STEVE ST. JOHN – Lead Guitar and vocals
A native of Richmond, Steve began playing the guitar for a couple of high school bands while attending Freeman. He left town to attend Lynchburg College where he played with The Precious Few and Great Daze. After returning to Richmond Steve became the co-director of The Proclamations a group of High School and college age young people based at Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church that performed up and down the East coast. In the late 80’s he joined up with The Fender Benders an oldies band that eventually broke up in 1998. He then became one of the initial members of The Escorts Band a group put together by Al Wood, a member of the original Escorts, a Richmond favorite back in the 60’s. Besides playing lead guitar for The Escorts Band Steve also plays guitar and sings with the Praise Team at River Road United Methodist Church.
ERNIE STINSON – Saxophone and vocals
Another Richmond native, Ernie has been blowing the sax since high school where he played in the John Marshall Cadet Band and also sang with the Chorus. Over the years Ernie has played with some of the more popular bands in the Richmond area including King Edward and the B.D.’s, The Grandeurs, The Prophets and Split Image. The Escorts Band was fortunate to find Ernie between bands and he has become a key member with his strong lead vocals and great sax playing. When not playing with The Escorts Band Ernie sings with the Gayton Baptist Church Choir.
BOBBY HUDSON – Drums
Bobby is our drummer and has been with the band since it formed 9 years ago. A Richmond native, Bobby has been keeping the beat since he was 11 years old playing for a number of bands in the Richmond area over the years and touring professionally with Rodeo and Surface. Bobby also plays drums for the Trinity United Methodist Praise Team. Bobby’s son, “Bobby Jr.”, has followed in his father’s footsteps and has found success playing drums for the local band Think.
MATT BRUINS – Trumpet, vocals
The newest member of the group, Matt is a native of upstate New York and a diehard Yankees fan. In High School he had to make the tough choice between being a baseball player or a musician and we are fortunate that he chose the latter. Matt has earned two degrees in Music and currently teaches music at Pocahontas Middle School in Henrico County. He is a member of the Commonwealth Winds concert band, a group composed primarily of area school music teachers. He also plays in the Praise band at the Mechanicsville Church of Christ. Although a couple of decades younger than the rest of the band, we are happy to keep him around since he can move large pieces of sound equipment without hurting himself.
JUSTINE PARKER – Vocals, percussion
Having moved to Richmond from South Carolina as a young girl “Teen” began her musical career by singing in local talent shows and at movie theatres in the Richmond area. During the 1980’s she was the lead female vocalist with First Class, a popular Richmond based variety band that played throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. As the only female in The Escorts Band she puts up with a lot of grief from the guys, but her terrific voice and stage presence is a key to the success of the band and we couldn’t live without her!
FRED SHIREY – Bass guitar, vocals
Fred joined the band in 2005 taking over the bass duties from the band’s founder, Al Wood, who passed away unexpectedly. Fred earned a degree in Music from Ferrum College and has the distinction of being the only band member who has spent time in the State Penitentiary. (He taught music to the inmates – he wasn’t really serving time!) Fred is proficient in playing a variety of styles from 50’s rock to bluegrass. Fred is also a member of the Praise Team at River Road United Methodist Church.
BOB BURTON – keyboards, vocals
Another native New Yorker, Bob moved to Richmond in the late 70’s. In the late 80’s he hooked up with a couple of high school buddies who were looking for a keyboard player and played with the Fender Benders for about ten years before they disbanded. He had the good fortune to connect with Al Wood who was interested in getting an oldies band together and along with Steve St. John and Bobby Hudson the nucleus of The Escorts Band was formed in 1999. Bob also plays piano/keyboards for the Praise Team at Trinity United Methodist.
DICK BOAZ – Percussion, vocals
A Virginia native, Dick sang in high school and church choirs prior to heading to Lynchburg College where he was a vocalist for the Precious Few. Following a brief hiatus with the U S Army (where he sang and played bass with a trio in Korea) Dick returned to Lynchburg where he met up with Steve St. John and played guitar and sang for Great Daze. Dick essentially left the music scene for the next 30 years until joining The Escorts Band to run sound. He now is on stage with us providing vocals and playing percussion including a mean cowbell! Dick also plays in the River Road Methodist Praise Band.