Steve
Bonar, Nick Klassen, Gladys Harter, Leo Harter, Tom Reed
Strings
of Hope
Abbotsford,
British Columbia
1979
- Present
Members
Steve
Bonar ~ Guitar, Vocals
Gladys
Harter ~ Pedal Steel
Glen
Harter ~ Drums
Leo
Harter ~ Bass, Vocals
Nick
Klassen ~ Lead Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals
Tom
Reed ~ Blues Harp
Crew
James
Bonar ~ Sound Tech
Alumni
John
Nelems ~ Keyboards, Vocals
Jack
Smith ~ Drums
Leo,
Nick, Gladys, Tom & Steve - Strings of Hope at home relaxing and
practicing.
Leo
Harter,
Bass and singer, is a 22 year veteran with the band and plays an
original
Fender Jazz Bass. Leo is formerly of the Crusaders and The Gospel
Strings
Nick Klassen,
the
group leader and Lead Guitar and singer plays an original Gibson ES355
and is a former long term member of a group out of Abbotsford BC,
Canada
called the Blue Boys.
Jack Smith, the
drummer
is the latest in a long string of drummers.
Gladys Harter
the
Pedal steel player has been with the group for 10 years.
Steve Bonar,
Singer
and Rhythm Guitar with the strings for 6 years formerly Bass for the
Kumalani
Praise Band, Maui HI, Also Bass for Hoike, of Maui HI, and former
Rhythm
Guitar and singer for the Viscounts,
the Mysterians and
others.
John Nelems,
Keyboard
and sometimes singer is with the group off and on as required for
the last 12 years, also former member of other groups.
Nick Klassen
the
groups leader is owner of a local music store in Abbotsford, BC. He
started
the Strings of Hope somewhere in the later part of the 70's.
The group
started
as a Prison Ministry band playing country Gospel music and as the
popularity
spread they were asked into other prisons and missions and weddings and
misc. functions. With over two thousand performances under their belt
since
it started some of them are getting tired but still vow to be carried
off
the stage in a pine box.
Steve Bonar,
November
2004
