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Almost Famous Band Bios
 Paul Skinner: |
| Lead Guitar/Vocals: Paul is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Almost Famous Band. He began playing drums at the age of eight and later switched to guitar. He joined with friends playing in several garage bands, performing at parties and talent shows. One of those groups was called "The Animated Jelly." He would later help form "Almost Famous Band" with friends including, Craig Kampen, a smokin' guitarist and Tommy "Killer Bee" Ascher, a jammin' harp player. (They occassionally still guest with the band.) They quickly became a campfire favorite and then began an Open Mic Night at Chick's Beach Cafe on Sunday evenings which has become one of the most popular in the Tidewater area drawing even professional recording stars such as: Fishbone, Kool & the Gang, The Guano Boys, Charlie Austin and Mark Schatz. One highlight for Paul was being invited to play onstage at The Norva with Martin Marron who opened for the Sawdoctors, an Irish rock band. Bands such as The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Aerosmith and Neil Young influenced Paul's musical tastes, although he likes most other types of music including blues, country, bluegrass and rock and roll. |
 Norma Deane: |
| Fiddle/Vocals Norma began playing with Almost Famous Band a few years after their early beginnings when they began playing parties and the outdoor deck scene. She took up the fiddle later in life but has become a welcome addition to the band playing back-up fiddle harmonies and singing with the group. She loves many types of music but bluegrass is actually her favorite. The band has added a few bluegrass and traditional songs and they love to watch the crowd get excited and dance their own version of mountain clogging. She prefers old-time fiddle tunes and loves the old groups such as Bill Monroe and the Bliuegrass Boys (her fiddle is named after "Chubby" Wise), Flatt and Scruggs, Grateful Dead and The Dillards. The Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, Natalie MacMaster and Leahy are some newer preferences. Alison Krauss and Union Station is her all-time favorite and the group that actually inspired her to play the fiddle. A real thrill was to actually meet the group and get their autographs. ("They're a real talented bunch and so very down to earth when you talk with them! Their vocal harmonies are the best I've ever seen!") An original California girl--"Where'd that accent come from?", she has recently taken up the mandolin and hopes to add this sound to the group one day. |
 Brad: |
| Guitar/Flute/Ebo/Vocals Brad first met Paul at an open mic after just moving to Virginia Beach and immediately joined with Almost Famous Band, playing occasional gigs and open mics in the area. Born in Murfreesboro, NC, he began playing guitar and bass at the age of thirteen and added the flute to his musical skills five years thereafter. Brad later attended UNC-G for musical education where he studied classical and jazz. His early influences were Jethro Tull, Yes, Rush, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac and Michael Hedges, but he enjoys listening to practically any kind of music. Brad has been playing venues of all kinds for over twenty-five yaers and was a member of a band who toured the east coast for five years opening the show for internationally known groups such as: Bachman Turner Overdrive, Johnny Winter, The Black Crowes and a few "big-hair bands". He is very prolific at playing acoustic and electric guitar, the bass and the flute. He also writes and composes his own original songs. In addition to his musical talent, he sings lead and back-up vocals with Almost Famous Band. He is a powerful credit to the band whose energy knows no bounds! If you wanna fuel his fire, just feed him "Wild Turkey" or "Dickel"! |
 Steve: |
| Base/Vocals Steve has recently joined the Almost Famous Band after a brief hiatus in which he enjoyed performing for several years with a local band, namely the "Bandammit" band. He began playing music at an early age and was influenced by groups such as, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Jimi Hendrix. He enjoys playing the guitar, bass and drums, but the biggest highlight, musically speaking, was his first concert in 1977, when he saw "Kiss" perform. " Now, back then, that was one heck of a show"! Other hobbies include biking and fishing, but he really just wants to have fun and put smiles on peoples' faces! |
 Larry: |
| Drums/Percussion Larry is the percussionist sxpert of Almost Famous Band and a native Virginian. He was a long-time house drummer at Sammy's and The Barrel in Portsmouth, for Open Mic Night. Born in Portsmouth but currently making his home in Chesapeake, he began his musical background in high school playing percussion and drums. He later played in a garage band and thence with several other bands until drafted into the Army. He was stationed primarily in Fort Bragg, NC and honorably served the 82nd Airborne Division. He also pulled a tour of duty in Vietnam. After the Army, he returned to his music career and began playing with a band called "Soft Light." They were invited to play as the house band for the local station "WAVY TV 10" on a weekly show called "Disco 10". They recoded several songs each Tuesday evening and the taped the show Saturday morning, which later aired that evening. Larry later moved on to join a group called "Black River Circus" where he remained for about three years. They cut a record for the "Monument" Label which placed 28th on the top 40 list in Florida. The song was entitled "Ritual Melody" and on the flip side Love's Gonna Carry Me Home." He also had the opportunity to play "The Peppermint Lounge" with the Rhondels. His early influences were Memphis Soul, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Booker T. & the McGees, but he also likes listening to John Mayer, Mark Cohn, Steely Dan and Dave Matthews. Other than a great fondness for music, Larry has a passion for stock car racing, a favorite hobby, which he travels to see first hand several times a year. |
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