Chris was born and raised in Tarboro NC where he was part of a very musical family. He began playing at the age of thirteen and is at home on the guitar and bass, and is a phenomenal vocalist.

Chris has played with Roy C, Percy Sledge, ZZ Hill, The Dramatic Santanas, Franko and the Gang, and numerous others. His musical influences are too numerous to list, so just think of the entire history of music and that should almost cover it.

Chris loves to travel, listen to music, or just kick back and watch sports.

Al is the utility man for Backyard Groove. His talent spreads across guitar, harmonica, wind controller, lead vocal, harmony wizardry, and oh yeah, he also plays a heck of a sax.

Al grew up in South Carolina where he started playing saxophone in the sixth grade and hasn’t stopped since. He graduated from East Carolina University in 2004 with a degree in Music Education. Outside of Backyard Groove, he is a high school band director who teaches marching band, concert band, and jazz ensemble.

Musical influences include but are by no means limited to Jimi Hendrix, Maceo Parker, Leroi Moore, Grover Washington Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Beatles.

Scott comes to us from Charlotte NC where he grew up listening to neighborhood bands. Scott was a big fan of the parades that would pass by his house, running out just to watch the bands. Starting at the age of six, he would beat on pots and pans, tables, and anything else he could pretend was a drum. At sixteen he played drums for local hippies, and by seventeen he started with The Dice Band, his first real playing gig. This band went on the become the opening band for Clarence Carter. This lasted for several years and Scott was known as Clarence’s personal drummer.

Scott went on to share the stage with Mother’s Finest, Grand Haze, The Breckman Band, The Dramatic Santanas, and Trainwreck. He has even worked as a one-man band and been the drummer for Community Christian Church.

Scott brings a calm, mellow presence to the band, but lays down a driving beat and is in his groove with funk and soul. Scott is definitely a laid back drummer for life.

 

Jarrett hails from the booming metropolis of Pinetops NC. His music exposure began with his father who had grown up as a drummer playing with the likes of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Clifford Curry, and even James Brown. So as a kid riding around in the family vehicle he was exposed to a lot of old school music.

Jarrett began playing trumpet in middle school band because he thought only having three valves would make it easy. That definitely was not the case, but he quickly caught on and was even playing the solos for the high school marching band while still in middle school.

After dropping the trumpet to pursue college and a career in engineering, he began following his love for music once again. Since then he has shared the stage with The Embers and The Band of Oz, has been a member of the original Showmen band, and has opened for Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, and The Commodores.

Billy hails from Williamston NC, which apparently is an area that produces great guitarists. Billy started playing guitar at the age of eleven on a 1958 Fender Telecaster, the very guitar he plays today.

Billy has been a member of numerous gospel groups, during which time he had the pleasure of opening for the Mighty Clouds of Joy. He has played with Luther Ingram, Percy Sledge, and is a former member of the Dramatic Santanas.

Billy’s influences include Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Norman Brown, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, and Stanley Clark.