August Zadra is best known for handling lead guitar and vocal duties, in iconic singer Dennis DeYoung's (formerly of the band Styx) solo band, a position he has held since 2010.
Since the age of 15, the guitar has been a passion that pulled August from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Hollywood, California, where he attended and graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology. His roots are in classic rock, and, while raising a family, he chose to focus his musical talents on paying tribute to some of his greatest inspirations. YouTube videos of his Styx tribute band led to his being hired by DeYoung.
August has been a constant in the L.A. music scene for over 30 years, playing with a variety of bands. He is often sought out as a guitarist/vocalist collaborator for various recording projects. August has also written, recorded, or performed with several esteemed and much-loved artists over the years, including Jeff Scott Soto, Nuno Bettencourt, Robin Zander, Jim Peterik, Tommy DeCarlo, and more.
In 2020, the band he formed with vocalist Rudy Cardenas, Waiting for Monday, released their critically acclaimed debut album on the Frontiers label. Also, in 2020 and in 2021, he contributed backing vocals and guitars to Dennis DeYoung’s highly praised final studio albums, “26 East, Vol. 1” and “26 East, Vol. 2”, respectively. In February of 2022, his first solo album "Guiding Star" was released, also on Frontiers, and has been received incredibly well.
His joyful spirit and love of music are infectiously entertaining and delivered with a balance of flash and substance. His passionate, high-energy performances have been admired by fans, press, and other musicians around the world.