Val Gardner Bio:
Valerie started playing the piano at age 6. She began playing by ear from songs that she heard at church. Once her parents recognized that music was more than a passing hobby, they invested in an electronic organ for the home. Valerie took lessons from the age of 7 to 15. During this time, she also began to play the organ at church consistently. As a teenager she performed many weddings and special events for churches in the area.
Once Valerie started high school at Lake Central in St John Indiana, her choir teacher recruited her to play for the choir at the high school. She also performed vocally with the show choirs at Lake Central. This coupled with dozens of shows with the Lake Central Theatre Guild help set the stage for her love of performing.
During college Valerie toured with Purdue Musical Organizations all across the Midwest and beyond. She performed with PMO during all of her years at Purdue West Lafayette while working for her Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics.
After college Valerie pursued musical work with local churches and has worked professionally in this realm along with South of 30 for the last 36 years. Working with her husband Kevin in Power Praise and South of 30 has been some of the most fulfilling musical experiences in a long career of performing. Filling out the sound of a band with solid keyboard parts and rich vocals is her specialty. She is looking forward to many years to come in the local music scene and beyond.
Kevin Gardner Bio:
Kevin started playing Coronet and Trumpet from Elementary to High School. During this same timeframe, his mom sold her Accordion and purchased a Kimball Piano. With many years of practice and lessons, Kevin played piano continually for many years and performed in recitals and received an award for his playing. Kevin then picked up the bass at age 19 and started playing in bands within months with lessons and help from Joe Fuqua. After a few years of playing and practicing, he was able to secure a spot in Frozen Tear and Circus Circus. With these two original bands Kevin, helped create a radio sound and was the driving force on the bass to help attain radio play and performances all over Chicagoland and recorded a full-length album. After performing with another local band, Kevin was saved and started playing in Christian Rock and Metal bands writing music and opening for some of the largest venues and popular bands of the genre. Finally, Kevin started South of 30 with his wife Val seven years ago in 2019 and is excited where God is leading us in 2026 and beyond.
Larry Mysliwiec Bio:
Larry started taking drum lessons at age 10. Got his first drum set at 12 and began playing in a band then. He played in various local bands, and in 1972 began his music studies at DePaul University where he achieved his degree in 1976.
He began teaching percussion instruments to students and joined the Skafish band in 1976. With Skafish, he recorded several singles and 2 LPs. They caught the eye of Miles Copeland, who managed the Police. Copeland put Skafish on a huge arena tour in Europe where they did shows with the Police, XTC, Squeeze and other notable bands. In 1981 Larry moved to the LA area, and soon Copeland who also had a house there, hooked him up with Iggy Pop (1982-83). Iggys band consisted of seasoned players along with Frankie Infante who was also Blondie's guitarist.
That band did tours in the States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.
Larry later moved back to Indiana and continued to play in various local bands.
Gregg Gress Bio:
Gregg has performed in bands since 1970 and enjoys seeing people dance, sing along and reminisce to popular songs. Playing in bands is a joy to share with audiences. His most recent local bands have been Pandora Rocks, The Tuned INN band and Zodiac. He prides himself on covering songs as close to the original recordings as possible because people recognize and relate to the originals.
