NICK (BASS) - I started out taking violin lessons in the 4th grade while I was in school. This lasted for 2 years and then I tried to convince my parents I was a drummer. All I would do was bang on pots and pans until I finally wore my parents down. While I was in 7th grade, I got a drum set and started playing in a band for our upcoming talent show. While in 8th grade, I was in a band called Livius Astronomous. We had 2 drummers like the Allman Brothers. I could drum anything. All I had to do was hear it and I could play it. I played drums all thru college. I grew up in a time where I was witnessing history. The Beatles, Led Zep, ELP, Cream, Derrick and the Dominoes all were great rock bands. I could not get enough! After graduating college, I walked away from playing anything for 18 years or so but still listened to music. It spoke to me in all ways. While I walked away from music, still in the back of my mind I would go back. About 15 years ago, we went to Merlefest and I got the bug - but in a different direction: PLAYING BASS. I figured it was like drums, so I took to it like a duck to water. I have been playing ever since! My influences are varied depending on my mood: jazz, rock, etc. I marvel at Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clark, Paul McCartney, and Flea. I try to mimic how they play if I can, but the biggest influence was Jaco Pastourios. I love Jazz and he was the king! Not until I was older did I appreciate how he played so gracefully, and with such feeling and emotion. While he passed at the age of 35, he was the best without any question and his soul is wrapped into what he plays.

MARK (LEAD AND BACKUP VOCALS, GUITAR, KEYBOARD) - I started back in 1984 with my first band "Sanction". We were a garage band that played Huey Lewis, Twisted Sister, Journey, Scorpions, Foreigner, Styx, etc. As you can see we were right on the money with the newest music out on the scene! Just recently, we lost 2 members of that band, Kevin (Bass) and Richard (Keys). I miss them dearly! RIP to both! After the first band experience had hit it's peak, I joined an established heavy metal band called Question. They were really talented musicians. I always felt like the weakest link in that band, but I never did tell them. My highlight was playing a college club called Chasers in Greensboro, NC, where the UNCG campus was located. I was only 17. That was fun! We played Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Kiss, ZZ Top, and many more. That experience lasted about a year. Shortly after, I joined a beach band called JJ Star but that only lasted about 6 months. All we did was practice, practice, practice! We never played out. So I ditched that crew! I did not play again for about 3 years. I was asked to try out for a country band in 1990. This was kinda weird because I always hated country! I figured, what the hell, I'll give it a shot! After doing it, I actually enjoyed playing the music a lot! It's a great genre! Commercially, it was the most successful musical act I played with to date. That lasted from 1990 - 1994. We played Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, Joe Diffie, Billy Ray Cyrus, Clint Black, Kentucky Headhunters and many more. I really enjoyed that experience. That band traveled everywhere including Ft. Sumter SC Coliseum where we opened up for the Drifters. That was an awesome experience! After 1994, I didn't play again until about 2003 where I put an act together for just one party. This group ended up playing together afterwards for about 3 years. That band was called the "Electric Bananas" lol! We were a Rock n' Roll/Southern Rock Band. We actually had a few gigs those 3 years, which were a lot of fun! In 2007, I decided to start marketing myself as a solo musician and have been playing in sports bars and special events ever since. I have put together another project band about 3 years ago called the "Members Only Band". This band represents a collection of great musicians I work with plus my family. We do 80's music exclusively for National Night Out in Apex, NC. The Members Only Band has performed the first Tuesday in August for the past 3 years. In 2012 I got the itch again to be in a band so I joined the Trophy Husbands. I love these guys! They were just what I was looking for in a band!