Meet the Band

Old Days was formed in 2018 by a group of Flint, Michigan natives who all had a love for the music of the iconic rock band - Chicago. Our main focus is preserving the original works of Chicago through careful recreation of classic live and recorded performances. The band currently has a large selection of repertoire ready to perform and we expand our set lists monthly. You will find no music charts on stage with this group of musicians - we memorize everything to present the most entertaining product we possibly can. We work very hard and strive to create authentic and energetic performances for audiences of all types who enjoy Chicago!
Phil Guerra has over 30+ years of performance experience. His favorite place to be is on stage singing the music he has grown up with. Like all the band members, Phil was born and raised in Flint, MI.  He grew up singing, playing guitar, and is a percussionist. When Phil is not with his family or at band practice, you can find him working for Republic Services.
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Matt’s family was very involved with music. His Father was a church organist and choir director, and served as pianist with the Kalamazoo Symphony for 24 years. Matt started violin at age 5 with his Mother. He began playing trumpet at age 9 in his school band. He received a music education degree from Western Michigan University, majoring in both viola and trumpet. Matt also holds a Masters Degree in music ed from the University of Michigan. He is currently the Orchestra Director at Flushing Community Schools and has been the music director at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for 32 years. Matt has always been inspired to arrange and perform music, and has a special love for great rock & roll horn bands. He feels extremely fortunate to work with his talented band mates in Old Days.

Jeff - Keyboards - Jeff grew up in a highly musical family and took up the saxophone in 6th grade.  However, it was the bass guitar he received for his 15th birthday that changed everything.  Jeff could be found holding down the low end with some of the top cover acts in mid-Michigan beginning in the mid 1990s 
 
After playing bass guitar for 25 years, Jeff made the switch to keyboards to fill an opening in his church’s band.  Since then, keyboards, sound design, and technology have become his passion.  Chicago’s music presents  a rewarding opportunity to recreate timeless sounds of the 70s along with the era-specific sounds of the 80s.  
 
Aside from the opportunity to play some of the greatest music from the greatest band of all time, the highlight of being a member of Old Days is the opportunity to share the stage with his childhood idol, his dad, Bob (vocals, keys, guitar)!
From the moment he saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, Bob knew he wanted to play in a rock’n’roll band.  His grandmother sang on radio in the 1940’s and his immediate family sang four-part harmonies and played together in church, so it was only natural that Bob and his brother formed that rock band in high school.  After seven years on the wedding band circuit, Bob joined a church folk group that eventually led to directing, arranging and writing Contemporary Christian music over the past 35 years.  For eight of those years, he directed and arranged scores for a high school Pep Band (including a few Chicago tunes).  “From Colour My World (a wedding band staple) to the Pep Band horn section, it all comes full circle, playing the great music of Chicago with my son, Jeff.  The family connection continues.”
Rich comes from a musical family with both grand fathers playing violin, uncles playing guitar and father playing mandolin.  There was always someone playing at family gatherings.  Rich began taking guitar lessons at age 9 and eventually began teaching guitar at the East Detroit Music Conservatory at age 19.  Rich performed jazz, pop, R&B, Top 10 at many venues  in the Detroit area over the years prior to moving to the Flint are in 1984 including Hart Plaza, Detroit Athletic Club, area country clubs and festivals.  Of course Chicago was on his musical radar back in the day and never having the opportunity to play with a full band capable of recreating the Chicago sound, this experience has been one of the highlights of his musical journey.
Dan Greer came from a very musical family, his father was a professional pianist and organist, he worked as the organist for the Tigers and Redwings as well as taking his family out on the road as a gospel singing group in the mid 70’s. Dan started playing trumpet in 5th grade and started playing bass guitar at the age of 14. His biggest influence was his dad, as his dad started him on bass to support the family gospel group. Dan also plays cornet with the Salvation Army brass band in Flint which makes for a busy Christmas. Dan asked his dad for a new stereo In ‘71 and he wanted the album of that band who plays the song with the trumpet solo in the beginning. That song was Chicago’s Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is. Dan got the stereo and album and  has been a big fan of Chicago ever since. Playing in this group is like a dream come true. 
Steve Simmons is the trombonist for Old Days and is an active musician and music educator in the Greater-Flint area. He has been playing trombone for over 15 years and is also often seen playing on the drum set at different venues and churches in the area. Growing up in Flushing, Michigan, Steve attended the University of Michigan-Flint where he received his Bachelor’s in Music Education. Steve also earned his Master’s degree in Music Technology from the University of Valley Forge. He currently teaches elementary music for Grand Blanc Community Schools and has recently started building marimbas and xylophones out of his home in Swartz Creek.
Brad is a woodwind specialist; performing in the band on flute, soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones. Brad holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University where he studied saxophone with Prof. John Nichol. Brad was the 2015 Patricia Nixon Memorial Scholarship Competition Winner (CMU) and his quartet was a finalist in The Fischoff National Chamber Winds Competition. Brad is currently finishing his Masters Degree in Music Education at The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. A Flint area native - Brad has been The Director of Bands at Flushing High School since 2014. He currently resides in Haslett, MI with his wife and two sons. Brad’s most distinguished accomplishment is being a veteran of The United States Coast Guard where he served as a Boatswains Mate.
Drumming for over 40 years, Mark Routt has found himself behind the kit driving many different musical styles for various groups ranging from Country to Prog Rock to school play pit orchestras.   Through it all, his love for music keeps his beat going and going and going.   The music of Chicago captured his musical ear during his high school years and has been a favorite of his ever since.   "Having a chance to recreate this level of unique high energy jazz rock is a dream come true" according to Mark, and he also has stated that "...playing with such a great group of dedicated fellow musical travelers makes this journey even more like a "Saturday In The Park"  ".