About

Haywood came together in the Fall of 1996, in College Station, TX. With no more intent than to have a great time with a large group of friends, Brandon Elam and Stephen Sandlin put pen to paper. Kris Arnold and Craig Hoenes filled in the danceable foundations, and the percussion stylings of Chris Huntley and Chris Ginsbach settled down on top. What resulted was an outstanding mix of melody, fun, and a heartfelt exploration of life. Music that makes you want to move… and laugh a little, too.

The next 8 years flew by. Three CDs, one EP, plenty of local praise, and the ability to regularly pull in 1000+ person crowds, helped Haywood make a name around College Station and Houston. Haywood was named Band of the Year, got radio airplay, and was generally considered one of the best live shows around town. As members moved on, the shows slowed, but everyone has remained involved. Brandon Elam has pushed The Literary Greats to success on the Houston music landscape, and Chris Ginsbach has helped plant the seeds of a flourishing Jazz and arts scene in Midland, TX.

While things may have changed over the last few years, the purpose of the band remains. Have a great time, and bring the crowd along for the ride. We’re excited to be back together, and share it with some friends.

Brandon Elam – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards
Stephen Sandlin – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Kris Arnold – Bass Guitar
Craig Hoenes – Drums
Chris Huntley – Percussion
Chris Ginsbach – Percussion
Brendan Anthony – Fiddle