JOIN
OUR E-MAIL LIST ! Sign-up now
and we will occasionally notify you when we have
site updates or events of interest. We WILL NOT
sell nor give your address to any other party.
[CLICK
HERE TO SUBSCRIBE]
|
|
| |
 |
|
North
Polk County entertainers who's musical roots
and accomplishments were set in the 1970's and '80's
and who were often
colleagues with and sometimes protégés
of the original PolKats.
|
 |
 Drummer, Rick
Burnett, played in several local
North Polk County garage bands during the late
60's
and early 70's including "United Sounds" and
"Raintree
County". In 1972, he and
guitarist Larry Howard went to
Macon,
GA
where
they helped
create southern-rock's "Ginderswitch" with
Dru Lumbar and Joe Dan Petty. Signed to Capricorn
Records, Grinderswitch
would record 9 albums and perform around the
world over the next 7 years.
|
|
 |
 Best
known for his lightning fast harmonica licks and
complex guitar riffs, multi-instrumentalist Duke
Burr played with local rockers "Sam
Hill" and for country singer/songwriter Carl
Chambers until he got his opportunity to join
the
Reba McIntire road band in
the
early
1980's. Duke currently owns and opererates "Burr
Printing Company" in WInter Haven, FL.
|
|
 |
 Born
in Rhode Island, guitar rocker Les
Dudek's family moved to Central
Florida in 1959. Les played in several
local garage bands until 1971, when he migrated
north
to Macon, GA and became involved with the
Allman Brothers Band. He has since made an indelible
mark on the music industry collaborating with
artists such as Boz Scaggs, Steve Miller, Cher
and Stevie Nicks, just to name a few. Les still
makes his home in Auburndale, FL.
|
|
 |
|
Bobby Drawdy made a name for himself as both a sideman and as a songwriter during the seventies and eighties, working for several years as lead guitarist for country music legend, Ferlin Husky and writing several notable songs that were recorded by major artists including: Ferlin Husky, Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette. Bobby passed away in 1997. |
 |
 Guitarist, Randy
Ferrell, made his mark on the music
business during the early '80's when he became
guitarist for the
Bellamy
Brothers Band. The architect of
many of the identity licks featured in the Brothers'
hits during that period, Randy became an integral
part of the Bellamy's '80's sound. Also an accomplished
music electronics repairman, Randy has worked for
many years in that field. |
|
 |
 A
Florida native, bassist, Donnie
Helms, says the most
influential musician in his musical formative years
was marching band icon, John Phillip Souza. Donnie
began his career playing with a traveling "Gospel" group
but by the the mid-eighties he was playing for country-rock
music staples "The Bellamy Brothers". He
played on several of their albums and Top 10 hits.
Donnie is still an active musician today.
|
|
 |
 Guitarist, Larry
Howard, as a 13 year old trombonist,
had the opportunity to meet and play under the
tutelage of the legendary Count Basie while attending
a music camp at the University of Miami. Larry
then taught himself to play guitar and joined
with other local teens to play rock and roll
in several Central Florida area garage bands.
In the early 70's, he and drummer friend
RIck Burnett traveled to southern-rock mecca,
Macon, GA and helped form the group Ginderswitch.
They would record 9 albums beforebreaking up
in 1979.
|
|
 |
 Steel
guitarist, Dannie
Jones played on over a dozen Bellamy
Brothers albums and toured all over the world with
the Bellamys off and on through out his career. He
was equally at home on both the concert stage and
in
the studio.
A native Floridian, Dannie's family lived in the
Sebring area but his musical career was rooted in
the Auburndale area of North Central Polk County.
Dannie passed away in 2004.
|
|
 |
 Keyboardist, Jon
LaFrandre,
started his career in the sixties, playing with Winter
Haven's garage band, the
Spades, He and brother
Halsey left that group and formed one of the seminal
garage bands of the era, Purple Underground. In
1978, Jon teamed up with Howard and David Bellamy
to form the foundation of the Brothers' new road
and recording band. Jon would spend many years
in their employ recording numerous albums and top
10 singles. |
|
 |
 Keyboardist, Wayne
Lewis, spent the early '80's playing
keyboards and performing the duties of road manager
for the Reba McIntire organization. He now
resides in Bartow, FL and is currently retired
from the music business. |
|
 |
 From
his roots in the Central Florida bluegrass scene, Mike
Marshall, has become one of the most
innovative players of the new acoustic music genre.
After leaving the Central Florida area, Mike spent
five years (1985-1990) as a member of the David Grisman
Quintet and has since explored just about every avenue
of jazz, world and traditional music. He continues
to push the envelope with every new project. |
|
 |
 North
Polk County native, Mickey
Merritt, got his start in the music business
playing piano for the Southland Trio, a Southern Gospel
Quartet that achieved national success during the late
60's. He later became the preferred studio piano player
for country acts that would frequent Central Sound
Studios during the '70's and '80's. Mickey's career
highlight was playing in the original Ricky Skaggs
band during the 1980's. Mickey passed away in 2002.
|
|
 Born
in Indiana, drummer and percussionist, Rodney
Price
began his career as a youngster during the sixties
performing in a duo with his brother, Robert, who played
accordion. After his family moved to Central Florida
he played locally until, during
the late
'70's,
he joined the
road and studio band that backed up the Bellamy
Brothers
and
in the early '80's went to work for Ricky
Skaggs. Rodney played on several of the Bellamy's,
as well as Skaggs, top ten singles. He is still an
active player in the North Polk County music arena. |
|
 |
 A
connoisseur and student of the banjo, Auburndale's Joe
Spann also became one of the areas premier
lead guitarists after taking up that instrument in
the early '80's. Although national success has long
eluded
him,
Joe's expertise in banjo history and lore are sought
out worldwide. He
remains an influential force on area and regional artists
and instrumentalists through
his studio
productions
and
live performances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  
We will add to these and others as information becomes
available. If you have a favorite North Polk County musician
from the 50's, 60's, or 70's, who had some impact on
the national music scene, and you would like to nominate
them for inclusion in our Hall of Fame, drop us a line.
We are always open to suggestions.
Email Us
|
|
|
