Meet the Band
Ron Heyne and Rick Heyne – We all just wish we could be this cool! Yep, the Heyne twins – who can compete?
Ron – Drummer
Beat me daddy, eight to the bar!
Ron keeps the whole clan honest with those sticks! And he’s been doing it for years with a lot of big music names like Alexander O'Neal, Mint Condition and Grammy winner Ann Nesby from Sounds of Blackness. That’s in addition to local artists like Tracey Blake Project, R Factor, Ronny Loew band, Big Walter Smith, Dr. Mambo's Combo, and TC7 just to name a few.
Ron loves the Vikings, golf, fishing and laughter with friends, but the big story about Ron is he just wants to be in a band with his brother and tell the world how much he loves his beautiful daughter Grace. Yep, when it comes down to it, his family is at the heart of his music. No wonder the music is so good!
Rick – Lead Vocalist
The eighties!
Aside from the bad mullet, the eighties were good to Rick. He co-fronted a popular local Minneapolis R&B/fusion band called Zebop, which got airplay on Cities97 and warmed up for bands like Tower of Power and Hiroshima. And this was all after his already amazing singing career in professional opera as a boy soprano!
Rick attributes his long hiatus from the music industry to ‘too much Aqua Net”. But he found his way back to jammin’ thanks to twin bro' RonnaJay and former bandmates in Night Shift and TC7. After all these years, Rick has it all – a great family that includes wife Laura, his adult children and the furry kids that complete the picture. He likes travel and golf but mostly Rick enjoys the great escape through the magic of music minus the mullet!
Dave Callies and Ben Callies – How many rockstars can you have in one family?
Dave – Lead Guitar
Eight days a week
Dave does it all and he’s been doing it for over 20 years. He is a nonstop musical machine that churns out jazz, big band, rock, pop, country and more! Other projects include acoustic trio 3-Wheel Drive and the high-energy cover band Shirts & Skins. He also has a great family, loves a good travel adventure and has taught everything he knows about music to his first born son Ben who took the ball and ran with it.
Ben – Piano, guitar, vocals
88 keys
Ben has the music in him! He started playing at the age of 10 and just like his dad, didn’t stop. He says his primary instrument is guitar but you would never know it. His keyboard playing is exceeded only by his vocals, or is it the other way around? Ben plays with Transit Authority and fills in all around the Twin Cities on guitar, piano, vocals, and whatever else the band needs. Ben is married to Erica and they have cat Eevee. Awwww! He’s the “next gen” in the group and keeps everyone young by proxy!
Randy Hertle and Gary Sundin – See the resemblance? Look at those smiles!
Randy – Lead Vocals and Keys
Crazy Eight!
Whether you’ve seen Randy in Up With People, Speed Limit, Night Louie, Night Shift, TC7 , or singing at church in a choir or quartet, you remember him. He’s the big guy with the crazy curls, the larger than life personality, the big heart and the big voice to match! Randy is the one that wrangled this group and is all about good friends, music and bringing people together to have fun. Randy has a strong network of family, friends and colleagues and considers himself a very blessed man, especially with life long partner Michele who has been there through thick and thin!
Gary – Bass
Eight of Hearts
Gary stumbled upon playing bass at age 14 when his guitar playing brother wanted accompaniment for a school talent show and needed a bass player. Classic! Thanks, brother, for the rockstar career! Randy and Gary are featured together here because they are brothers in rock, having played together for many years since the mid-90s. Gary plays and performs with Audio Circus in addition to lots of side bands with friends, playing country, classic rock and doing recording projects.
When he is not playing, and he plays a lot, he is urban farming or enjoying a bevy at the backyard fire pit. Outdoor barbecue brings the family together, and life is good with Gary, his wife Cyndee, two sons and daughters in law, and soon to be future granddaughter. Oh yeah and grand dogs too!
Kjersten Dysthe and Kara Millerhagen – These are the women who GET IT DONE! Where one stops, the other starts and vice versa! Together, they are SISTER!
Kjersten – Musical director, vocalist, tambourine queen
Eight ways to Sunday
Kjersten knows what’s up and then everyone knows what’s up! Let’s just say Kjersten is very comfortable in her directorial role. In addition to working professionally with the singing trio SISTER. she has led her church choir for 25 plus years (the very choir Randy sings in). SISTER produced many original works including musicals, musical reviews, and all kinds of curated programs for many different audiences. Kjersten is well known for her beautiful voice and is having lots of fun in Party of Eight with Kara. Dear sister Alisa continues to sing with them in spirit! We love you Alisa!
Kara – Writer, artistic director, vocalist
Eight miles high
Kara is the creative force behind Party of Eight having written their inaugural show Tailgate. Wearing many hats, she is directing, costuming, arranging harmonies and making stuff up. She is thrilled with the talent of the band and their willingness to go for a ride and very grateful for Kjersten who knows what’s up.
