About Us

"Their multi-cultural program is filled with high energy and

leaves the audience enthralled."

Phillip Lowe Coordinator for Visual & Performing Arts Hill College (TX)

After eighteen years, a couple of name changes, three successful recordings and over 1000 performances, Tin Roof Tango continues to excite audiences with their trademark high energy acoustic fusion sound while exploring new musical vistas. At their first performance at the Dallas Menswear Mart, the band (then under the name Instant Irish) was performing exclusively Celtic music. Bandleader Mark Shelton soon added traditional American tunes to their repertoire of Irish music. In 1988, the quintet (under the name Folk Like Us) became a part of the Young Audiences of Greater Dallas roster and began to perform Arts-in-Education programs in schools. Today, Tin Roof Tango remains one of the top booked acts on the Dallas roster and is also affiliated with Young Audiences of Houston and the Southeast Texas (Beaumont) chapter as well.

The band produced its first recording in 1990. Within months the recording, Spring Dance joined the North Star Music catalog. In 1992 the Rhode Island based record label released the highly successful, An American Christmas selling in excess of 60,000 copies and receiving critical acclaim. As the repertoire changed, so has the group's moniker, and in 1994 the band took on its current name, Tin Roof Tango. April 2000 marked the release of Tin Roof Tango, the group’s current CD, featuring a high energy array of world music repertoire.

Mark Shelton leapt at the chance to play snare drum in the elementary band program in McNairy County, TN. It didn’t quite hit him about how many drums he might have to carry around in the future. Mark served as Visiting Artist at Wayne Community College in North Carolina before moving to Texas. Mark has been a staff musician at Calvary Church of Irving since 1985 and currently teaches percussion at Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas. In an attempt to turn from his sedentary ways, Mark has taken up running and consuming more dietary fiber. He was the overall winner in the 5000 meter run at the 2005 Texas Masters Championships and ran his first marathon on January 1, 2007.

Jonathan Malone began to learn the guitar while recuperating from an injury. Good move! Since that pivotal decision, he has gone on to study recording technology and music at Cedar Valley College. In addition to duties with Tin Roof Tango, Jonathan sings and plays electric guitar in the band, Rolo’s Pocket. Earlier in life, Jonathan performed with a jump rope team and was capable of jumping rope on a pogo stick.

While attending the University of Oklahoma, Rachel Jarvis studied English and played cello in the OU Symphony Orchestra. Rachel toured Oklahoma performing for children with Street Players Theatre. After moving to Texas, she created the Mid-Cities Strings music school where she teaches and conducts. Rachel was the principal cellist of the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra from 2000-2004. A versatile musician, Rachel also performs on violin and viola. Her favorite snack food is yogurt.

Peter Champagne began playing piano as a child. It was the electric bass that eventually captured his focus and led him to study with such notable teachers as Lynn Seaton and Phil McNeese. Currently, Peter teaches privately and free-lances in a variety of musical settings. An advocate for oral hygiene and technology, Peter always travels with his electronic toothbrush.

jWith degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of North Texas, Cecilia Hamilton teaches flute at Austin College, conducts a community orchestra, plays in Metropolitan Winds, and considers exercising. Cecilia has a strong interest in Baroque flute and early music. An enthusiastic supporter of new music, she has premiered several compositions and appeared at a number of Contemporary music events.