I loved the unique way the ARD wove and intertwined their songs together. Their vocals and musicianship were off the charts. So entertaining. All in all a fantastic performance!
A.S. – Church Music Director, Mississippi
THE BAND
Henry Reggans, Jr.
Mr. FaReal
Henry brings a wealth of experience in both secular and religious music to the group and gives the Disciples the added element of soul and black gospel. Before retiring a couple of years ago, Henry served the Lord for over 30 years as a music director at various churches.
He has always been able to balance his spiritual calling with his love of secular music which he continues to do to this day.
Henry was born in Leesville, Louisiana and studied music at Grambling State University before playing music on the road full time with groups such as “Lil’ Johnny Taylor” and “The Immersions” then moved to California and performed in the Hollywood area for several years.
After moving back to Louisiana, Henry has fronted his own band “The Louisiana Side Men” and for 20 years has performed as a member of Louisiana Music Hall of Fame band “Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs”.
As a member of the Moondogs, Henry has performed with many music luminaries including Elvis guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton, along with other members of Elvis Presley’s band, Sam the Sham, Rick Derringer, Wayne Toups, Joe Stampley, T. Graham Brown, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jo-El Sonnier, and Steve Lukather of Toto.
Henry is also a talented songwriter writing both secular and gospel songs and received a special reward from the Vernon Parish Gospel Music Academy for his writing and recording of gospel music.
The Disciples look to Henry and Johnnie to be the “Harmony Police” of the group, making sure harmonies are appropriate and tight.
He says: “The Lord told us to make a ‘joyful noise’ and that’s what we’re doing”.
Rodney Harrington
C-Rod
“C-Rod” has been a singer/songwriter/performer for over 30 years in the secular world, and other than occasionally performing in his church choir, this is his first foray into the world of gospel and religious music.
Rodney is the leader and founding member of the popular regional rock and roll R&B group “Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs” which was recently inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. He performs in that group alongside fellow Disciples Henry Reggans and Andrej Kurti.
Rodney is also personally a Louisiana Music Hall of Famer and has also been inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Master Folk Artists. He has performed on stage with many music luminaries included guest performances with “The Doobie Brothers”, “The Beach Boys”, “Badfinger”, Mitch Ryder, and Percy Sledge.
As a member of the Moondogs, Rodney has performed with rock and roll hall of fame and country music hall of fame guitarist James Burton, Rick Derringer, Trombone Shorty, Sam the Sham, Wayne Toups, Joe Stampley, T-Graham Brown, Steve Lukather of Toto, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Jo-El Sonnier, to name but a few.
His original songs have appeared a Hollywood movie, on several albums and musical compilations.
Rodney also hosted a popular syndicated radio show “Jamming with Johnny – The Johnny Earthquake Show” for 25 years.
According to Rodney: “I’ve been blessed to have a lot of fantastic musical experiences in my life, but I’ve never been more proud than I am to be a part of this group. These guys inspire me every day.”
Keith Shirley
Don't Call Me Shirley
Bassist Keith “Don’t Call Me Shirley” has been performing both secular and non-secular music continuously for nearly 50 years. He is a self taught guitarist and since the 1980’s has played in many bands covering various genres of music.
Keith was one of the founding members of “The Blue Jeans Band” which was the first musical group to perform praise and worship music at the First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches.
He still performs regularly with the group “Armadillo Jackal” which performs Americana folk, rock, and traditional country. That band was established in the 1990’s. He occasionally performs as part of the “Back Porch Band”, one of the oldest groups in North Louisiana, having been formed in 1972 playing traditional folk and heritage music.
In his “spare time” Keith performs with “Homegrown Tomaters” which performs bluegrass and gospel bluegrass mostly at area churches and the “Kees Brothers Band”, an area secular group which performs classic rock and singer/songwriter ballads. Oh by the way, on Sunday mornings you can find Keith on stage at Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches playing in the band with fellow Disciple Johnnie Dunn.
Keith says: “We call our show, ‘fun music with a serious message’. I’m having the most fun I’ve had in a long time with this group”.
Dr. Andrej Kurti
The Fiddle Man
Dr. Andrej “Andrej the Fiddle Man” Kurti is professor of violin at Northwestern State University and is an internationally acclaimed violinist. Andrej was born in Belgrade, Serbia and studied violin at the Moscow “Tchaikovisky” Conservatory and finished his graduate studies at the University of Georgia where he received his doctorate degree in violin performance.
He has won first prizes in violin competitions all over the world and made his debut at the world’s famous Carnegie Hall in 2015.
He has appeared as a featured soloist with many symphony orchestras all over the world and has performed and arranged music on more than 40 albums of popular and modern music in many different music labels in the United States.
He is currently a recording artist with the classical music label Blue Griffin Recording and has just recently finished his most recent solo album of Bach music on that label.
In 2019, Andrej performed live in concert in Nashville, Tennessee with several rock and roll legends including Brian May of “Queen”, Joe Walsh of “The Eagles”, Sammy Hagar of “Van Halen”, and James Burton of Elvis Presley’s band, to name but a few.
For nearly 20 years, Andrej has fulfilled his love for non-classical music by performing with the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame group “Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs”, along with fellow Disciples Rodney Harrington and Henry Reggans.
The “Amazing Rhythm Disciples” is Andre’s first adventure into the world of non-secular music, and calls it “inspiring”.
Johnnie Dunn
Jammin' Johnnie
Johnnie “Jammin’ Johnnie” Dunn is the most experienced and accomplished member of the group in the field of religious and non-secular music.
Johnnie began his career singing in churches as a young boy growing up in East Texas and North Louisiana … his love for music and gospel music in particular.
Johnnie attended Louisiana Tech University on a music voice scholarship where he received intense training both as a vocalist and instrumentalist.
In 1978 he went on a 10 month tour with a vocal group sponsored by the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.
Johnnie began leading worship in churches in his teenage years and finally answered the call to fulltime ministry as an adult where he has served for the past 25 years and now presently serves as the music minister and director at Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches.
He formed and leads the Westside Baptist Church praise and worship band which is widely regarded as one of the top praise and worship bands in the region.
Johnnie’s wealth of knowledge in the religious and gospel music field is invaluable to the Disciples as is his spirit, musicianship, and vocal talent. He is definitely the group’s spiritual leader. He along with Henry, also serves as the groups “Harmony Police” making sure the harmonies are appropriate and tight.
Johnnie says: “God has called each of us to use our talents in His service, and that’s exactly what The Amazing Rhythm Disciples are doing, and we’re having lots of fun doing it.”
John Richmond
Gentleman John
“Gentleman John’s” musical journey is both varied and extensive and started at age 10 with him playing an old hand-me-down Sears and Roebuck acoustic guitar. By age 15 he was playing several instruments, singing in the youth choir in his home church, and serving as the lead audiovisual technician for numerous churches and musical groups.
John went to college at Louisiana Tech and performed in the marching band as well as in several secular and non-secular music groups during his college years.
Since that time and for more than 30 years, John has kept his “musical chops” up by playing and recording with church worship teams, local symphonies, and secular cover bands.
God has always marked John’s path through this earthly life with opportunities to serve Him musically. John says: “God has always put me in the right place at the right time where He had already prepared the hearts of those I would play for! All I had to do was show up. God did all the work before I ever arrived!” And now, once again, God has placed John deep in the middle of loving folks and gives John the opportunity to serve Him as part of the “Amazing Rhythm Disciples”!
Mark Deloney
Marky-Mark
Even as a small child, “ Marky-Mark” knew he had rhythm. He was constantly beating on things with pencils, sticks, whatever he can get his hands on.
When he was seven years old his parents finally bought him a Brady Bunch drum set. He set up next to his Mother’s piano and he practiced playing beside her as she played piano.
Mark began playing the trumpet in the seventh grade and played throughout his school years including in the high school band.
At the same time, in junior high and high school he and some friends put together a little garage band and put on many performances at the local skating rank.
After Mark made his profession of faith in his early twenties, his musical taste changed and his spiritual journey led him to perform gospel and praise music with his church choirs and bands both as a vocalist and instrumentalist. He has continued to regularly perform non-secular music for over a quarter century and keeps the beat going for the Disciples while contributing his soaring tenor vocals.