Mike Dierkes needs no bio!

James is an Orange County, California native. He was brought up in a family with a military backbone and yet it was not shy of it's share of entertainers.

James has spent most of his life engaged in music and writing. Whether he was inspired vocally, instrumentally, or through stage theatre, he realized from a young age of what was and what is true art. James is inspired by a broad spectrum of music genres due to his upbringing and his pure love of what music does for the soul. He has been known to say, "Music is that best friend that will always tell you what you need to hear. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry, but it is always a damn good time. That friend, that will also give you the same freedom to be yourself".

Gene Marcellino – Bass 1968 – 1988

1968 – 73 - Multiple SF Bay Area Club Bands

1973 – 88  - Multiple LA Area Club Bands (in between recording sessions and road gigs)

Notable Performances

1970 The Reality Sandwich (Oakland, CA)

1974 – 77   Gary Lewis and the Playboys

1977 Champion (Signed to TAWO Records, Japan Release)

1978 Masterplan (Signed to A&M Records)

1979 Halloween (Signed to Mercury Records)

1980 Street Pajama (Tuscon, AZ)

Song Writer Credits:

Whatever You Got (I Want)

• Jackson 5, Dancin’ Machine Album 1974; Played Bass on recording

What You Don’t Know (Won’t Hurt You)

• Jackson 5, Dancin’ Machine Album 1974; Played Bass on recording

• Mongo Santamaria, Afro-Indio Album 1975

• El Chicano, Cinco Album 1975

Fat Chance

• Champion, Champion Album (Japan) 1978; Played Bass on recording

Baby Come Back

• K-Ci & JoJo, Love Always Album 1997

No No No

• Milk and Sugar/Roxanne Wilde, On A Mission Album 2008 (Electronic)

​
 

1988 – Went on a “hiatus” from the music business. Changed careers, ultimately became a computer programmer until retiring from a corporate position in 2013. Began playing bass again after a 32-year break in April 2018.

Carl has been in a band of some form since he was 11, playing surf songs on a nylon string guitar for school assemblies.  Once the Beatles came out in late 1963 he was hooked.  Being influenced by all things “The Beatles”, he was asked to switch to Bass guitar, sing lead and backup vocals in a much better band that had older players.  Eventually, all those rock n’ roll dreams took a back seat to real life. 

After four years in the Army, he finished college and landed a job in local government, where he worked for over 27 years. Now retired, he is once again playing and enjoying music of all types.

Joe Rumney was born in Long Beach Ca. His  Interest in the drums began on February 9th 1964 when The Beatles had their 1st appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. At 10 years old Joe got his 1st drum kit which he put to good use by taking lessons and playing in several bands through his teenage years. 
 

 He grew up listening to many bands including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, led zepplin, gfr, ABB, yes, ELP, and Cream just to name a few.

 After a wonderful career in the fire service as a firefighter paramedic ( where he acquired the nickname Smokin Joe) he decided to refocus his attention back on drumming. Joe jumped at the chance to work with drummers Kofi Baker (son of Ginger Baker) Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires) and Mark Schulman ( Pink, Cher). 

Smokin Joe faced many challenges as a Firefighter/ Paramedic and he now puts that same focus and intensity into his drumming.

Chris McKinney got his start in the Southern California Jam band circuit.  Over the past 30 years he has worked with, and learned from some of California's finest Jamband, Classic Rock, Country and Blues artists.  Playing in, and working as a hired gun for such bands as...

Northbound Train
The Wheels of Autumn
Madcap Otis
Fung
BR3
Cubensis
Farris Wheel Junkies
The Rusted Roses
The People's Dead
Kentucky Playboys
Jerry Duty
The Legion of Minglwood
Skeleton Crew
And many more...

Chris's other musical love is The Blues.  As co-founder of OCMA nominated, local blues greats Gospel Swamp Blues Band he had the opportunity to open for, and play with legendary musicians such as...

Coco Montoya
Eric Sardinas
Mark Ford (of The Black Crows)
Duane Betts
Pedro Arevalo
Melvin Seals and JGB (The Jerry Garcia Band)
Johnny Winter
Leon Russell
and more

Chris is also a current member of The Juke Joint Preachers featuring blues Harp master Juke Joint Anderson, The Tom Ciurczak Band, and is also working closely with blues guitarist Jessica Kaczmarek on live performances as well as on organ tracks for her upcoming album.