Jiggs Hendrixson

Jiggs Hendrixson Showband is a three piece variety covering everything from blues, classic rock and oldies to country and rockabilly with an overall blues rock heart and soul. The original lineup was formed in late 2018 after taking almost a year to materialize. It currently consists of founding member Nelson Grate on lead guitar and lead vocals, Tony Schmidt on bass and backup vocals, and Zach “Rip” Ripplinger on drums and percussion. Nelson originally created the band with the intent to do an occasional show here and there but ended up doing more than 20 shows just the first year and currently performing more than 50 shows a year from bars, clubs and music venues to private parties, weddings and festivals. Jiggs Hendrixson has a very unique, raw and unfiltered sound with lots of feeling, energy and punch. There is never a dull moment in one of Jiggs Hendrixson’s entertaining performances so, be sure to check them out!

Nelson Grate is a 26-year-old American guitarist and entertainer, specializing in electric lead guitar. Nelson's stylization comes from his roots in blues, rock, and country, all being extremely prominent in his playing. If you ask him, he would tell you he is a bluesman at heart because the only rule to blues is that it sounds good and comes from the soul. Nelson was born and raised in the small town of LaGrange, Indiana and was raised around automotive, heavy duty trucks, equipment and repair. It was at eight years old however when he became influenced, mesmerized, and fixated on electric guitar after attending several live performances with his father over a couple of years such as Aerosmith, George Thorogood, Jimmy Vaughn, and ZZ Top. Many of those performances still are very prominent influences in his playing life, style, and career. However, it was the first George Thorogood performance that lit the fire, making him know that playing guitar was what he wanted to do for life. Nelson was gifted his first guitar on his tenth birthday and received lessons for a few years learning the basics of the guitar; however, the vast majority of his lead ability and stylization has been self taught through trial and error that continues to this day. He believes there is always room to improve and new things to learn. Nelson started playing live shows solo around the age of 15 however, he never joined a band until he was 21. Since, he has been a member of four, local, Northern Indiana bands (including his own band “Jiggs Hendrixson Showband” formed in 2018) filling the position of lead guitar and vocals playing in as many as three bands at the same time. In early 2021 Nelson made “Jiggs Hendrixson” his only band and main priority. Nelson’s main guitar is a Fender Telecaster however, he has an expansive collection and may be found playing any. Any fan of blues rock will be sure to find enjoyment in one of his performances so, do yourself a favor and go check him out!

Tony Schmidt comes from the town of Columbia City, indiana. He started playing guitar at the age of 13 but quickly switched over to bass guitar instead. At age 17 Tony started getting serious about playing music and spent all of his free time focused on improving and refining his playing skills. He joined his first band at the age of 18 and has since been a member of and filled in with several local bands, joining Jiggs Hendrixson in the spring of 2018 while searching for

something different than the bands he had played with in the past. If solid, hard-hard hitting and sometimes funky bass lines are what you desire, then you will be sure to love Tony’s groove!

Zach “Rip” Ripplinger is a passionate, highly seasoned percussionist from Fort Wayne, Indiana with an insatiable appetite for all genres of music. It all began in middle school concert band more than 20 years ago. This paved the way for high school bands including jazz, concert, pep, marching, drumline and more. Following high school he has performed studio work and played with several bar and cover bands and has even sat in with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic until being discovered by and joining Jiggs Hendrixson in early 2020. His passion to lead worship within Covenant UMC for praise/worship services is the most important aspect of his musical career. He’ll tell you it’s the most exciting and humbling way to serve, especially through his love of percussion. Rip’s percussive work has been described as “tasteful and appropriate” by many. He prefers to play his 7 piece kit offering more choices and versatility but will commonly be found playing vintage Rogers kits such his rare favorite, a 1966 gold sparkle Londoner named “Goldie”. He firmly believes that this offers so much more emotion to his listeners and will tell you that's really what it's all about, using each and every unique situation to move others emotionally. “Percussion is an elusive mistress.” -Rip