Downtown Possum

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 Bales Was Born In Bellevue Ky He Has Been Playing Guitar Since He Was 14 Years Old. He Attended GIT Guitar Institue Of Technologie In Los Angeles From 1989 To To 1991. Rick Has 25 Years Experience In The Music Business Playing Everything From 80s Metal To Jazz. Rick Started Playing Cover Music In The Cincinnati Area At The Age Of 16. He Was Also 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 And Completed A Full Ablum Called Face The Future In 1992. He Also Plays With An Acoustic Duo Called The Akousticks. He Is Very Excited About This New Project With Rick And Justin. Rick Jones - Fiddle And 7 String Jordan Electric Viola Rick 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 Justin Fahr. 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. Justin Fahr - Drums Cajon Box And Percussion Justin Was Born In Pittsburg PA And Describes Himself As A City- Born/Country- Raised Hick From The Appalachian Plateau Of Central Pennsylvania. Started Playing Snare Drum In Middle School Band At Age 11. Grew Tired Of Lugging Drum Equipment Thru 3 Feet Of Snow So Resorted To Bass Guitar In The Basement During The Adolescent Years. Returned To The Drums About Age 20 In College During A Stint In Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Written And Performed Both Original And Cover Songs With Various Bands In Tampa FL From 1994-The Present Day Including "Tangled I" "Fountain" "Natural Blend" And "MR. GiGGLES". Strong Influences Would Include Weather Report Return To Forever Medeski Martin And Wood Particle Galactic Dark Star Orchestra Nickel Creek RailRoad Earth And The Good Musicians He Can Surround Himself With. ** Downtown Possum Has Made A Personel Change. Nick Neskovski Will No Longer Be Playing Bass. We Wish Him Well In His Future Projects. It Was A Pleasure Playing With Him. The Possums Will Continue As A 3 Piece. read less