Pat Costello & Tom Hipps have been, first and foremost,good buddies since they were teenagers, and have now collaborated as musicians for over 30 years.

 

Tom tells their story:

 
"We began our musical endeavors in 1983 as founding members of the professional rock band The Ritz.  We became local favorites, first playing the clubs in and around our hometown of Winona, MN, then expanding our territory to the Midwest region, and eventually taking the show on the road full-time, playing top clubs around the US and Canada.

 

"We loved performing and had lots of fun, but eventually grew weary of spending most of our down time in the tour bus or in a motel room... and the rock band lifestyle began to take its toll on our mental and physical health (yeah, we partied a bit:) and we went our separate ways.

 

"Pat went back to Winona to attend college (and became an English professor) and I moved to Minneapolis and got involved in the property management field.  We both continued to dabble in the music business, playing occasional band reunion shows together, and with our own various groups and ensembles.  We have both recorded and released recordings of our own material, with each of us contributing our talents to the others' albums.

 

 "Pat, at one point, approached me with the idea of playing together again regularly, but as a duo.  I wasn't completely sold on the idea at first... I had always performed with a full band.  Obviously, he won me over with the idea: we have been performing as a duo for over 15 years now. Pat is a phenomenally gifted guitarist; and (setting modesty aside for promotional purposes:) I am an exceptional vocalist (I take no credit... it is a gift I was given to share).  Judging from the success we've had, and the enthusiastic response of audiences wherever we go, we are undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable musical acts in the duo genre.

 

We hope we'll have the pleasure of performing for YOU sometime!"