Meet The Band
Founder + Lead Vocalist
James Clark
James Clark | Lead Vocals / Ronnie Van Zant
A seventh-generation Californian, James Clark was born in Santa Cruz and moved with his family to the San Jose area at age 12. The first time he heard “Free Bird,” something clicked: he grabbed his parents’ tennis rackets, imagined they were guitars, and played the strings right off them.
That childhood fascination became a lifelong calling. James has performed professionally as an Elvis tribute artist since 1996, but Lynyrd Skynyrd never left his heart. He saw the original band in 1975 and again at the Oakland Coliseum in 1977, witnessing Ronnie Van Zant and the musicians who shaped his understanding of Southern rock.
In 2023, James began assembling the musicians who would become Gimmie 3 Steps. His vision was not simply to copy the music. He wanted to honor the unmistakable sound, stage presence, and spirit of the original band with the authenticity and respect its legacy deserves.
James admires both Elvis and Ronnie not only as legendary performers, but also as artists whose humility and connection with their audiences helped make their music timeless. Stepping into Ronnie’s shoes is a responsibility he approaches with heart, precision, and a style that remains his own.
Today, as founder and lead vocalist, James gives everything he has to preserving the power of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music and creating a live experience that makes every fan feel part of the show.
Keys + Drums
Bill Ciullo
Keyboards + Vocals
Bill has spent decades performing on keyboards and guitar throughout the Bay Area in bands spanning classic rock, punk, disco, dance, Top 40, and oldies. His style is shaped by artists who brought classical influences into rock, including The Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, Renaissance, The Alan Parsons Project, Queen, and The Beatles. His keyboard playing has been heard on original songs on the radio, and he completed an album on which he plays every instrument. An electrical engineer with more than 30 years in Silicon Valley, Bill helped pioneer physical modeling of instruments and sound, holds patents in karaoke technology, and has appeared on Japanese technology television. He has also restored more than 120 pinball machines.
Paul Dulle
Drums
A drummer for more than 50 years, Paul was inspired by his grandfather, who played in speakeasies, and by an unforgettable childhood view from directly behind a drummer rising onto Disneyland’s Tomorrowland stage. Paul went on to perform in numerous cover bands, help form The Scott Garcia Band, and cofound Atlantic recording artist Dirty Looks. He values the musicianship, talent, and camaraderie of Gimmie 3 Steps and the band’s commitment to playing Skynyrd from the heart. His favorite song is “The Ballad of Curtis Loew.” Away from the stage, Paul runs an unofficial dog rescue in Stockton and helps dogs in need.
Guitars + Bass
Ray Bini
Lead Guitar
Ray has played guitar for more than 60 years, first inspired by a sunburst Fender Stratocaster he spotted while taking trumpet lessons. He taught himself by listening to records, eventually receiving a 1965 Fender Mustang and Super Reverb amplifier – an amp he still owns. Ray has performed rock, blues, country rock, punk, horn-band music, and even Grateful Dead tribute material. After seeing the original Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1976, he carried their music into cover bands for decades. His favorites include “Gimmie Back My Bullets” and “Swamp Music.” Away from the stage, Ray is an avid golfer.
Grant Mader
Lead Guitar
Grant has made music for more than 50 years, beginning with classical piano before turning to guitar while attending high school in England. Since the early 1980s, he has performed throughout the Bay Area and opened for Big & Rich, Randy Houser, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jon Pardi, and Wynonna. Grant values the shared admiration Gimmie 3 Steps has for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Southern rock. His favorite is “Free Bird,” perhaps the most recognizable Southern rock song ever written. Away from music, he is an avid golfer.
Dan Beck
Bass
Dan began playing guitar at about 12 and moved to bass in junior high, inspired first by The Beatles and the music of the late 1960s. After more than 20 years away from performing, he returned in 2006 and later played with the John Richardson Band, Orange Morning, and Cut Loose. He enjoys the full Skynyrd catalog, especially “Call Me the Breeze” and the bass introduction to “Simple Man.” Offstage, Dan enjoys mountain biking and running.
The Voices
Gianna Biagi
Lead Backing Vocalist / Soprano
Gianna has sung since age five, performed professionally for more than 20 years, and taught voice and music since 2008. Raised by professional Bay Area musicians, she came up through the Tongue’n’Chic Orchestra, shared the stage with Carlos Reyes, and later sat in with Skynnyrd Lynnyrd. She treasures Gimmie 3 Steps’ warmhearted musicianship and the opportunity to perform beside former students. “Sweet Home Alabama” carries childhood nostalgia, while “That Smell” is deeply personal: she sings it in memory of her brother and in the hope its message may help someone struggling with addiction.
Fiona Minnich
Backing Vocals
Fiona has sung for 13 years, bringing a lifelong love of music, theatre, and performance to the stage. She has fronted several rock bands and spent five years in musical theatre, developing a dynamic presence and versatile vocal style. Fiona loves the authenticity of Gimmie 3 Steps and the chance to recapture the original band’s energy. Her favorite song is “That Smell,” where the rich harmonies let the vocalists shine. Outside music, Fiona is an accomplished writer whose work has appeared in nationally recognized publications.
Meadow Johnson
Backing Vocals
Meadow has sung for 10 years, but her musical journey began with piano lessons at age four. She later explored drums and guitar before discovering her passion in vocal lessons at age 10. During her teens, Meadow performed in approximately six bands through teen rock programs, singing, playing keyboards, and occasionally stepping behind the drums. She values Gimmie 3 Steps’ high standard of authenticity and commitment to honoring Skynyrd’s legacy. Her favorite song is “Tuesday’s Gone” for its emotion and layered harmonies. Away from music, Meadow loves traveling and discovering new places.
