Dark Hollow Band: Bio
Band Bio - The Beginning
One day in September, 1999, on the front porch of a house on Dark Hollow Road in East Tennessee, with a bucket and two sticks from the front yard, Gene Beffre sat down and banged out a beat as Randall Wilkerson played and sang his songs. Dark Hollow Band evolved from that simple moment.In 2000, John Gillespie came along and sweetened the sound with his flute and squeezebox. Next, the inimitable Rod Erwin brought his ingeniously subtle, yet powerful bass into the mix. Later, Dave Patterson would expand and warp the sound with his screaming electric guitar. One by one, as if by design, each member would appear and bring their own unique fingerprint to the mix. The end result would be an eclectic mix of everything from folk to blues to country to screamin' rock n roll. Their fans call it "Folk & Roll".Whatever you call it-- Dark Hollow Band is . . . soulful ballads, stirring melodies and a truely unique sound that must be experienced to be appreciated.
Rod Erwin - Bass
Rod has played bass with many different bands all across America. He was born and raised in Oak Ridge, TN. Rod was the bass player on DHB's first three cds. Now retired from the band, he sometimes jams with them on occasion. If you look at the photo's from WDVX Blue Plate Special, he's the guy who looks a little like Santa.
Eddie King - electric guitar and harmonica
Born in East Tennessee in the 1950's, Eddie grew up in the 60's and 70's (well actually he never grew up) listening to blues and rock and artist like James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Dylan, Clapton, Buffet and Prine. A "Jack of all trades" , Eddie has been a Firefighter, Police Officer, Registered Nurse, EMT, Electrical Lineman, Handyman/Carpenter and amateur photographer. He lives in Oak Ridge, TN with his four canine children. He enjoys the outdoors, growing flowers in his backyard retreat and the time spent playing music with his friends.
Randall Wilkerson - Song writer, lead singer, acoustic guitar, harmonica
When he was a child they said he was touched in the head--but the wisdom hidden discreetly within the lyrics written by Randall Wilkerson prove otherwise. Born July 16, 1958, he was raised in the hills of East Tennessee and grew up living experiences that most people only read about. Through his travels and trials of life come music and lyrics that grip the heart of young and old. Soulful ballads, stirring melodies and a truely unique sound that has to be experienced to be appreciated.
"Seems Like It Is But It Ain't" could not be a simpler melody, yet it has the most compelling lyrics--" The world's like a dream where things ain't what they seem/the colors and numbers get jumbled/'till the birds in the trees are all singin' off key/and the voice in your heart only mumbles." Every song is a little story of life as seen through Randall's heart. His music has all of the hope, love, pride, forgiveness and guilt that we experience as humans, but also offers humor in the everyday world-- "and it said on the city limit sign/if you've lost your mind/then, welcome home."
As a self taught musician/artist, he has developed his own style that crosses the borders into all genres of music. Many of his songs are still being sung in local area churches. People will walk up and just hug his neck and tell him which song they like best (he's written around 300). His fan base seems to be just about all types of people.
"Hell's a good place, when Heaven is burning." Often the words challenge the listener to consider thier own mortality and existence in this crazy world and then will turn around and make light of it.
Simply put, Randall Wilkerson has put life to music; and the message is . . . Love
John Gillespie - Flute, squeeze box, etc.
John Gillespie is the group glue (as described by the the late Flip Knight). He does the promotion, advertizing, and performs sound-man duties. He played trumpet and E flat tuba in his high school band. He started playing flute in the Air Force back in 74' and now has added squeeze box, steel drum, guero, kazoo, tambouret, shaker, chimes, vibra slap, train whistle, harmonica, gong and bongos to his arsenal. His influences are Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Little Feat, Dylan, Hot Tuna, Beatles and a few others.
Todd Mierzwa - percussion
Since 1974 when he was born he has squeezed in 23 years performing in symphony orchestra, theater, marching and stage band. A music graduate of Mercyhurst College in 1979 with a Bachelor of Music Performance. He has performed in Hong Kong and the Philippines. He has no tatoos or body piercings.
Dennis Double - acoustic drums
Dennis Double has been playing a little percussion lately. Mostly on box and a snare. Married to Tammy - workin in the mines. Dennis began his musical debut with DHB. He rocks on box. Check him out on Writers Block Wed nights at 10 on WDVX .com Did we mention the hog leg?
Gary Coleman - bass, back up vocals
Gary H. Coleman was born in Oak Ridge, Tn on July 1, 1964. He was born into a family where singing was a daily part of life. At an early age, he was taught by his mother to sing and play duets on the piano. While learning to sing at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he also learned to play the recorder in the church recorder choir. At the age of ten, he began playing the bass violin in the school orchestra. During this time, he took private lessons from Edgar Meyer Sr., and participated in many honors orchestra clinics. At the age of eleven, he was chosen as the lead in the musical Tom Sawyer, singing over ten songs, three of which were solos. At twelve, he received 2 bass guitars for Christmas and began lessons under Chip and Chuck Searcy. He formed his first band called Sage, which began playing at local parties and dances.
During junior high, he continued study of the bass violin and bass guitar and played back up for several school musicals and choral performances. In the eighth grade he was awarded to the Knoxville Honors Orchestra, which won several 1st place awards at various competitions. During this time, he played with a band called Sphinx and sat in as a replacement for a 50 piece swing band called The Melody Makers. Mr. Coleman was also awarded to the Tennessee All-State East and All-State Orchestras during his junior and senior years.
Upon graduation from Oak Ridge High School in 1982, he was awarded scholarships to Middle Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee Technological University.
During his university years he played in the MTSU University Community Symphony and several bands such as Max and the Regulars and Gary Coleman and the White Trash Band. He continued to improve his ability to play diverse types of music by sitting in with studio musicians in bars all over Nashville. After graduation from college he began to explore many other types of music including blue grass, jazz, and fusion. He also learned to play guitar and took bagpipe lessons. He played with some more bands like Second Hand Smoke and Gentelman Jack. Both of his sons are playing bass violin and bass guitar.
George Charles - Keyboard
Born in a different millenium, George is the geezer of Dark Hollow Band. Having started in music at an early age, he was involved in his high school band and many rock and roll groups since. To him, DHB is a wonderful opportunity to grow musically and he is proud to be part of the band.
Dave Patterson - Electric Guitar
Born in Chicago in 68', Dave started out on the sax in the 4th grade. He also played cello in the school orchestra. He got his first guitar at 12 and played in his first band, Carnage, at 17. Joining the army in 88' he was in a band named Quick Fix opening up for comedy shows at the officers club. After getting out of the army in 93', he played solo for a few years. He played with another band named #6 Dance that got thier name from the movie Blazing Saddles. His biggest influences are Hendrix, Page and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Gene Beffre - Percussion
Gene was the first drummer for Dark Hollow Band. He is responsible for most of the artwork for the band. It all started on Randall's front porch with Gene playing on a sheetrock-mud-bucket with two sticks out of the yard. Before that day, Gene had never owned a set of drums and had never taken drum lesons; he had only played along with the church band a few times. Basically, he cut his teeth learning Randall's songs along with DHB. Although no longer with the band, he still does art work for them occasionally.