Ed
EdLead Vocals
From Utica NY, music was a big part of Ed’s childhood starting with his Mom as a singer and Dad playing many instruments from accordion to guitar. Ed first learned the trumpet in 7th grade and by 9th grade found a love for singing and switched instruments to piano. It took one solo performance at Mt Carmel Church in front of fellow classmates and Ed was hooked on entertaining from then on. Ed found his instrument in his voice which gave him the ability to entertain anytime anywhere without instruments. Ed enjoys many genres of music, but Southern/Classic Rock are his favorites. A few of his influences include the music of Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Allman Bros, Kid Rock and so many others. Ed brings high energy, crowd engagement, and lots of fun to every show and simply loves to entertain. Ed's charismatic stage presence coupled with his bluesy raspy voice mixed with the talented musicians of EoK produces an incredibly fun, high energy, and entertaining show. At 18, Ed fronted his first his first cover band out of Frankfort NY. Some of the bands that Ed fronted over the years include Jumbo Crayon’s, Clean Up on Isle Three, My2Centz, and Henge. “Music is my fun; entertaining is my passion!”
Ron
RonBass Guitar
From Philadelphia, Ron ‘Heavy Load’ Alig started playing at 16, driven and inspired by the strong bass lines that were so prominent in ‘70s rock and funk music. Bands like The Alice Cooper Group, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, Rush, AWB, Ohio Players, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Foghat, Grand Funk Railroad and Chicago. Addicted to great riffs, good grooves, and high energy, Ron was immediately hooked on heavy and melodic Classic and Southern Rock and that is exactly what you will hear pulsing through every EoK performance. Ron locks into the rhythm’s tight spaces and delivers tasteful licks in all the right places; providing that essential ingredient needed to recreate the emotional and visceral response of the original song’s magic, transporting the listener back to the greatest era of Rock and Roll. Ron plays Rickenbacker, Music Man, and Fender 4-string basses, amplified by MarkBass and Hartke heads and delivered through Ampeg, MarkBass, and Epifani cabinets.
Dave
Keyboards
Also from Philly, Dave has been playing keyboards professionally on and off for nearly 50 years. Dave started playing accordian at age 5 taught to him by his dad and later taught himself drums. Influenced by his older brother during his teen age years, he took up organ and became a rock musician. Dave has played all styles of music, performed in countless shows and has been a member of many working bands. In recent years, Dave was a member of the Classic Rock band Swiftkick, R & B band The Chocolate Factory and his own band Kat n Keys. Dave helps bring realism and authenticity to EoK's sound by covering his parts including signature solos note for note while also expertly capturing the sounds used by vintage keyboards in the original recordings. Dave ‘s influences include Gregg Allman, Billy Joel, Steve Winwood, Jon Lord, Rod Argent, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Chuck Leavell, and Billy Powell. Dave plays Yamaha and Korg synthesizers and is happy he no longer has to lug around a Hammond B3 and Leslie cabinets.
Dusty
DustyDrums
Mike
Guitar and Vocals
Mike comes from a family of musicians, which inspired him to learn piano and guitar at 6 years old. He formed his first band at age 13, where he started writing, recording and producing, and continued thereafter. Mike now works as a full time musician, artist, and DJ, while happily contributing his skills to the rhythm section of Earls of Kent. It's no surprise to the authenticity of Mike's style as he was raised on classic rock by his father and uncles. Other influences include Blues, R&B, Punk, and Pop from artists like Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, D'Angelo, and Billie Joe Armstrong. Mike plays a 1990s MIM Fender Telecaster through a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue. Mike adds great versatility to the band by playing both lead and rhythm guitar as well as delivering exceptional lead and backup vocals. He was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia, where he currently lives with his 4 year old daughter.
Louie
LouieGuitar and Vocals
From Summer Duck Virginia, Louie has been playing since 1966 starting with his first performance at the age of 12. Mostly self-taught but with some formal training, Louie is proficient on electric, acoustic, non-pedal steel, and lap steel guitars playing lead, rhythm and slide. In addition, Louie also plays a mean Blues Harp (harmonica). He has performed as both a studio musician and as a professional gigging musician having played with a lot of bands over the course of his musical career too numerous to mention them all but most recently with Southern Xcess, Southern Persuasion and High Mileage. Louies influences include many guitar legends including but limited to Jimi Hendricks, Joe Walsh, Leslie West, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Carlos Santana, Duane Allman, and Dicky Betts.
Bobby
BobbyGuitar and Vocals
From Midland Virginia, Bobby’s interest in music began at a very young age. Bobby also plays banjo and mandolin and was Influenced by his dad who played in a bluegrass band who taught him to play “Wildwood Flower” when he was just five years old. He played his first gig in 1966 at a church Sunday school Halloween party. “I think there were four guitar players in the group, and somehow we were all plugged into the same amp”. Right after that gig, several pretty girls came up to him and told him they really liked his playing. That’s when he decided this was something he wanted to do! Some of his influences are anyone who “plays real guitar” such as Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dicky Betts, Duane Allman, and Billy Gibbons just to name a few. Bobby has played in many groups dating back to the 70’s including The Virginia Valley Boys, Bunrnin’ Daylight, Southern Xcess, Fathers And Sons, and most recently Southern Persuasion, before joining EOK. Bobby plays mostly Fender, Gibson and Martin guitars, through Fender and Mesa Boogie amplifiers.