The Band of Oz was formed in 1967 as a part-time band playing fraternity parties and high school proms all over the South. In 1977 the band went on the road full time. Since that time the band has made an exceptional name for itself throughout the Southeast by playing the top clubs and corporate parties, and getting excellent reviews along the way. For several years the group has been a guest on most of the major beach concerts in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia.
The Band of Oz is one of the most successful groups in the Southeast, and continues to get the very best reviews from the top people in the entertainment business. The band now features a full horn section which makes a dynamic eight-member group. They still perform well over two hundred shows per year for corporate events, festivals, concerts, wedding receptions, and many other public and private events.
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Band Members
Keith Houston
Bass Guitar / Guitar
Keith started playing guitar in 1964, at the age of nine. In the mid sixties put together the Avengers with some of his friends and school mates. He, along with David Hicks owns Different Drummer Inc. which handles the Band of Oz. Keith originally played guitar with the group but through different personnel changes, now plays bass but still plays guitar on a few tunes. On the songs Shaggin and Super Summer Keith was co-writer with Billy and Butch. He owns Oz Music in Dunn, NC a Pro Audio retailer and full production studio. Keith has produced and worked on recording projects with numerous artists other than the Band of Oz in the beach, gospel and contemporary markets.
David Hicks
Drummer
David was born in 1952 into a family of drummers. He grew up with two older brothers as well as uncles that were drummers and tap dancers. With at least one set of drums around the house always, it was only natural for David to start playing at an early age. David’s brothers Irvene and Tommy played with such notable groups as the Swigging Medallions, the Original Pieces of Eight, the Tassels and Gene Barbour and the Cavaliers. After high school David played weekends as he attended NC State. In 1976 he joined the Band of Oz and has been with the group ever since. He currently handles booking the group through Different Drummer Inc. The agency was started by David’s brother Irven in the late 60s and serves as agent and management for the Band of Oz
Chuck French
Trumpet - Vocals
Chuck is originally from Greenville, NC and attended ECU School of Music as a trumpet major. He is the voice on several of the bands biggest songs Shama Lama Ding Dong, Baby’s Got My Number and the newest release One Foot Draggin. Chuck has performed on all of the Band of Oz albums as well as material released by other artist.
David Franks
Keyboard-Harmonica-Vocals
Franker (what the guys in the band call him to distinguish which David) started playing keyboards in 1968 and worked with several Raleigh, NC area groups such as the Cheynes Combo, Slightly Blue, Four Wheel Drive, Thursdays Child, Banshee and High Cotton Band. In 1982 he joined with Vernelle Mack to form Square Biz. Vernelle was the lead vocalist on I Wanta Manto Shag With Me recorded by W. J. Moore and the Dynamic Upsetters. In October of 1983 he joined the Band of Oz. By the end of 1988 David decided to leave the group to open a pawn shop in Raleigh, NC. In 1991, he helped form The Holiday Band and continued to work with them until rejoining the Band of Oz in April of 2000 and the rest is history.
Jerry West
Guitar-Vocals
erry has been playing professionally for more than 27 years. He is originally from Canton, NC a small town up the hill from Ashville. He played with the 80s rock group Sugar Creek. You may remember them from their successful run on the show Star Search. Jerry was the principle song writer of the 7 albums recorded by Sugar Creek. Several of cuts from these albums were recommended singles by Billboard Magazine. Jerry joined the Band of Oz in 1996. In 1998 he left to work on a project with Atlantic Records in Nashville, TN. After a year and half in Nashville here joined the group. Jerry has performed on two of the groups CDs and performed the lead vocal on Over the Rainbow, the 2000 Cammy Award Ballad of the Year. When not on the road Jerry continues to write and work on songs in his home studio.
Jerry was voted the 2009 CBMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “Instrumentalist of the Year”. He sang lead on 2009 CBMA Song of the Year “Build Me Up”
Scott Fine
Trombone-Vocals
Scott lives in Graham, NC and comes from a musical background. His Dad, Paul played keyboards with the Swinging Medallions back in the 60′s and the with Flashback of Burlington, NC. Scott started out playing drums and singing with his father in a group called The Classics. He then went with The Attractions of Burlington as lead voclaist. He sang lead on their release of “Rainy Day Bells.” In 2005 he released a single “Broken Heart” on GAD records. Scott is playing trumbone and doing vocals with the Band Of Oz.
Tim Morris
Trumpet-Vocals
Tim is a mystery. No one is sure of his whereabouts when he is not on stage.
Daniel Morris
Saxophone-Vocals
Daniel enjoys playing Scrabble and sipping beverages such as sweet tea & hand squeezed juices.
