Funk Shway Band + Band in Oldsmar, FL

ABOUT

Playing a wide Variety of music styles from Blues , R & B , Funk, Easy Listening, Smooth Jazz,Disco, Top 40, Oldies, American Standards, Dance, anything that keeps the party moving and dancing

Screen name:

funkshwayband

Member since:

Sep 08 2008

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years together:

1

Gigs played:

50 to 100

Tend to practice:

2-3 times per week

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Age:

67 years

Influences

James Brown, Stevie Wonder, KC & The Sunshine Band, Creedance Clearwater, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Donna Summer, Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Black Eyed Peas, Gwenn Stefani, Santana, Joe Cocker, Van Morrission, Billy Withers, The Tramps, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Kid Rock, George Benson, Dwight Yokham , Garth Brooks, Evis, Toby Keith, B.B King, Little Richard, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Hank Williams, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Allman Brothers, Wild Cherry, Dobbie Brothers, Sting, Average White Band, Rick James, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Atlanta Rythm Section, Grund Funk, Sam & Dave, Al Greene, Smokey Robinson, Bruce Spingstein, George Benson, The Kinks, The Ramones, Ottis Redding, R.E.M., Puddle Of Mud, Tom Petty, Black Crowes, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, ect.

Members Of Band

JOLENE FREE / Lead Female Vocalist

Perfoming with live bands throughout Tampa Florida, doing a wide variety of music and everything from Janis Joplin to Sade' she writes her own original Pop, R & B, Alternative, and Dance Music. Who cares where she was born? This Gal is a Power House Singer knocking out all styles of music, keeping the crowd moving and in the groove. Be sure not to miss out on her performance as she is one site to see and hear she'll send chills up your spine.

TOMMY DIGI / Lead Guitar / Vocals / Harmonies / Blues Harp

Originally from Long Island and now living in Pinellas County Florida, Tommy was influenced by many different types of guitar players including B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton. and many of the R&B /Disco Band that influenced the late 70s and early 80s dance music scene. In the late 70s he worked with Hokis Pokis as a sound engineer and was picked up by TK Records. He has played and engineered many studio groups and live recording acts such as Tina Marie, Faith Hope & Charity, The Tramps, Archie Bell & the Drells, Lenny Coco and the Chimes, Brooklyn Bridge just to name a few. He has worked in some of the most famous New York Recording Studios which includes the Hit Factory, Sonic Sound, Master Sound Production, Sky Line Studios, Sound Wave Records and at Sterling Sound. Tommy has Played with bands in the Tampa bay area in the past few years Pumpin’ Ethel and Scattered Vision and is on to his new project Funk Shway. Tommy's vision and vast experience has brought various guitar styles, vocals, and has helped to brings a professional sound quality to Funk Shway.

VIC BERRING / Bass Guitar / Vocals / Harmonies

Born and bred in New York City. A keen sense of rhythm and a pasion for making music inspired him to take up the piano at first but unforseen circumstances made him more suitable as a bassist. Growing up in an urban neighborhood R&B was the music of major influence then and still is today. Vic also likes smooth jazz, light rock and the blues. Over the years he's lived at various locations world wide performing with groups
like "the Over The Hill Gang, Interstate Funk and Tempo 88" which opened for name R&B acts such as: Jackie Wilson, The Delfonics, Rufus, The Manhattans, Clarence Carter, The Impressions and Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra. Vic now makes Tampa Florida his permanent home and
headquarters. Vic lays down a rock solid Bass Lines with his smooth tones and poping and slapping that will surely get your attention and make you want to get up and move to the beat. Look for Vic in his latest venture with Funk Shway.

KEVIN "CANNON" BEYERLE / Drums / Harmonies

Originally from Walnut Creek California took piano lessons at the age of 8. Switched over to drums at age 11 his first gig was at age 13 with a 3 piece band The Ectadellic Trip. Moving forward to 1979 ran lights and sound for Menagerie for 1 year. Kevin then in 1980 hooked up with Cartoons and went on a Non-Stop Road Tour for the next 3 years all around the country taking enough time off from touring to record a 3 song EP. After leaving Cartoons at the age of 23 Kevin was in a seach to better his knowledge and took jazz lessons to better his understanding of the instrument he came to love. Kevin joined a heavy metal band Crystal Legend and recorded 50 originals and played live venue in the south east regeion of the USA. Later on recording at Jeff Cooks Studio in Alabama with South Central Station. As time went on Kevin was hired on as a studio drummer recorded with Blue Moon and the The Stone Family Gospel Group at Sound Cell Studios, where he met John Andrews who wrote the song “All My X’s Live In Texas” and who at the time was the promoter of the Judds , he told me to play country music so he gave it a whirl for sometime. Kevin had a deep love of Rock & Roll and was influenced by greats such as Jerry Brown, Dave Weckle, Buddy Rich, Ed Shairnessy, Peter Criss, Mitch Mitchell and many more. Kevin holds the meter up for his new adventure Funk Shway a variety group. Kevin keeps the beat solid and rock steady putting it right in the groove for you to dance till your feet hurt.

DEAN GERMAIN / HAMMOND B3 / KEYS

Dean is a Julliard graduate and has played with Lucky Peterson, Sarasota Slim and with many other nationally known acts and in venues such as The Green Iguana, Skipper's Smokehouse, Sarasota Blues Fest, Ruth Eckard Hall and is a member of The South Florida Blues Society for promenent and up coming blues musicans in the Florida area. Dean has also traveled extensively touring the country playing with top name acts bringing his Big Hammond B3 sound with him where ever he goes. Spending most of of his off time in the studios as a hired gun laying down track for many famous artist on major record labels. Dean has now teamed up with Funk Shway and been kicking it up a notch and pulls the entire rythm section together with a Big Hammond B3 Sound that fills the room.

EQUIPMENT

We have a variety of equipment and are able to play small venues to outdoor events. Using approx. 3600 watts of power, 18" subs,and a wide assortment of top end PA speakers with multiple mixers and many different variety of amps to create a full clean sound that many bands can only achieve by renting sound equipment . What ever size event you have we have the equipment to make your party or event happen

MUSIC

CALENDAR

Past Events