Judy is a native of Kansas, but comes to the Boomers from Oklahoma City. Judy is the lead vocalist as well as a great entertainer. With her wireless capabilities, she is a fan favorite with her personal appeal to the individual audience members. Her experience includes recording professionally in Nashville TN, winning the True Value Country Showdown and performing in local bands for the last 30 years.
At age six wanted a Roy Rogers wind-up plastic guitar and got a real half size one instead, so had to actually learn to play. First real gig was at 13 at the battle of the bands at the Cotillion where he almost had to change his whitey titeys when he saw the 1,000 plus crowd. Over the years ( and there are a few) he has played in a wide variety of bands and types of music, but has come back to his first love good ole classic rock and roll. LD plays a Stratocaster, a Telecaster and a Les Paul Special through a Fender amp, as well as a Roland GR30 guitar synth to round out the big sound of the Boomers. Besides the Boomers he also plays in one of the Ascension Lutheran praise bands. He is married to his wonder wife and drummer Joni and has two great kids. He may also be part of the witless protection program with Tom.
Cheryl started playing the violin in the 4 th grade. She played all through Jr High and High School adding many other instruments to her arsenal along the way. Her first band was in college and they played bluegrass at Kirby’s for beer. She then continued on with many bands, playing with Joni, LD and Dude in Mixed Company back in the 90s and then went on to Red Hot, Somebody’s Sister and Women Without Purses. Cheryl plays a Zeta electric violin and a Roland Juno-DS synthesizer.
Bass player Rod moved to Kansas after college and has spent most of the last 40 years in Wichita. Although he is a long-time musician in town, most of that has been with the Wichita Symphony Chorus and more recently the Wichita Chamber Chorale, not with a bass in his hands. On the bass side, he helped found a contemporary Christian band in High School and has played bass ever since. There was a dance band in college, various church praise bands over the years, annual rock power trio weekends with a couple of out of state friends, and even a piano-bass duo gig in a Holiday Inn lounge. He is currently in a 5-piece jazz / gospel instrumental group called Hopeful Blues. He is excited for the opportunity to join the Boomers to get to play great classic rock and have fun with friends. His primary basses are a vintage Fender Precision (he bought it new in college) and a more recent Ibanez Sound Gear, played through a Fender Rumble 350. Mellow when that’s right – rockin’ when it’s not.
Joni started playing with her dad at home in a family jam night at about 8. She could not play drums in school so choose the Tuba! After she graduated she got herself a drum set and started taking lessons. She would like to thank Steve for the lessons and for introducing her to the most wonderful man her husband LD! She thinks maybe LD was in the witless protection program with Tom at one point, but of course they do not speak of such times. Joni has played in local bands for the last 25 years and enjoys almost all types of music. Joni uses a standard 5 piece Tama Swingstar drum set with Paiste and Zildjan cymbals.