Bobby McDowell - guitar and vocals Influences include The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, Yes and Eddie Van Halen. Bobby is a multi-faceted "musician's musician". He comes from a talented family that boasts both jazz and classical pianists, singers, a banjo player and even a ballerina who had the distinction of being Gene Kelly's dance partner in a live stage show! Bobby began playing drums at age 13, and was working professionally by the age of 16. (To see 15-year-old Bobby playing drums with The Dolphins on a YouTube vintage video - click this link.) By the time he was 18 years old, he had switched his primary focus of interest to guitar. While he is known for his tasteful guitar work, he is still quite handy on drum kit, as well as mandolin, banjo, saxophone, ukulele and piano. His versatility and writing and arranging skills have made him a much sought after talent for both live and studio performances. He has toured the U.S. with dance and show bands, and with the memorable 70's theatrical production of "Tell It Like It Is". In addition, he has performed in both dance and show bands while serving as Cruise Staff member with Clipper, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Bobby, along with keyboardist DeWitt Gibbs, wrote, recorded and toured with drummer Jakson Spires and bassist Greg T. Walker (both of whom later became founding members of the southern rock band Blackfoot) in the popular 70's group called Raintree. Bobby's live appearances include concert performances on the same bill with Billy Greer of the rock group Kansas, Butch Trucks of The Allman Brothers Band, Firefall guitarist John Sambataro, PaulRevere and The Raiders, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Greg Allman Band.
Sondra Lacy - keyboards, keyboard bass and vocals Influences include Bessie Smith, Elvis, The Band, Rosemary Clooney, anyone who recorded on the old Atlantic label, and anything recorded at Stax. Sondra got her start in show business at the ripe old age of five, tap dancing and singing in musical variety shows in her home town of Jacksonville, Florida. She began piano lessons at 9, learned basic guitar from a family friend and played trumpet in high school band. She appeared in several local musical theatre productions and joined her first band while attending college as a music major. During her sophomore year, Sondra auditioned for and was accepted into the elite membership of The Don Thompson Chorale and toured for three seasons with this critically acclaimed vocal organization. From the mid-80's and throughout the 90's she toured the continental U.S. and several Caribbean and Central American countries as both vocalist and keyboardist with dance and show bands. Her extensive background as a performer combined with her interest in widely diverse styles and forms of music allow her to be right at home in just about any type of venue. Her musical career has taken her to most of the 50 states as well as to several Caribbean and Central American countries. She has appeared in concerts on the same bill as The Kingson Trio, Denny Correll (former lead vocalist for The Blues Image), Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Dion DeMucci, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Greg Allman Band.
Gil Linares
- drums and vocals Influences include Naz, Santana, Pablo Cruise, and Chicago. Gil brings a wealth of talent and experience to the group. He is a native of Brownsville, Texas and, like Bobby, comes from a talented musical family. His grandfather played saxophone with dance and swing bands during the depression era. During the 50's and 60's his aunt, who played piano, and two uncles, who played upright bass and drums, were a favorite jazz trio in the northern California area. With all this talent in the family, it was actually the family's next door neighbor who gave Gil his first drum lessons. The neighbor played drums with a conjunto band and allowed Gil to visit during their rehearsals. One day the neighbor, who played left-handed drum kit, let young Gil, who is also left-handed, sit in and the kid was a natural! He joined his first band in junior high school, and co-wrote and recorded his first 45 record at 16 years old. When the song, entitled "The Autumn Song", was released it was soon picked up by radio station program directors and received regular air play for several months across the south Texas region. Even a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy couldn't keep him from playing music. While stationed at Sigonella, in Catania, Sicily, he made regular appearances with a popular Italian variety band. During his illustrious and varied career Gil has served as drummer, singer and/or songwriter for The Joey George Band, The Mike Miller Band, The Bob Garber Review, and The Palmer-Kaleel Band. He also recorded with American Idol "Top 10 Finalist" Tania Taylor. Gil has made concert appearances on the same bill with The Marshall TuckerBand, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Wet Willie, The Association and The Greg Allman Band.
Sondra Lacy - keyboards, keyboard bass and vocals
Gil Linares