Hank Rischar Keyboard and Vocals

Hank Rischar was born on Sunday, March the 6th, in the sleepy river town of Quincy, Illinois. After high school graduation, he attended Truman State University on a vocal music scholarship, where he studied applied voice under Dr. R. Paul Crabb, current head of the Department of Vocal Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

While at Truman, Rischar was a founding member of Truman's Beta Theta Pi Zeta Xi Chapter, was involved in Cantoria, University Chorus, and was an active participant in the school's Tai Chi, Boxing and Foil Fencing Programs. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy & Religions with minors in International Studies and Anthropology.

Also at Truman, Rischar started regular gigging with his first band, Boko Maru. Named after a religious ritual from Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, the band specialized in grunge originals and covers and had a reasonable following before disbanding. In Boko Maru, Hank played guitar and performed lead vocals. That Spring, Boko Maru cut their now impossible to find 3 track cassette demo, Take the Time.

Following his Bachelor's coursework, Hank returned to Quincy to pursue a Master's Degree in Education. During this time, he joined a local Quincy act called Javaman, initially as a vocalist and auxiliary percussionist, then eventually as a vocalist and keyboardist. That group released their first and only album, Jacob's 5 that summer.

It was also during this time that he was a member of the short lived Quincy band, The Great White Groove Machine, which only played one gig. What is notable was that gig was a support slot for the then up-and-coming vocal act, Destiny's Child.

Rischar soon earned his Master's Degree and in the fall followed his Javaman bandmates to Lawrence, KS, to be a part of it's exciting music scene. Javaman never quite got off the ground and disbanded in the summer of 2002. The remnants of that band soon formed Tri Point Paradox, who performed shows throughout Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. The band released three albums for Red Leaf Records: Support (2002), . . . As You are to Me (2004), and Pictures of the Journey Home (2006) before disbanding in 2006.

In the Fall of 2007, Hank was asked to join Trucker and has loved every minute. Besides his career as a professional musician, Hank is an Algebra teacher and coach for the Leavenworth, KS Unified School District. He married his lovely wife Breanne in June 2007 (sorry ladies), following a seven year courtship.

Methods of Punishment

Hank plays an Alesis QS8.1 2-Channel Sythnesizer out of dual Behringer KX1200 4-Channel keyboard amps.