Check back frequently as shows are added as soon as they are booked.

 Meet the band

artist Profile

Ken Simms - Guitars, Vocals
Founder. Band Leader. Musician Extraordinaire, Singer, Song Writer, Composer, Engineer. Bay Area Rock and Blues Legend. See "Legacy" section below for a detailed history of the Simms Band and Ken's storied musical career.
John Kahling - Drums & Percussion
John is a premier drummer with a long history of gigs, including shows at the Whiskey and the Roxey in L.A. John is also a founding member of the local group Cowboy Neal.
Maura Pearson - Lead Vocals, Percussion
Maura is our lead singer. She has been a driving vocal force for Simms band since 2014. Maura's style is akin to Stevie Nicks. She works hard to perfect her sound and the backup vocalists harmony parts. She is the energetic, crowd engaging, inspirational leader of our vocal section. Maura's love affair with music spans most of her life - here is an summary bio of her journey to date:
First Band - High School - Age 14 - Rock Band
Nigel Ajax Band - Chicago - Rock - '79-80 - Rock Band
The Musicians - '80-'82 - Rock / Pop
Pure Fire / Hot Stuff - '82-'86 - Rock - Opened for Norton Buffallo
Pearson Sisters - '84-'89 - Variety Musical Genres - Sac karaoke pioneers
Buster Blues Band - '90-'93 - Rock
Maura's Music Express - '95 - '00Entertainer - DJ, Singer - Parties, Weddings, Events
Johnny and the Moondogs '01 - '05- Rock
Simms Band - 2014- Present - Rock / Blues / Fusion
Inna Beethoven - Violin, Vocals
Inna is both musician and vocalist, playing an electric violin, lead vocals on select tunes and backup harmony. Inna has been with the band since 2015 and is a native of the Ukraine. Her musical  and vocal talent add a rich dimension to the band sound and allow us to explore new territory with our original compositions.

Aaron Granick - Keyboards, Vocals
Aaron is in high demand as a keyboardist and plays with several other bands. It's not uncommon to see him in on stage with one band then a few hours later he is on the same stage with another band. That is a dedicated musician and he works full time too!
Charles - Bass Guitar
Chuck started playing Bass way back in 1973 with a country band. They played the Military Club circuit throughout Northern CA. which led to a steady gig at a club in Fair Oaks, CA. The band eventually broke up and Chuck stopped playing for a few years. He then started playing with another country band that played the County Fairs while opening up for the late Freddy Fender. After the band disbanded, “I took a 28 year hiatus from playing music.” He says that he “met the guys from Midlife CRISIS at a jam at the Crossroads Coffee Shop in Somerset”, then started jamming with them on a regular basis which led to the formation of MIDLIFE CRISIS, together for five years. After a few other bands and a year off he is back with a vengeance. He states he loves playing with the Simms Band and that he is having “the time of my life and loving every minute.”

Legacy - Ken Simms Band History
Career Synopsis
Ken Simms started his first band at age 13 in the Bay Area. In junior high school in 1958, it was unusual to have a band. He was in the vanguard of rock and roll, and was right there in the midst of the burgeoning San Francisco music scene in the 1960s. Simms knew and played with them all, Boz Skaggs, Elvin Bishop, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana; all the names that still resonate today. He experienced the music history of the Bay Area first hand with his guitar in hand and music on his mind. In 1971, Simms led 'Truckin', a band that also experienced numerous successes. Then Simms left the music world of his own accord, dedicating his life to his wife and family.

He went back into music wholeheartedly in 2000, teaming up again with Paula Sorce, with whom he co-wrote many songs, performed and produced several CDs with their 11-piece band Just Truckin. A highlight of their collaboration was writing the sound track for 'Liquid Space'. He left the band and only recently started performing under the 'Simms Band' title. By participating in the local music scene and by reconnecting with past friends and musicians, Simms realized that El Dorado County had the raw talent he could capitalize on to create the band of his dreams.