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 9 to 12 piece band, depending on the event, 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 kc jazz band "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 jazz and 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 dueling 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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