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Tony Mendez Lead and Rhythm Guitar Open tuned 12-String Guitar 6-String Banjitar Lead and Harmony vocals

I grew up on the east coast after being born in Denver. My brother was born in Alabama two and a half years after me, and we never lived in any one place more than 3 years. Early years were in Virginia, then Florida and south Georgia. High school was in Baltimore. Musically, I was all over the place growing up. I'm a sentimental type, so I'm a sucker for nostalgia -- don't understand how I can wax nostalgic over stuff that was before my time, but.... If you look at my collection of vinyl from my teens & early 20's, you'll find Barry Manilow and The Captain & Tenille along side Boston, Average White Band and Derek & the Dominoes, along side George Benson, Larry Carlton and Pat Metheny. Right now I like listening for new & different things on the music scene. I was wild about the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant collaboration and thought their show was incredible, way better than even the outstanding studio album. Artists I've been listening to lately include Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Marc Broussard, G. Love & Special Sauce and Diana Krall. Most recently downloaded albums: John Hiatt's latest, "Same Old Man;" The Derek Trucks Band's "Songlines;" and Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door." I've always had a love for the guitar in its various forms. I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was 8. It was an el cheapo guitar from Sears, and it was a bear to play. Once my parents figured out I was going to stick with it, they gave me a Yamaha classical guitar for my 10th birthday. My mom still has it, and I pick it up from time to time. It was quite an eye-opener making that switch. I was fortunate in that I had classical training during those early years to complement my desire to learn the pop Songs of the day. I remember working hard to learn every song on the American Pie album (that's Don McLean's, not the movie soundtrack!) I also played a lot of John Denver, Bread, America, Seals & Crofts -- the soft sounds of the 70's, I guess, in sharp contrast with my brother's hard edge. But I also fell in love with the blues the first time I played "Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs" and heard the track, "Have You Ever Loved a Woman?" I remember taking the album and running over to my next door neighbor, a former Navy SEAL, and saying, "Chuck, you have GOT to listen to this!" Of course, he was amused, but tolerant of my youthful enthusiasm. I remain a big Eric Clapton fan to this day, and I think one of the things that really impresses me is how much he has grown as a musician over the years. It helps me continue to have hope for my own playing! Having grown up in a theatrical family (I'm probably the least artistic one in my family), I did have the opportunity to do a lot of musical theatre, which I neglected to mention in musical influences growing up. I played in several musicals, both acting/singing on stage as well as playing in the orchestra, including several productions of Godspell, West Side Story, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Finian's Rainbow (in which I had to play a harmonica!) I'm a physicist by training-- got my Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from FSU and now work as an accelerator physicist at ORNL's Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. Yes, I'm the family black sheep, esch-ewe-ing a career in the arts for a life in science. And I don't even have a lot of experience playing in bands.... Most recently, of course, I played with Andy in Kathleen Turner Overdrive. In grad school, I was in a strange little trio called Fish Hook Johnson. When I was in college, my brother & I had a little project called The Wattage Wasters that never really got off the ground, although we did win a talent contest at my fraternity once. Got into Frost Bottom Boys through Andy. He was in a classic rock band called DejaWho with my brother, and I went to see one of their first shows. I thought I could add something to their group, so they invited me to join, and the band morphed into KTO. Fortunately, that group disbanded prior to becoming Sonic Death Monkey! But one of the really good things about that experience was getting to know Andy, who I think is a great guy and a fun musician to play with. He definitely adds an element of unpredictability and keeps you on your toes musically. Plus I really enjoy listening to him sing instead of getting stuck singing lead myself! The rest of the FBB's I've gotten to know more recently, and I really look forward to getting tight with them, both musically and socially. Community-wise, church is an important part of my life, although I did not grow up with it. I have my ex-wife to thank for helping me see the spiritual need that I had. Being part of a faith community has helped me grow and mature, and it has also given me access to the spiritual aspects of my artistic side: I've had the privilege of participating in praise & worship bands, and also I've had some incredible experiences doing liturgical drama. I'm in a transitional period in my life now, and of course I lean on my family and a few close friends for support. It's meant a lot to me to have my mom and brother Keith living nearby for the past few years. I also have a 16-year old son who gives me both great joy and intense anguish, as only teenagers can do! It's been hard living apart from him these past few months. Given where I am in life right now, it's really nice to be a part of a group like FBB. I'm not one who tends to put limits on things (which can be both really good and really not so good!), and I'd like to see FBB entertaining people on a regular basis. I'm open to whatever that means. Hopefully, I can contribute to defining our sound as well as contributing original material. I think each of us brings something that is uniquely ours to the group, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the pieces all mesh to make something really special.

For booking, review our booking page and then contact Andy at 865-640-5704 or FrostBottomBoys@gmail.com