5:30 Happy Hour Show • NO COVER!
Bill Starks is an award winning songwriter and keyboard player with a rockin' piano style and a tendency to defy genres, blending rock n roll, honky tonk, boogie woogie and blues into a kind of Americana musical gumbo.
As a member of DC's longtime favorite Americana group Ruthie and the Wranglers, as well NRBQ tribute band Me & the Boys, and a BandHouse Gigs regular, Bill is a favorite for DC audiences, with a lovable lived-in voice, amazing piano chops, and a distinctive songwriting style. His tune "300 Miles from Memphis To New Orleans" won WAMA's song-of-the-year award. In addition to recording with Ruthie and the Wranglers, Bill has released two solo CD's, "I See Trouble" and "Do You Hear Me Now?" on Azalea City Recordings. In 2015 Bill received the WAMA Songwriter of the Year award.
David Chappell a Washington, DC native, is one of the most sought after and respected musicians in the area. For the last several years, he has won the Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) for 'Musician of the Year', 'Rock Instrumentalist of the Year', and 'Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year'.
He has performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Johnny Johnson, and guitar wizard, Danny Gatton.
He can be heard frequently at area clubs such as JV's Restaurant, State Theater, the Birchmere, 49 West, Hank Dietle's Tavern, - performing with DC area favorites Tommy Lepson and Bruce Swaim. And from time to time, Johnny Neel from the Allman Brother's Band and Gov't Mule and Redd Volkaert from Merle Haggard's Band.