band he performed at a national contest for bands that was in conjunction with the release of the movie “Music Man”. The band won first place in Illinois and found themselves in the footnotes of musical history.

Listening to WLAC in Gatlinburg, Tennessee as a young lad, Bill found his musical roots in artists like James Brown. He immediately submersed himself in the R & B sounds of Motown and Stax Records. But it wasn’t until many years later that Bill gave up that sax for the guitar. His first 60’s band was Maurice and the Ascots and after several years of honing his skills with the local band Mad Fish, he now enjoys playing guitar and harmonica for Checkered Past.