Downtown Possum is a 3 piece band from Tampa, Florida. They blend an eclectic mix of Rock and Country with their unique style. Rick Bales - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar Rick was born in Bellevue Ky He has been playing guitar since he was 14 years old. Rick started playing professionally in the Cincinnati area at the age of 16. He attended GIT (Guitar Institue of Technology) in Los Angeles from 1989 to to 1991. Rick has 25 years experience in the music business playing everything from 80s Metal to Jazz. He was the lead singer for the 80's metal bands Valentine and Cruella D’ville playing the early 80's here in Tampa, and making a huge impact on the Los Angeles music scene in the late 80's and early 90's. Cruella D'ville released an EP produced by Keith Collins of Savatage called Cruella D'ville in 1989, Face the Future in 1992, and Showdown in Tinsel Town in 2008. He also plays with an acoustic duo called the Akousticks. He is very passionate about music and loves playing in the Possum with Dickey and Matt Dickey Jones - Fiddle and 5 string Jordan Padouk Electric Violin Dickey Jones was born in Rochester, NY but moved shortly to Germany where he grew up until age 11. Moved to St. Petersburg in 1961 and started playing viola in 6th grade. He was the youngest member ever in the Florida Orchestra at age 14. Full scholarship to Julliard and Curtis Conservatory at age 17, but wanted to play more popular styles of music and ended up playing with Kenny Loggins in San Diego at age 19 for six months. At 21, moved to Nashville and did studio work for 3 yrs while attending Nurse Anesthesia School. Employed as "the nurse" backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1979-1981 and shortly after graduating, toured with Brenda Lee. A long hiatus ensued as the demands of a medical career and 2 young daughters took all his attention. After many requests from his wife Sharon he picked up the viola again and then switched to fiddle. His ancestors were concertmasters of NY Philharmonic and 16 generations ago played and performed with composer, genius, Johann Sebastian Bach. Proud to be a member of Downtown Possum, he practices,rehearses and enjoys the friendship of his new colleagues Rick Bales and Matt Jones. His main joy in life today is the music, his wife and kids including Brenden, Mindy, Erica, Emily,and his 1st grandchild: Madison Grace. And his Higher Power: God. Dickey Jones plays only the best Jordan electric violins. Check them out at www.jordanmusic.com Matt Jones - Drums and Vocals In his own words: Experience: Parked cars, ran a slurpy machine on Hollywood Blvd, dog groomer (that was fun...) nude model, cardiologist, and musician.. for way too many bands. Played the East and West coast college and club circuit, extensive live studio performance, and opened for many national acts, including Huey Lewis and the News, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown, and has also performed with The Count Basie Orchestra. Influences: Steve Smith, Billy Cobham, Omar Hakim, Stewart Copeland, Steve Gadd, Anton Figg and…myself What I do with my time: Practice, eat, write music, eat some more, play with my lab Remo, make prank phone calls, collecting the "Thugs of Hip/Hop" collector plates, go to the gym, dyeing my hair blonde, and most important! spend time with my son and daughter, they make me laugh my ass off. Sign: Pisces Talents: NONE! but I am willing to learn Fav Music: Siberian Funeral Ode's, "Greatest hits of Mr Ding-a-Ling" Fav Sayings: The whole world has issues Fav Comment: Embrace your passion, and live your life the way you want it to be.... Likes: The smell of rock-n-roll in the morning, the love of a good dog, buying any kind of music equipment (a couple of local stores have me down as a dependent at tax time), The Olsen Twins, the guys I play with in "Downtown Possum" and beautiful women! Dislikes: Ketchup on a steak, miserable people, writing these profiles no one reads, cold coffee, and condenscending peoples. Fav Hobbies: Cleaning fish, and taking Viagra Pet: Remo the dog "I cut off his balls and he's still insane."