PK & The Groove

Playing Friday at 7:15pm

Patricia “PK” (vocalist extraordinaire):
My parents have told me that I was born to sing. They’ve said that as an infant, I would hum myself to sleep and as I got older, I would run around the house with a hairbrush singing to anyone who would listen. My mom and dad always had music in the house, dad loved country and mom loved rock and roll. I grew up listening to everything from Johnny Cash and Hank Williams to Elvis Presley and Bill Haley. I had my first solo at the age of 12…when I sang “Billy Don’t Be A Hero” for the girl scout talent show. I was a nervous wreck but I knew then and there that I loved performing to an audience. I performed in the high school choir, singing the lead solos and started studying voice privately. I was strongly influenced by the amazing music of the 80’s and I would say that Joan Jett, Ann Wilson and Stevie Nicks are three females that struck a chord with me. When I left for college, my interests took a turn toward classical music and while in college I performed in numerous productions, singing with large and small choral groups/ensembles, and doing solo work as a mezzo soprano. But my love of rock and roll never went away so when Ed raised the idea of forming a band, I was in! Our music is freeing. It’s liberating. And it’s retro cool! I feel very grateful to be a part of this most talented group of musicians. My hope is that the folks who come to our shows will have a super great time and leave with the feeling that they’ve made a few new friends along the way. Long live Rock and Roll!

Ed “the Maestro” (guitars, vocals, moral compass):
(Ed is still consulting with his agent, attorney and parole officer to determine which, if any, parts of his biography are suitable for public disclosure)

Mark (bass, vocals):
Mark T Gribble is the bassist, and sometimes vocalist for PK and the Groove. He was born in Iowa, but grew up in the DeKalb, IL area.
Mark became obsessed with music at age 9, working part time jobs, as a newspaper boy, and cleaning up in a local butcher shop to earn money to buy albums. His first purchase was a Beatles compilation album. He started playing the bass guitar at 12, and took a few lessons but was mostly self-taught, learning to play by ear.
At 15, he formed his first garage bands, Amethyst &Tangent, with some of his friends. After high school, Mark found his dream job managing Appletree records in DeKalb while he continued to play with various bands in the DeKalb and Rockford areas. Throughout the 80s Mark rocked the farmland with bands such as, Squealer, Prisoner and New Bizness.
Mark walked away from music in the early 90s when his babies started to arrive, telling himself he needed to grow up and get a real job. Now, with that mission accomplished (at least the getting a real job part), Mark has returned to his first love and passion with PK and the Groove.
Mark’s influences are the Beatles, Zeppelin, Stones, AC/DC, Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, Motley Crue, Rush, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper. Basically, he loves all things 80’s. Mark’s driving bass, and unique and sparkling vocals, along with his upbeat energy, are an integral part of “The Groove.” Anyone who has seen Mark play, knows what he is all about – FUN!

Jimmy (drums):
Previous Bands: Jampact, Phoenix, Shooter, The Rouges, The Shades, The Steve Brothers
Likes: barstools, songs in 4/4 time, digital cable, tap in putts
Dislikes: slow bartenders, bad karaoke, Journey, long walks on the beach
Musical Influences: Fran Zappa, Beatles, Allman Brothers, Country Bear Jamboree
Favorite Drummer: Karen Carpenter
Ambition: to get through every gig without pulling something

Bill (keys):
As a young Bill studied piano under the prestigious “K-Tell / Ronco Big Note Songbook” method of piano instruction . . . upon failing the “K-Tell” course Bill turned his attention to playing keyboards and synthesizers which enabled him to utilize electronic wizardry to mask his lack of musical expertise. Equipment: Interestingly, Bill uses no actual keyboards in performance, instead relying on a complex combination of smoke and mirrors to simulate music.

http://www.pkgroove.com/home.cfm