State Road 64 got its start at the Anna Maria Island artsHOP in 2009. One of the galleries requested some musicians to
play for the crowd and Howard Bard got a group together. The evening was such a success, that they started getting requests to play other
venues. We owe it all to artsHOP! Thank you!
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Howard Bard
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California/Florida- 5 string Banjo & Mandolin and Vocals
Howard was raised on Hendrix, ELP, deep purple and other rock bands of the era when all of a sudden from his brothers room he
heard Flatt and Scruggs all time greatest hits and heard the 5 string and was hooked! Soon after taking music lessons he had
the great fortune of having the Dillards move across the street from him. Doug Dillard was gracious enough to give him some of
his first chops on the 5 string.
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Frank Popovics
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Florida - Fiddle
Frank has lived most of his life in Tampa, Florida. About 5 years ago,
good friend and fellow surf rat, Clay Simmons, introduced him to the
local bluegrass scene. Frank noticed a severe shortage of fiddle players
at the camp-side pickin's and decided to take the physical challenge. He wishes he'd started fiddlin' at age 9 instead of 49,
but he's stoked in the process and thanks the generous and encouraging extended bluegrass "family" of Central Florida.
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Susie Martin
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Pennsylvania/Florida - Bass
Susie Martin grew up in Western Pa., them moved to the Tampa (Riverview) Area in 1995. Soon after she was
intruduced to the bluegrass world and fell in love! Having had a love of music all her life and was drawn to the stand
up bass. She bought her first bass at a bluegrass festival at Sertoma Youth Camp 9 years ago, and with the help and
patience of her musician friends she's learned and is still learning and just loving to play her Bass.
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Harrell Wells
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Florida - Guitar, Vocals
Harrell Wells has been in the Tampa Bay area since 1968, and playing bluegrass for about fifteen of those years.
We heard Harry at The Rivers Edge, where he has been playing for about eight years (along with Jon-Clay Kemper and Susie Martin).
It was a coincidence that Frank suggested Howard join in a jam session and the mix was magic.
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Jon-Clay Kemper
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West Virginia/Florida - Mandolin, Vocals, Guitar
"I grew up in Fayetteville WV. We've had pickers in our house since I was born. C.McCoy used to
bring bands to town to play 4th of July, and they all came by or stayed at my house. We're talking Hee-Haw for real.
Literally, yall come back now ya hear... So I was pretty much destined too play or pick whether I wanted too or not.
Now, grown up and still hee-hawin' I play :guitar, bass, mandolin, dobro, harp, sing, just about anything with strings.
Happily married to a beautiful and successful lawyer we find ourselves here in Brandon, Florida."
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StateRoad 64 Update:
ArtsHOP 2011 is rolling around -
November 11th, 2011 - and StateRoad 64 had been asked to perform at the Artists' Guild Gallery in Holmes Beach. Once again, Howard Bard has gathered his bluegrass friends.
Come on out to see StateRoad 64 and meet the new members of our band. |
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