Artisan is a 5-piece cover band based in the East Bay that can play everything from Top 40, R&B, country, rock 'n roll, to easy listening/standards. We have a complete professional sound system and lights that can be tailored to fit small intimate affairs to large, outdoor venues.
Our number one priority is to provide your event with the right music for the right time!
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The Members of Artisan...
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Lauren Hastings - Vocals - Growing up surrounded by music, Lauren was crooning and posing as soon as she could stand. Always singing along with every song she heard, it was a natural evolution for Lauren to expand into dance. Performing as a child as part of a local dance studio and drill team in parades, she "stepped it up" in High School as a nationally recognized cheerleader and Pom dancer, including establishing herself as a talented choreographer - traveling to Orlando perform in UCA/UDA competitions and across the country in events like Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Lauren kept growing her vocal skills by performing in school musicals...first as a cast member but quickly and consistently landing the lead roles. At 17, Lauren had a featured part in the original Chicago-based musical production "The Golden Stairs". She also sang in her HS Choir, was a member of the female vocal performance ensemble "The 8th Notes", and still found time to perform for local benefits/fund-raisers, sports events and weddings.
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Howard Hastings - Bass, Vocals - A founding member of Artisan, Howard began his musical career growing up with a Hammond church organ in his home and formal lessons as a drummer and percussionist, adding horns and flute in middle school, and back to playing drums in the High School Jazz Band. Howard switched full-time to guitar as a teenager to play the LA & Hollywood nightclub scene (initially having to be picked up for rehearsals and gigs, being too young to drive!). At 17, Howard switched to bass to become member of a traveling show band; chosen for his "doubling" ability (multi-instrumentlist) and increasing vocal talent, he performed in resorts and hotels throughout California, Nevada and Arizona. In addition to live music performance, Howard has been an paid instrumentalist in orchestras in LA, Chicago and SF, for musical stage productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, Grease, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors and High School Musical.
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Don Peed - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Founder and main focus behind Artisan, Don started his music career playing guitar at 7 years old. His interest in music stemming from his father’s singing in a local country western band in San Jose, by the age of 10 Don had joined his father’s band playing in local venues in the South Bay. After graduating high school, Don went on tour with the popular San Jose club band “Orion” for several years. After graduating with a business degree from San Jose State, Don continued to play in Bay Area clubs…but finally went on a hiatus from music to focus on his growing family and business career. Getting the itch to play music again, Don dabbled with a number of musicians which led to meeting Howard Hastings. Deciding to “get serious”, together they formed the band Artisan in 2005 by adding band members Lauren, Tod and drummer Richard Cabral.
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Tod Dauer - Keyboards, Vocals - Starting out his musical odyssey by intensively studying classical music for 7 years in his childhood with the Washington State University Music Department. But, as time went by, with the radio constantly tuned in, the classics eventually gave way to rock 'n roll: Liszt became Jerry Lee Lewis, Beethoven became the Beatles, and Bartok became Bee-Bumble and the Stingers! Tod's first rock band was formed while in Jr. High with a talented group of local kids which grew into a popular group soon in demand with the college crowd. Carrying on thru high school/college, Tod performed with several very successful NW bands playing at major dance/club venues all over the Pacific NW. Following college, he settled into the career routine and took a hiatus...leaving live music behind, but never giving up the desire to perform. About 7 years ago, his wife surprised him one anniversary with a vintage Hammond CV console organ. Tod decided it was time to get back into the Bay Area music scene and started playing with several local club bands, finally hooking up with Artisan in 2005.
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Dan Grey - Drums - Starting on drums at age 9, Dan joined his first band when he was 14. He developed his chops with an emphasis on jazz by both drumming (first chair) for Ashland, Oregon's High School jazz band and attending Stan Kenton Jazz Clinics studying with Peter Erskine (Kenton, Weather Report, Steely Dan) as well having studied with Mel Brown (Stevie Wonder, Supremes, Marvin Gaye). Dan's first "gig" was a college concert, launching him on a musical journey as the drummer with a number of successful groups, starting in Oregon with the "Pat Moran jazz group" and "Steppen Stones R&B", moving to the SF Bay Area with "Johnny Vaughn's Orchestra", "Casper", "Burns, Renwick & Rags Motown Review", "Karen Leigh", "Molto Boppo" and the original artist "Powers That Be", a frequent act at San Francisco's Rockit Room. Joining Artisan in 2006, Dan's rich musical background and laid-back personal style anchor our groove.
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