The 4th Normal Form Band (4NF Band) is a band from Franklin, IN that consists of four boys (ages 18, 17, 15, and 13)
and their father. They began performing in public in January of 2002, after spontaneously forming in the Fall of 2001. They
have performed regularly ever since. The 4NF Band has performed at venues ranging from coffee shops and churches to college
campuses, festivals, conferences centers, and county and state fairs. The band has been seen by as many as 30,000 people at
a single event (The Indianapolis Life 500 Mini Marathon). Because of the band’s unique make-up and musical talent, they
are regularly invited to perform around Indiana and surrounding states. They have played over 200 shows in 8 US states and
Taiwan (Republic of China).
The 4NF Band plays a variety of musical styles, including progressive, hard, and soft
rock, as well as blues and new country. In addition to their own original music, they have covered such bands as Kansas, Journey,
Jimmy Buffett, Boston, Rush, John Denver, Creed, and Kenny Wayne Sheppard. Their music can be found on their 5 full-length
CDs, Seeds of Time, Here in America…, Mothers of Invention, HumaNature, and coram Deo. Various themes run through the
band’s original works. Some of their material is philosophical in nature, while some is simply amusing, creative illustrations
of contemporary life and thought.
The four boys are naturally talented musicians who have chosen their own instruments
and roles within the band. Zach, the oldest at age 18, plays bass and sings background vocals. Isaac, who is 17, plays drums
and sings lead and background vocals. Nathan, at age 15, plays keyboards and guitar and sings lead and background vocals and
is the proud co-owner of a copyright for a song that appears on the band's second CD. Elijah, age 13, is the band's percussionist,
occasional keyboardist, and sings background vocals. And finally, Robert, father of the boys, is guitarist and sings lead
and background vocals in the group. Although he played in various bands as a drummer and background vocalist the previous
30 plus years, he has now assumed the role of front man—much to the wonder of many of his ex-bandmates.
The
boys are all taught by their father, although Nathan and Elijah also take piano lessons outside the home periodically. In
addition, the boys learn from watching others perform and from picking up ideas from friends of the family.