GENE ACKMANN plays keyboards, guitar, bass guitar and sings. Gene has been playing music professionally since 1978. He lists Rick Nelson, Johnny Rivers, Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Berry, Don Henley, Vince Gill, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Paul McCartney as his influences. Gene is a founding and current member of Butch Wax & The Hollywood’s and the Garden Party Band.

Gene previously played in Ruckus, Windfall, The Billy Peek Band, Route 66, and The Big Chill in the 70’s and 80’s. I love the stuff we are doing these days in Garden Party and it’s great having everyone in the band sing. I love the great harmonies we do and the mix of songs we do. Richie and Liz are great band mates and friends and we have a blast playing together! Butch Wax is still our main band and we enjoy doing those shows and the Garden Party Band shows. We have such great and loyal fans of both bands and appreciate their wonderful friendship and support!

LIZ HENDERSON is no stranger to the stage. By high school graduation, she had performed in several musicals and had appeared at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and then moved to Nashville where she had the opportunity to sing and dance in shows at Opryland USA and perform with Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee, and other country music legends on the Grand Ole Opry stage.  Liz moved back to her hometown of St. Louis to be closer to family, raise her two (now teenage) kids and work with her mom in real estate for Coldwell Banker Gundaker. 

Liz has been singing in St. Louis for several years now and joined Butch Wax & the Hollywoods and Garden Party in the fall of 2016. Her musical influences include Nancy Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, Anita Baker, Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Stevie Nicks. “I have met some wonderful people in my musical journey and feel privileged to be a part of two incredible St. Louis bands. I am so grateful for the gift of music and thankful for the many wonderful fans that appreciate what we do and come to hear our music.”

RICHIE DANIELS musical career like so many, began on February 9, 1964 when the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show to a US nationwide television audience for the first time. Soon thereafter, his first performance was in front of his grade school playing a cardboard cutout guitar along with the 45 single “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”!  The “drummer” that day in grade school turned over a 5 Gallon bucket for drums and used two plastic bowling pins for sticks.  By the time high school rolled around Richie had actually learned how to play the (real) guitar and performed at high school events, eventually beginning to work in clubs around St. Louis. After a couple of bands, Richie joined a local favorite band The Facts of Life and traveled the country doing a variety of shows with them including music, comedy, dance shows from Florida to Lake Tahoe. Coming back the St. Louis, the music continued with local favorites USA the Band, and The Blast. The Blast eventually migrated to Nashville to tour with some of the biggest country artists of the day including Randy Travis, Martina McBride, and the legendary George Jones.

After that it was time to come home and Richie joined longtime St. Louis favorite Fantasy.  Richie was with Fantasy for nearly 17 years playing with some of St. Louis’ greatest musicians including trumpet master Jim Manley.  Richie also played with another local mainstay Mack’s Creek that kept him busy, as well as with longtime friend and co-founder of the band Mama’s Pride, the great Danny Liston.   Richie and Danny did several memorable performances including the Sheldon Theater and opening for the late great Chuck Berry at the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill.

“I’ve had a long and wonderful career doing what I love, but with Butch Wax and now Garden Party, it feels all fresh and new again! I’m thrilled to be playing with some of the Midwest’s finest!”