More on Four Fried Chickens and a Coke Band...
If you have seen the first "Blues Brothers" movie, you may
recall a scene from which we have derived our name.
Our name is "Four Fried Chickens and a Coke".
We are a 11-piece band (Update:
12-piece -once again) ,
complete with three vocalists and seven horns. We play cuts from
the Blues Brothers and the Commitments soundtracks, James Brown,
Otis Redding, Ike and Tina Turner, Royal Crown Review, Chicago,
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Stevie Wonder,
Stevie Ray Vaughn, our own original songs, and many more...
We formed in April of 1997, and have been performing regularly
at events and clubs in the Kansas City area.
Band Members:
Brian "the Blister" West: Trumpet, Keyboards, arranging,
scoring
Brian was raised in Overland Park, Kansas and played trumpet
through high school. In high school he played in symphonic,
marching, pep, and jazz bands. In one band he opened for Woody
Herman and the Thundering Heard. Brian played french horn and
trumpet at Johnson County Community College in the wind ensemble
and brass quintet. He played in symphonic band, jazz band, and
the jazz group "Soup of the Day" while at Kansas State
University. He is a co-founder of Four Fried Chickens and a
Coke, and arranges and scores most of the music for the seven
horns and keyboards.
Sherry "The Chick" Oswald: Alto Sax, Lead Female and
Background Vocals, percussion
Sherry toured with the 399th Army Community Band through high
school. She won state solo awards and played piccolo, flute, and
alto sax in jazz and concert bands. She attended Central
Missouri State University on a music scholarship and performed
in the concert and marching bands. She is a co-founder of the
band.
"Devastating" Doug Oswald: Drums
Sherry's husband, Doug was raised in Overland Park, Kansas and
played drums through high school. He attended Baker University
on a music scholarship. He was head of all percussion ensembles.
He toured the Orient for one month with Baker's symphonic and
jazz bands. In Kansas City he drummed for rock groups "Eleven
11", "Society of One", and "Mad Alice". He once opened for
"Jefferson Starship" in a band. He has been drumming for the
band since it's beginning.
Mark "the Typist" Colburn: Keyboards, Piano
Mark was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a student of
classical piano and played in band while in high school. He has
been with Four Fried Chickens since its beginning.
Landon "the Mad Scotsman" Murray: Bass Guitars
Landon was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. He played bass in
and co-founded the band "Poetic Justice" in Lawrence, Kansas in
the early 90's. This band played mostly original contemporary
and progressive rock and blues. Landon wrote and co-wrote lyrics
and music for that band. In high school he played bass for the
Shawnee Mission South Jazz band. He attended Baker Universtiy
for one year and knew Doug Oswald and Kenny Richardson during
their tenure there. Landon has been with the band since February
1999. Check out original music written and co-written by Landon
at these sites:
Jimmy "the Road Runner" Saunders: Alto Sax, Percussion
Jimmy was raised in Overland Park, Kansas and played alto,
tenor, and bari sax for Shawnee Mission West High School
symphonic, marching, pep, and jazz bands. He opened for Woody
Herman and the Thundering Heard in one band. He played in the
wind ensemble at Johnson County Community College and performed
in New Orleans. He has been with the band since its beginning.
Steve "Mr. Microphone" Cox: Lead Vocals, Congas
Steve was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. He was a drummer,
lead singer, and background vocalist for the bands: "Shatter",
"His Boy Elroy", "Age of Boomerang", and "Vertigo". He has
opened for "The Tubes" at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City. He
joined the band in its first two months of existence. Check out
original music written and performed by Steve at:
Kenny "Mr. Pitiful" Richardson: Tenor Sax, Lead Male and
Background Vocals
Kenny was raised in Kansas City, Kansas and played alto, tenor,
and bari sax at Washington High School. He attended Baker
University on a music achievement scholarship and performed in
their concert, jazz, marching, and pep bands. He toured the
Orient for one month with Baker's symphonic and jazz band. He
once opened for Allen Visutti. He joined Four Fried Chickens in
its beginning.
Josh "The Yardman" Taylor: Trumpet
Josh was born in Kc MO and raised in Overland Park Ks. Josh
started his jazz and blues musical endeavors at Shawnee Mission
West High School. He attended the University of Kansas and
played in the Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Combo, Marching band, and Pep
bands for Dr. Robert Foster and Dan Gailey and studied Music
Theory and Compostition. Josh has played and sat in with several
Kansas City Jazz favorites including: Dan Bliss, Fast Johnny
Richer, Abel Ramirez Big Band, The Little Big Band, Karin
Allison, and Rod Fleeman. Josh currently owns a local
Landscaping & Irrigation company which he started ten years
ago. Josh joined the band in the beginning of 2010.
Paul "the Bone Doctor" Scofield: Trombone, Harmonica, bass
Paul was raised in Kansas City and Independence, Mo. and
graduated from Van Horn High School. He attended McPherson
College and played trombone in the concert band, small
ensembles, and the Newton mid-Kansas orchestra. In the 80's he
played trombone in the Kenny Royal Orchestra big band, the Lee's
Summit Stage band, and was principal trombonist in the
Independence Symphony for many years. In the 90's he has been a
frequent musician within the Kansas City blues jam scene, where
he plays trombone, harp, and bass. It is at these jams where he
made contact with the band. He has been with the band since the
first three months.
Rick "The Irish Potato Farmer" Oxley: Lead and Rhythm
Guitar
Rick has rejoined the band after 10 years, now on guitar.
(Bio pending)
Mark "Tri-Pod" Howard: Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Mark just joined the band as of March 2008, still waiting
for him to send his bio. Stay Tuned...
Rich "The Roadie" Jones: Sound Engineering, Band Tech,
etc......
Rich is the master of soundboard soloing, and speaker
placement...and stocking the beer cooler.
Chicken Alumni:
(Will they be back...?
Nobody knows.)
Bill "Bluesboy" Whitehead: Lead and Rhythm Guitar 1998-2009
Bill was born in St. Louis and raised in Chicago. He played
drums, piano, and guitar while going through college. After
college and marriage he moved to Colorado and played piano in a
circuit of night clubs. Since his move to Kansas City he has
been a regular at many of the local blues jam sessions. It is at
these jams where he made the contact with Four Fried Chickens
and a Coke. He has been with the band since August of 1998.
Jon "the Phantom" Snow: Trumpet, Lead Male and Backing Vocals,
percussion 1997-2009
Jon was raised in Baldwin City, Kansas and Lee's Summit,
Missouri. He played violin from birth to junior high school. He
played trumpet through high school in the symphonic band,
orchestra, pit orchestra, marching band, and toured Europe for
three weeks. Other performances in Chicago, Washington DC, and
sang choir at Carnegie Hall, New York. He played trumpet at
Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He joined the band in its
first three months of existence.
Herschel McWilliams: Baritone Sax 2001-2002
Jerry "The Bari" Pierce: Baritone Sax. 1997-2001
Eric "Handsome Man" Hansen: Lead and Rhythm Guitar 1997-98
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OTHER KANSAS CITY BANDS
BY ADAM BLUE PRODUCTIONS:
