~~ Rocky Athas Group ~~

                                  

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Rocky Athas - Lead Guitar

Click here to read Rocky's bio.

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Larry Samford - Lead vocals & rhythm guitar
Since the age of 16, Larry Samford has been singing. In his youth, he was heavily influenced by the Beatles, Jack Bruce of Cream, the Yardbirds, the Doors and Hendrix. Later on he drew inspiration from singers like Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye and Al Green to develop his unique smoky, blues-style voice that sets him apart from most singers today.  

Growing up in Oak Cliff, Texas , Larry was surrounded by many talented musicans, such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, B W Stevenson  & Rocky Athas. At 17, he opened for Kit & the Outlaws on the famous Ron Chapman show filmed in Dallas .  

In the late 70’s, Larry teamed up with the great guitar of Rocky Athas

as the original singer for Lightning, an extremely popular Texas band with many local fans.  By the early 80’s, he then went on to form one of the hottest bands in Texas , Big D Stuff touring throughout the Southwest.  

During the 90’s Samford sang with various local bands until he teamed up once again with Rocky Athas to co-write and record a CD project recorded at Willie Nelson’s studio, Pedernales in Austin . Under the direction of renown producer, Jim Gaines and Diamondhead Productions, this culmination of talent has brought serious attention and a record contract with Armadillo Records based in England .  

Larry’s talent for writing, expressing the true feelings of a song with his smoky voice has set him apart and is a perfect mix for the Rocky Athas Group. You owe it to yourself to hear this man sing.

Barry Baranowski - Drums
Brooklyn born and raised Bobby Baranowski started playing the drums at age 14, inspired by his heroes Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, and Ginger Baker. The early years in NYC included playing with The Drifters and Louis Lyman and the Teenchords (Frankie Lyman's brother). 

Bobby first came to Texas after meeting Dallas guitar legend Seab Meador in NYC in 1976. Bobby joined Seab in The Werewolves and survived being managed and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham (the Rolling Stones original manager and producer). The band recorded 2 hard-to-find but well regarded albums for RCA Records.After the Werewolves disbanded in 1983, Bobby moved to Dallas in 1984 and played with many Texas luminaries, including-guitarists Mike Morgan in "Mike Morgan and the Crawl"; Jim Suhler (now w/George Thorogood); and Hash Brown, with whom he held down the drum chair at the band’s local jams for 10+ years;
-singer Lou Ann Barton;-Reverend Horton Heat (including recording the band’s first single on 4 Dots Records “Big Little Baby” b/w “Bullet” - so rare, he doesn’t even own a copy);- Anson & the Rockets featuring Sam Myers;-blues legends Zuzu Bolin, Bob Margolin, and Ray Sharpe (of “Linda Lou” fame).

Bobby is also, along with Rocky Athas and Guthrie Kennard, a Buddy Magazine ”Texas Tornado”, (Class of ‘93), the Dallas-based magazine’s ‘Hall of Fame’ for Texas musicians.  Recent performing highlights include:
-playing with legendary Nashville studio guitarist/producer and former Buddy Holly sideman Tommy Allsup at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Buddy Holly tribute in Cleveland in 2003, backing up 8 acts including Marshall Crenshaw, Wanda Jackson, The Drifters, The Ravonettes, and Joe Ely & Jimmy Dale Gilmore;-playing the New Orleans Jazzfest ‘03 w/Anson and the Rockets featuring Sam Myers;
-playing the King Biscuit Blues Fest ‘03 with 3 different bands. 

Recent recording highlights include the West Texas Roots Project at
Tommy Allsup’s studio in Azle, TX, featuring former members of Buddy Holly’s and Bob Wills Texas Playboys
(
http://www.heffe.net/wtr/about5.html);-and recording the latest CD with the Rocky Athas Group with legendary producer Jim Gaines.
Bobby plays a few select vintage drumkits made by Ludwig in the 1960’s, Rogers in the 1970’s, and Yamaha in the 1980’s.

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Guthrie Kinnard - Bass  

Bios coming soon!

 

 


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