Dennis Winkle is a 4 year alumnus of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

After college, Dennis toured with local top-40-styled bands and contracted bands that put him in the company of artists like saxophonist Joe Lovano, singers Dux DeJohn, Rosemary Clooney, and even famous vaudeville and violinist comic Henni Youngman.

After many diverse musical opportunities, Dennis landed a leadership position with country/pop singer Ellason Hill as her drummer and musical director. The band successfully toured South Florida and Central America in support of her first album. After returning to the states, Dennis relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he played in the Bill Ellis house band at the famous Hollywood Country dance club.

While playing Monday night jazz jams at the Afterthought club in Little Rock, Dennis was approached by the Bonnie & Soul jazz group from Houston, Texas and was asked to go on tour with them for two and a half years.  After the breakup of this very influential group, Dennis headed for Denver, Colorado, where he was able to land a drum department head position at Pro Sound Music's Denver store. 

An opportunity to move to Los Angeles, California came from an offer to set up a drum department in a music store in the area of LAX airport.  While in L.A., Dennis was able to meet and work with some excellent musicians, such as saxophonist Kerry Campbell, big band leader Jimmy McConnell, the late jazz organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith, comedian Foster Brooks, and The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, among others.

Since coming to Springfield in 1990, Dennis started to make a name for himself in 1995, when he joined the Percussion Shop teaching staff as a private instructor, a position he held for 15 years. In 1995 he also organized The Swingfield Dance Orchestra (a 10 piece Swing band), and its smaller 5 piece group The Notables. These bands were perfect for a variety of musical presentations and functions. After resigning in 2000, he continued to play with The DT Blues Band, JD Jazz, Eddie Valen, Hotbox, The Silver Hammer (Beatles cover band), Jazz Educators Big Band, Montage, and The Arzo Tureaud Jazz Quartet.  Dennis has also been a drummer/percussionist at the Landers & Vandivort Theaters and The Nixa Art Association.

As of January of 2011, Dennis become a member of the locally famous and extremely popular
M-Dock Band.  Also as of late, Dennis was offered the drum throne playing with local country music talent John Miner.  facebook.com/john.miner45