The John Lennon Education Tour Bus

Jacob Voelzke Engineer

By the age of 12, Jacob Voelzke played guitar, cello, piano, and a variety of other musical instruments. At only 14, he was co-owner and system engineer of a small live-sound reinforcement/home recording company in West Bend, WI and was also system technician for a second live-sound reinforcement company there. Audio engineering became his passion and earned him an Associate of Science Degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail Real World Education.

Hometown – Westbend, WI
Nickname – Hashbrown
Fav Food – Filet Mignon
Fav Band/Artist – Ravi Shankar, Huun-huur-tu, Mike Patton, The Doors

Tyler Winick Engineer

Tyler started his musical career at the age of 17 recording friends’ bands and dabbling with computer sequencers. He also enjoys knocking heads with a pair of drumsticks. (He’s a drummer.) With a new, untraditional approach to music, he began creating tracks using computers and technology, and pursued his passion to become a recording producer and sound engineer. Tyler attended Ex’pression College in Emeryville, CA. where he received his BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) in Sound Arts. His creative energy finally had an outlet. He began collaborating with many different artists and found his niche working with others. Shortly after graduation, Tyler met up with the Lennon Bus at a local Apple store and began working on board.  He’s been around ever since.

Hometown – Fresno, California
Nickname – Brody
Fav Food – Japanese
Fav Band/Artist - Rage Against the Machine, Matisyahu, the Marleys are gnarly

Seamus Harte Engineer

Seamus Harte taught himself to become a singer/songwriter after graduating from high school and decided to attend Ex’pression College in Emeryville to further his knowledge of musical production.  Seamus’ passion for music led him to become a Mac specialist, a sound engineer in San Francisco nightclubs, a live sound engineer at Monterey Festivals, and he has produced in state-of-the-art studios.  The newest member of the on-board staff, Seamus is most excited about being able to educate young students so they can fulfill their love of music.

Hometown – Hell, Michigan
Nickname – Moose
Fav Food – Sushi
Fav Band/Artist - The Beatles, John Lennon, Bob Dylan

Anthony Spencer The Man behind the Wheel

Anthony is the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Driver and has been driving buses since 1995. He has driven for Loretta Lynn, Davy Jones and Alice Cooper to name a few before coming on board the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus in 1999, and becomes more indispensable each year.

Hometown – Winter Springs, FL
Nickname – Tony
Fav Food – Steak
Fav Band/Artist – James Taylor

Jaime Walden Associate Director / Tour Mama

Jaime Walden graduated from Baruch College with a BA in Music.  She began singing, playing guitar, and writing songs at the young age of six years old in Florida.  Her passion for live music led her to New York City, where she began working in production and talent booking for several music venues.  These experiences prepared her to oversee the touring logistics and organization of The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Jeff Sobel Chief Engineer

Jeff has been a professional sound engineer since 1998. He has designed concert sound systems and has several years experience as a live sound engineer for clubs and nationally touring bands. He produced/engineered several independent albums ranging from bluegrass to modern rock and assisted major label recordings before joining the
John Lennon Educational Tour Bus in January of 2002. The Bus has been a rewarding chance to give back to the community by working with students from all over the country, teaching the art of songwriting and the skills necessary to produce audio and video. The Bus has also afforded Jeff the opportunity to work with a number of well-known artists and given him the unique experience of working and living in a studio-on-wheels environment. It was Jeff who oversaw the 2004 rebuild of the original Lennon Bus which transformed the Bus to the state-of-the-art studio it is today and in 2007 Jeff designed and oversaw the construction of the all new Lennon Bus which debuted in January of 2008.

Hometown – Missouri
Nickname – Jeffro
Fav Food – Vegan
Fav Band/Artist – Elliott Smith, Neutral Milk Hotel, Cloud Cult, Man Man