Mark Alaimo - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Mark started his musical career at the age of 4. He was first inspired by watching the Ozzie and Harriet sitcom; always waiting impatiently for Ricky Nelson to appear. Mark's first band was in the fourth grade. By seventh grade, he was playing for the grammar school dances and parties. While in high school, Mark met his good friend and fellow band member Jerry Kohut. They have been together ever since. Mark was the lead singer for the popular band Train, which played the Central Jersey and Jersey shore scene in the 70's. They opened for such acts as The Drifters, The Coasters, The Dubbs, BT Express and Tavares. Mark left the music business in 1976. He then returned in 1993, bringing four of his original band members and reorganized his band Train. In September of 2003, Mark joined The Jersey Shades as lead/backup vocalist, also playing Rhythm Guitar and harmonica. In early 2006, after an amicable departure from the Jersey Shades, he along with Jerry, Nancy and Woody, rejoined with some of the former members of Train to form HIT N RUN. Mark always maintains a high level of professionalism. Through his high energy and commitment to music, Mark's main goal is making sure that the crowd always has a great time.
Nancy Guhse - Lead Vocals
Nancy's musical interests started at the age of 4 when her friend's parents "caught" her playing current music on their piano by ear. Thinking she was some sort of musical prodigy, her parents went out and bought her a piano and started lessons. (Her dad was an accomplished piano player and beautiful singer although he never owned his own piano.)
Music has always been an important aspect of her life. She started singing in the church choir and eventually in school choirs. Nancy has also played the violin, flute, clarinet and autoharp(!). She joined her first "Cover" band at age 21 as a keyboard player. They quickly learned she could sing but she realized that she suffered from something called "STAGE FRIGHT!" So she got out of the music world for a while and concentrated on working and education but always wishing in the back of her mind, that she could have the courage to perform in front of a crowd.
Finally, one day, by chance, she met John Troianello who was the leader of "The Time Bandits" at a party where his band was performing. Her niece was there and convinced him to listen to a tape of Nancy singing Faith Hill's "Breathe", which just happened to be John's favorite song at the time and the rest is history. Nancy joined the Time Bandits soon after and performed each weekend with them until they disbanded and she and Johnny joined the Jersey Shades in 2003. Longing to do more classic rock and roll and less "doo wop", Nancy left the Jersey Shades in early 2006. She joined with Mark, Jerry, Woody and former members of Train to form HIT N RUN! Nancy knows that the "fans" are the main reason she has the opportunity to perform each weekend and never forgets that! She is very friendly and approachable and loves a good laugh! "I LOVE THIS BAND!!!"
Jerry Kohut - Keyboards
Jerry started playing the accordion at the age of 10. He switched over to organ when his parents bought him a Farfisa dual keyboard and Leslie speaker for his eighth grade graduation. That summer Jerry studied with Teddy Adriatis, who later went on to become a member of Blue Oyster Cult. Here he developed his soulful style and perfected those Hammond chops that seem lost to the new generation of keyboard artists.
Some of Jerry's early bands included Motown cover band The Invaders and top 40 band Genesis. At age 16 Jerry joined Trenton based, hard rockin' Applewood Smoke. Armed with long haired wig, fake moustache and phony draft card, Jerry became a regular on the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware club circuit.
After high school, Jerry teamed up with long time friend and fellow Hit N Run Band mate Mark to form Train, a seven piece horn band in the Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears mold. Train packed New Jersey clubs throughout the early and mid seventies. After a fifteen-year break, Train reunited in 1993 and rocked together until 2003 when Jerry and Mark joined the Jersey Shades. Now as a founding member of HIT N RUN, Jerry has "one simple goal - To be the BEST!"
Matt Fiorino - Drums
Matt has been playing the drums since the age of 10. He started at home with the help of his dad and then began taking lessons at Jersey Drums N' Percussion. He then went on to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Drummers Collective in Manhattan. He has performed all over New Jersey with the cover bands Triple Play and The E Street Shuffle. He currently teaches at Jersey Drums N' Percussion.
Tony Verilli - Bass, Vocals
Tony Verrilli has been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years, and has been performing since 14 years old. Music and performing has always been around him since the cradle – His sisters, most of their friends, and his Mom are accomplished musicians, vocalists and performers, and there was always someone playing guitars, piano and singing around him for as long as he can remember. For Tony, these were his idols growing up, and he couldn’t imagine a life without playing music. He began by taking drum lessons at age 7, and moved to Guitar at age 11.
He has played in many local bands over the years, including Tremor, Jersey Outlaw, Legacy, The Tim Gillis Band, and Train – with whom he shared the stage with Hit N Run performers Mark, Terry and Jerry. Tony has played a variety of musical styles – from Heavy Metal to Country, which compliments the musical versatility of The Hit N’ Run’s lineup.
Quote: “This group of performers in the Hit N’ Run band is the most versatile and fun group I’ve ever been with, and it shows in every performance – we all love to get the crowd up and moving, and to keep them interested with a wide variety of musical styles and genres – this is the most fun I’ve had in years! I love this band!”
Rick "Woody" Dowling - Rhythm Guitar, Sound
Woody started playing the piano by ear when he was around 7 years old. His family acquired a piano when he was 10 and he really made lots of progress. During this time he also taught himself how to play the harmonica. At age 17, Woody started playing the acoustic guitar.
One of Woody's dreams was to play in a band but he had stage fright so he never persued it. It wasn't until one fateful day when his son's band "Zanzibar Scuff" was playing at a street fair that he got to finally break the fright. His son asked him to play a few songs with his band and there were over 250 people present! He couldn't let his son down so he did it and finally lost his fear of performing in public!
Woody put together his first band "Smokin Rose" a few years ago. Then, he joined the Jersey Shades as a rhythm guitarist. When the Jersey Shades split up, he joined Hit N Run and is "having a Friggen Blast!"
Terry Riley, Lead Guitar, Vocals
Terry started playing Guitar at the age of 10. His first band (The Shadows of Time) was formed with original TRAIN drummer Bill Richmond in 7th grade. Early influences included Cream, Grand Funk and the Doobie Brothers.
While in High School, Terry met Mark and Jerry and the original TRAIN was born. A 7 piece horn band, Train took on the complex arrangements of Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears as well as a healthy dose of Funk and good ‘ol rock and roll. Just as Train was approaching an apex fate threw a nasty curve at Terry. Funk had morphed into Disco and the guitar was dying. Unable to adapt, Terry left TRAIN and moved on to Country Rock and then Southern Rock which had become the alternative music of the era. In his element, Terry’s influences branched to The Eagles, Outlaws, Allman Bros. and Skynyrd.
After spending 12 years playing with several bands including SILVERWING, QUICKSHOD, THE COUNTRY KNIGHTS, and LEGACY he received a phone call from Mark who simply said “RILEY, we’re puttin’ the band back together”. That’s all it took! The circle was complete. TRAIN was reborn in 1993 with original members Mark, Jerry, Terry and Bill. We needed a Bass player so Terry brought in Tony who he played with in Legacy. For 10 yrs TRAIN rocked the clubs of Jersey becoming a powerhouse blend of rock anthems and party music but change is inevitable.
In 2003 Terry left TRAIN and joined The Tim Gillis Band. For 2 years he studied country guitar but his style never truly became country. It still maintained a Southern Rock twist to it. He left Tim Gillis at the end of 2005 and got the same phone call from Mark that he had received in 1993. “Riley, we’re puttin’ the band back together - again”. Only this time it was different, better, much better. While Terry had been with Tim Gillis, Mark and Jerry had been performing with The Jersey Shades where they met Nancy. This new incarnation called HITNRUN is a match made in Rock and Roll heaven.
QUOTE: “I have to agree 100% with Tony. I’ve never been happier performing with any band as much as I am with HITNRUN. We’ve all been around so many different styles of music we can be extremely diverse in our approach. We can do just about anything from rock, funk, country, and yes - even disco. I truly love this group and look forward to entertaining you all for a long time to come”.