Whitney Walters (lead vocals, percussion)

Whitney's been on the band scene for about ten years. She began performing in 1999 with Indigo City, a smooth jazz band fronted by  guitarist and recording artist, Russ Corvey. While with Indigo City, she taught herself to play numerous percussion instruments and  eventually played an electronic drum kit when she wasn't singing lead vocals. Indigo City headlined NCL's Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2000  alongside Kirk Whalum, The Rippingtons, Keiko Matsui, Craig Chaquico, Ken Navarro and Khani Cole.  There, Whitney performed with  Rippington's saxophonist, Paul Taylor, and guitarist Ken Navarro. Although Russ has moved out of state, Whitney still performs with Indigo  City on occasion, for instance, during the original ballet called, "Arriving in Indigo City," created collaboratively by the band and Carolina  Ballet Theater.

She has a jazz trio called The Whitney Walters Trio who is a mainstay in restaurants and clubs in the Upstate of SC. Whitney formed the group Whitney Walters & The Sound in order to perform her own original music in a live setting. The nine-piece band is an upstate festival favorite, and were named "Best Party Band in the Upstate" by Main Street Events. She continues to perform and create new music with The Sound on a regular basis. They perform music from her upcoming CD, Full Circle, which has been both a labor of love and frustration. Over two years in the making, Whitney's finally found the right producer (Matt Morgan of Sit-n-Spin Studios) and the right musicians to take her music to a new level. Look for it soon.

Rico Tyler (keyboards, vocals)

Rico is no stranger to regional audiences. He plays with numerous local acts including Gypsy Souls, Loretta Holloway, Whitney Walters & The Sound, and often at local clubs like Brown Street Club in Greenville and Jazz Cafe and the Cafe Room in Charlotte. He's played with such well-known artists as BeBe Winans, Kenny Lattimore, Jocelyn Brown, Nuyorican Soul featuring Jody Watley, Max Roach, Christian, Changing Faces, and the great jazz trumpeter, Hugh Masekela. Rico has performed with the Clark College of Atlanta's Jazz Band and opened for Al Jarreau at Washington D.C.'s Convention Center, in addition to playing with Patti Austin in Chicago and Diane Reeves at the Koger Center.

Tyler is a native of Utica, New York, and a graduate of Boston's Berklee College of Music. His repertoire spans from jazz composition to Motown, from big band and standards to hip-hop and R&B. There are very few songs Rico doesn't know or doesn't play very well. Having Rico on stage is like having a walking encyclopedia of music genres. And that's a good thing.

Tez Sherard (drums, lead vocal)

An accomplished drummer and one funky bass player, Tez was born and raised in Anderson, S.C., into a family of musicians. He grew up listening to his parents' huge gospel, black southern quartet and "ol' school" music collection. The first band he traveled with was Still Cruzin, a Top 40 band from Georgia. They kept him busy and taught him a lot about road life and band business. Working with Still Cruzin gave him the chance to share the stage with artists such as: James Brown, the world-famous Drifters, The Impressions, The Original Joe Pope Tams, The Crystals, Clarence Frogman Henry, Percy Sledge, General Johnson and Chairmen of the Board, and Nappy Brown, just to name a few.

In 1998, he joined forces with Upstate guitarist Shane Pruitt to launch the band "Flat Front Tire" which consisted of a four-piece funk rhythm section who traveled all over the southest opening for bands like Tower of Power, Karl Densin, Derek Trucks, O'Teil and the Peacemakers and others. After disbanding in 2005, he and Shane along with Marshall Tucker original bassist, Frank Wilkie, started the premier upstate funk all-star band, The Gyspy Souls, which continues to play a couple of times each week.

Tez is currently touring with recording artist Edwin McCain, who completed a very successful tour around the globe... starting with a USO tour last spring encompassing eight different countries, and a twelve-week summer and fall tour in almost all 50 states. Tez enjoys playing music of all kinds, and the fact that he plays with such varied artists as The Backstabbers to Rickey Godfrey to Linda Rodney, not only shows his versatility, but his professionalism and character. He's a delight to work with and even more fun on stage.

Nate Smith (keyboards, vocals)

Nate attributes his first fascination with music to his older sister, Shawn, who played the piano for the toddler when he could barely walk. His father didn't play the piano, but he always appreciated music, and his mother, brothers and sisters all sang and played a little piano. But his sister, Shawn, and he made careers out of it, and we sure are glad he did.

He has a long list of artists who influenced his playing, including sister, Shawn; Gayle Wilson, his first piano teacher; Leonard Johnson, Anderson University Ensemble founder and director; Dr Richard Williamson, Anderson University music dept; Lyman Golden, Anderson University music dept; and then of course the masters -- Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, and Richard Smallwood; and local players: Brandon Gilliard, Shannon Hoover, Alpheaus Anderson, William Burgess, Tez Sherard, Keith Davis, Troy House and so many more.

Nate plays all over Greenville at High Cotton, Brown Street, and Mountain View Baptist Church; at Wet Willies in Charleston and Columbia; TD's and Loose Change in Clemson; and at Burgundy Blues and Matty's in Anderson. He plays with Soulution, Groove Planet, Loretta Holloway, and he fills in for many other groups. Nate is a patient and talented piano teacher, and he gives lessons in his home where he has a small recording studio.
 
He attended Anderson University and majored in Music/Performance, where he met many of the colleagues with whom he now performs. His desire is to record albums in multiple genres with different groups, and one day record a solo jazz album and perform jazz around the world. Outside of music, this multi-talented man enjoys chess, all sports (particularly disc golf), traveling and camping. Nate grew up in Columbia, SC, and has been in the Upstate for six years.

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

Tico Manley (guitar, vocals)

At the age of 20, Tico began taking guitar lessons from the late Bernard Sherard (Tez's father). Mr. Sherard was once a member of Still Cruzin'. Being Bernard's protege aided in molding Tico into a lead guitarist, rhythm player, and versatile musician, as well as helping develop an "ear" for music. The hard work, dedication, and love of music instilled by Mr. Sherard inspired Tico to continue studying and playing music.

Tico made his first debut two months after beginning his lessons, an accomplishment befitting his talent. He started out playing gospel music, then broadening his skills by learning and playing other styles, such as contemporary gospel, jazz, R&B, and country. Tico has also had the honor of playing with well-known, Stellar and Grammy Award winning artists Canton Spirituals, Slim and the Supreme Angels, Doc McKenzie, Gospel Kenotes, and Donald Lawrence and Tri-City.

Tico's musical talents have matured over the course of five years since beginning the study of music theory. That maturity is a direct product of his dedication to make time to practice two to three hours in the evenings and before starting a day of teaching lessons. He's presently a full-time guitar instructor teaching students from ages seven and up.

Shannon Hoover (bass)
When we're lucky enough to get him, Shannon Hoover sits in with us. Don't let Shannon's quiet demeanor fool you. He may seem calm, cool and collected on stage, but he's one of the funkiest bass players you'll ever hear. (Which is probably why Shannon's band list reads like a who's who of regional players.) He fronts his own Shannon Hoover trio and plays with Bobby Lee Rogers/Jeff Sipe Project, The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (kudos on the name, guys), The Calvin Edwards Trio, Groove Merchants, Alma De Candela, the BLR Band, Shane Pruitt, Starr Acheson, Klarknova, and countless others.