Known by many as simply “Dollar,” Dennis began his musical career in the province of Saskatchewan back in the mid-’70s with the band Rigel which also featured Kick-Axe guitarist Raymond Harvey, Darby Mills Project guitarist Randy Gabel, and Big Bad Storm bassist Ron Lawson. After a brief stint with Regina based Momma’s Boy,  and a move to the west coast, Dennis toured extensively in the ‘80s with southern rock bands Straight Shooter and Crossfire before forming country rock band Good Cowboys Gone Bad with long-time writing partner Kevin ”Bubba” Star.

The long-time writing partnership with Kevin ”Bubba” Star was the genesis of the Matlen Starsley Band. After years of writing for their own projects as well as other artists, they felt it was time to focus on performing their own songs and putting together a stellar group of dynamic and accomplished musicians with similar creative aspirations and goals. The Matlen Starsley Band checked all those boxes. Although Dollar has played thousands of shows and written and sang in a number of different musical genres, everything from traditional country to heavy metal, the common thread running through his writing and performances and perhaps the best description of his work is that it is ”honest, heartfelt and whiskey smooth.” His most recent release is an album of his early work with Canadian heavy metal band Touchdown. The album “Don’t Let Time Stand Still” was released in 2017 on Karthago Records.

Jim discovered his passion for music and playing drums at an early age. He is self-taught and was inspired by the great drummers of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.  Jim’s first professional working band Steelback was formed in 1973 and co-founded with his best friend guitarist Mike Roley.

In 1974, Jim joined forces with Syl Thompson and Randy Haig in the band Stryder. After many miles on the road and a short stint playing the club circuit in London England, Jim settled in Vancouver and continued to play with a number of well-known local bands. In 1979, during his time with the band, Remote Control, Jim was hired by Bryan Adams to tour and promote Bryan’s first record “You Want it You Got It.” After a year playing clubs across Canada and a showcase performance for A&M records in New York, they soon found themselves touring and opening shows in arenas and stadiums for bands such as The Kinks, Foreigner and Loverboy. They also had billing in several summer concerts in Florida including the Orange Bowl and the Tangerine Bowl playing in front of crowds of over 30,000 people. Other featured acts on the bills included Blue Oyster Cult, Joan Jett, Ozzy Ozborne and Journey.

 Jim toured with Bryan Adams until 1984, and can be seen in the pool in the music video “Cuts Like a Knife” and is mentioned in Bryan’s hit song “Summer of 69.”

After his time with Bryan Adams, Jim decided it was time to take a break from the music industry and pursue other business opportunities. With his success, the break ended up lasting 34 years. In 2017, after a chance meeting with Kevin Star and Dennis Matechuk at a one-off jam session and a chance to sit in on a gig with their band Bad Allen and the Muscle Cats, Jim’s much-anticipated return behind the kit was set in motion.  Subsequent meetings with Kevin and Dennis to outline their vision for the Matlen Starsley Band and the chance to reignite his passion for music and to be an integral part of the creative process made it official. Jim Wesley was back!

Interestingly, the search for a bass player who could compliment Jim’s work behind the kit came almost full circle and led to the hiring of Don Lennox who had played with Jim previously in the ‘80s in the band The Race. Jim and Don now form an incredibly dynamic, driving rhythm section. The ‘rumble’ that everything else rides upon.

Don has been a listener and collector of music from earliest memory. Starting at ten years old he played drums, guitar, and bass. He loved the rhythm and feel of the drums but also loved creating melody on the guitar and the perfect marriage of the two was the bass. Once he heard the bass lines of John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Chris Squire of Yes for the first time, he was hooked! The bass guitar was what was to become his first love.

 Don hit the road at nineteen with various touring bands and has played thousands of shows including many festivals with bands such as Infinity,  Paris and The Ray Roper Band who opened for The Kinks in May of 1983.  In addition to adding his rhythmic, melodic bass lines and intense grooves to the Matlen Starsley sound, Don is still playing with Ray Roper formerly of Canadian recording artists Stonebolt in the Ray Roper Project, a three-piece band that also features Rick Fedyk current drummer for Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Free fame. 

Despite his busy schedule and after years of searching for the right project, Don has found Matlen Starsley to be the perfect creative outlet. “The combination of the bands varying musical influences and the individual creativity of everyone as well as the opportunity to contribute my own original ideas has been a total joy. I believe the resulting music is timeless, original and very accessible. I am looking forward to sharing our new album with you and some of the even newer tunes already written for our second album."