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The BIT-O-WYO Posse
The BIT-O-WYO Posse is a wonderful musical blend of the Steele family and friends - full of talent and fun. From parents to kids, the love of music and entertainment is spread through the generations.
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Dennis Steele
Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Harmonica & Vocals
Dennis Steele is the originator of The Blue Water Cowboy Band. His love of music started in grade school learning music with his father. In high school, he was the lead in several musicals and later toured the US with a barbershop quartet. In high school Dennis was a member of The Flapjacks, an award winning barbershop quartet. He has performed in The Music Man and toured Midwest colleges for three seasons with a quartet . Dennis has toured in the USO with the North Door. He has had the privilege of performing with the Osmonds, Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and Charlie Pride. Dennis is a Professor of Computer Science at Regis University and is the proud father of his four children. Heather, Shannan & Gabe, are also members of The Bit-O-Wyo Posse and Chad, is an entrepreneur, leader for youth groups, enjoys playing the drums, and owns Cyber-reality in Denver, Co. “Doc”, as he is referred to by his university students, has written two books, one in Computer Science, and one forthcoming entitled: Synthesis: The Convergence of Consciousness Theory, Mythology, and Machine Intelligence.
Heather Steele - Vocals & Choreography
Dennis began singing to Heather before she was born. Her first performance at four years old was singing the Beatles hit, “Hey Jude”. At eleven, she was cast in Hollywood’s Mickey Mouse Club, was professionally modeling for Sears and JC Penny’s catalogs, making commercials, and winning awards in junior theatre and dance competitions. At twelve, she won a ballroom dance competition with her brother, Chad, at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In high school, she was an athlete and played in every varsity sport. In College, she sang in a rock band, performed with her family, and continued to perform in theatre. One of her favorite entertainment memories was working as a singing and dancing “Saloon Gal” in a western show in Cody, Wyoming at 17. Heather is a writer and life coach in Denver, Colorado. In addition to owning her own seminar and coaching business, Steele Coaching and Communications, Inc., she is a proud mother to Tyler Heath, her 19 year old son, who is also an entertainer and full-time college student. Heather holds degrees in Business and Journalism and is planning to pursue her doctorate in the next year. Heather runs the WindRiders Adventure Camp for Kids with her partner, Chris Keener.
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Shannan Steele - Vocals & Choreography
Shannan has been performing with her family since she was 5 years old, and once she started, she's never stopped. As a child, Shannan performed in the musical Annie with Cheyenne Little Theater, danced with Elizabeth Tolerton School of Dance, and performed in The Nutcracker with The Tulsa Ballet at the Cheyenne Civic Center. As an adult, Shannan found herself performing at The Wyoming Territorial Prison in the Saloon Show, and in "Raise The Roof" at the Horsebarn Dinner Theater. After moving to Denver, she has performed numerous seasons with Six Flags Elitch Gardens and with several vocal groups. For the past 9 years she has found her nitch in Denver's theater scene, performing at The Arvada Center, The Country Dinner Playhouse, and at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Productions include Violet, On The Town, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweet Charity, Guys and Dolls, Over the River and Through the Woods; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Denver's longest running musical), The 1940s Radio Hour (Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), My Way, Aida, Pippin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Swing!, Clue the Musical, The Taffetas, The Last Five Years, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, and most recently Les Miserables. Shannan is thrilled to be performing with her favorite group once again, her cherished family.
Blue Water Bucharoos Chris Heather Shannan & John |  |
Gabe Steele - Bass & Vocals
Gabe has been playing bass for 12 years. He has performed in many theatres in the Denver Area. While a vocal major at the University of Wyoming, he performed in Brazil and at Carnigie Hall. After transferring to Regis University he played several roles in theatre productions, as well as, playing bass and trombone. Additionally, Gabe was the musical director for several of these productions. Gabe is currently with the IT department of the Arvada Police Department. Gabe is married to Kristi and they have a 5 year old son, Zane. Zane is learning to play the drums and performs a great Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Christopher Keener - Vocals
Chriistopher has been performing, directing, writing and producing professionally since 1983. His first role, back when he was sixteen going on seventeen, was Rolf, Liesl's love interest in The Sound of Music. One of his most memorable opportunities since then was Forever Plaid, which he performed hundreds of times from 1992-1998, and directed several productions as well. His company, The Performance Works, which was started in 2000, is dedicated to creating corporate messages that stick by infusing videos and live presentations with humor and music. Chris also runs WindRiders Adventure Camp along with the love interest in his life, Heather Steele. Chris is honored to share the stage with the talented Steele family.
Dennis Coelho - Strings
A recently retired history teacher, Dennis grew up with cowboy songs and ballads on his grandfather's homestead above the Snake River in southwestern Idaho. After service in the US Army in Europe, he played the coffee house / folk club circuit before returning to the States to attend college where he studied folklore and traditional music. While continuing to perform in bluegrass and old-time bands, he produced documentary albums for the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress. Before turning to secondary teaching in Cheyenne, he served for five years as the Folk Arts Specialist with the Wyoming Arts Council where he produced the four-part CD series "You Know That Wyoming Will Be Your New Home: Songs and Stories of Wyoming Settlement," which has just recently been re-issued. He plays several string instruments and is delighted to be joining the "Bluewater Cowboys."
Perry Jones - Strings
Perry is a Wyoming native born and raised in Casper sometime during the last century. His musical adventure started at an early age with both the piano and the guitar but his passion for music began at age thirteen when he visited his sister in Nashville and heard his first 5-string banjo. Throughout high school and college Perry played the banjo and guitar with various bluegrass and country bands. His father began to make fiddles and mandolins as a hobby and after Perry received his first homemade mandolin he fell in love with the instrument. His striking good looks, effervescent personality, and clever wit have been a constant burden to bear over the years and countless cowgirls have suffered broken hearts after he has ridden off into the sunset. He and his current favorite cowgirl of twenty eight years have three children and live in Cheyenne where Perry is a Captain with the Wyoming State Patrol.
Carl Halladay, jr. - Strings
Carl got his first guitar in grade school and since then has played almost every style from big band dance music to bluegrass with some early rock and roll, folk, jazz and a little classical thrown in along the way. E and his wife Joanne have spent their last fourteen winters in an adult community in Arizona where he has performed in several local productions. Carl was one of the founding members and is still performing with the comedy bluegrass group The Chugwater Philharmonic String Quartet. He is also an active member of the Cheyenne Guitar Society. In spite of all the fun, he did find some time to do a little work. He retired in 1993 from his one and only employer, Halladay Motors, as a second generation automobile dealer. It’s great to be a part of the Bluewater Cowboys
