Band
Member Biographies
|
|
| We've put together some information about ourselves
for the fans that are interested our histories. We thank you for
checking our site and forgive you if you skip this page. |
|
|
E-mail
Carl |
Singing
lead male vocal is Carl D. Merta. Carl
has been in bands since the age of 8. He has accumulated
over 25 years of musical experience and has worked with
many bands. He began singing lead/back-up vocal while
playing with Bobby Lee & The County Touch, Southern
Comfort, and Young County while playing drums. Carl played
drums for Horizon from its beginnings in 1994 until the
fall of 2002. Since then, he has been out front as lead
male vocal. Carl enjoys singing as much as he did playing
drums for the group. He believes in giving his all every
time the band performs. Singing is a new passion for him.
One that fits him well. |
|
|
Niki
Leigh -
Niki
remembers discovering her passion for music at the young
age of 5. Laying her head up against the speaker in
her Dad's old Chevy, she remembers singing along to
a collection of 8-track tapes she knew and loved. Born
and raised in Houston, Texas, she became interested
in country music at the age of 12 years old by listening
to such major vocal influences as Crystal Gayle, Tanya
Tucker, Barbara Mandrell, & Janie Fricke. Niki's passion
continued through the years where she took vocal instruction
with Debbie Beinhorn out of Houston and ultimately went
to college on a full scholarship catapulted by her vocal
talent. She now lives in Katy, Texas where she raises
her three children and is happy to perform whenever she
can. |
|
|
|
|
On the far left of the stage, playing the Ivory, is Rick Mathis. Rick has played the keyboards for over 25 years and has had the opportunity to work in bands such as 59 South and Dixie. Rick also feels that vocals must come first and then surround them with music. Rick's talents on keys keep Horizon hopping all night. |
|
And on bass, Daniel Clanton. Born in New Orleans and raised in Bay City, Texas, Daniel began playing bass guitar at the age of 10. For the past six years Daniel played in Justice III, a band he and his father developed. Asleep at the Wheel, Bill Pekar, Radney Foster, and the legendary Ray Price are a just a few of the big-name artists that Daniel has had the opportunity to work with. When he isn't playing with the group, Daniel volunteers his time to play in the church worship band. He gives credit to his dad and Justice III for getting him where he is today - bass guitarist for one of the hottest bands on the Texas dance hall circuit, Horizon. |
|
|
|
CJ Young (Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals). I grew up in a family of musicians in Victoria, Texas. My father plays bass guitar and acoustic guitar, my grandfather played fiddle, and numerous uncles played drums and electric guitar. When I was 16 I started playing guitar in my father's band, Miss Kitty and the Matt Dillons, and from there played with a few local Victoria bands "cutting my teeth" on country music. I moved to Houston when I was 20 and soon met Bill Hart with whom I started playing guitar, and eventually lead guitar. Since then I have played with Ryan T and the Roosters and Blackwater. I now play with Horizon and The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch. |
|
|
| Jim
Cross - I have
played guitar since grade school, and started
playing clubs at 21 in Salt Lake City. I spent
a few years
on the road with the Sloan Brothers Band in the
early 80s, playing all over the Intermountain West. I took
a few years off to raise a family, move to Texas,
and build a career. I picked
up steel guitar in 1998. Since then,
I have been playing clubs in and around the Houston
area with Bart Woytek, Big John Mills, Troy McManus,
Dustin Sancez, the SixGun Band, Kenefick, and the
Cimarron Band. |
|
|
|
Click
for larger image
|
Randy
Abke was born in Brenham, TX. He started
playing drums at the age of 8 and by the age of
12 he purchased his first drum set. Randy
got started in the dancehall circuit when he joined
the Emotions in March of 2002 as their lighting
director, where under the mentorship of Brad Welsh,
he learned a lot about live performing and what
it would take to become a good musician. Randy
left the Emotions in August of 2003 to pursue another
career but never gave up his passion for playing
drums and live performance. From there, he
freelanced with Backstage Production as their lighting
director where he got the opportunity to do shows
for Restless Heart, Cowboy Mouth, Ronnie Milsap,
Jason Boland, Jack Ingram, Kevin Fowler, Roger Craeger,
and Cory Morrow. However, the greatest experience
was in June of 2004 at Lakewood Theater in Dallas,
Texas when Randy got the opportunity to help design
and program the light show to Blue October's Argue
With A Tree live concert DVD show. Randy
started playing for various bands over the next
several years and is now the drummer for Horizon. Now
all of Randy's extra time is spent practicing and
preparing for his next show, where he plays his
heart out like there is no tomorrow with nothing
to lose.
A
special note from Randy…
I
would like to take time out to thank my family and friends
for their constant and continued support. I would
also like to send out a special thanks to my grandfather,
J.Q. Underwood, and my brother, Rodney E. Abke, for all of
their contributions that they have made to make it all
possible. |
|
|
|
Pete
Salinas (aka Preacher Man), a
native of Port Lavaca, joined Horizon two
years ago and is in charge of Sound Production and also
helps with the load in detail. Pete has also had
the opportunity to run sound for several Tejano Bands
in the past, the largest and most popular being La Mafia. Pete
has been involved in the music business for many years
and his contributions to Horizon have been the greatest. He
has a great sense of humor and has a unique way
of bringing out the best in each member of the
group. Pete's dedication to Horizon is respected
highly by each member of the band and we always look
forward to the camaraderie of the next job. |
|
|
|
|
 |
