text: artist feature | Savannah Songwriters Series - Part 2
  Artist Feature – BJ Franklin
  BJ Franklin is a 27 year Marine veteran, with multiple combat tours, who decided to pursue a softer side of life upon retirement. He picked up the guitar at age 42, formed a band within 6 months, played and sang for the Pacific military clubs system and was the leader of a country band in Japan that headlined the Japanese JayCee convention.
  Self-taught and still in the learning curve, he regularly plies his trade with his partner-in-crime, Lloyd Braddy, throughout the low country empire. Being a part of multiple groups, such as BJ & Lloyd, Hwy South and The This and That Band keeps him busy as they are in demand at most Hospice, assisted living and nursing homes in the Chatham/Effingham area entertaining the shut-in and debilitated. They maintain a rigorous schedule often playing for charity events and church groups.
  Starting his writing career with songs about his wife, he has penned numerous country, gospel and soft rock music. His wife says he writes gospel music cause he needs to be saved! He works for one of the world's most influential luthiers, Randy Wood, providing retail and production assistance, MC's all the national level shows at the Pickin' Parlor in Bloomingdale, and volunteers his time both at Hunter AAF and with the Savannah/Chatham Advocacy Program. He is the Commandant-elect of the West Chatham Detachment 1326 of the Marine Corps League and plays music with the group at Doc's Bar in Tybee on Tuesday night.
  BJ will join Stan, Roy and Sam IN THE ROUND this Sunday at Doc's on Tybee. 6PM
  This entry was posted in artist feature, Music Events on Tybee Island, Savannah Songwriters' Series and tagged Doc's Bar, Music Events on Tybee Island, Savannah Songwriters' Series on June 8, 2011 by TL Ross.
  Savannah Songwriters Artist Feature – Bob Fulton
  Bob "King B" Fulton has been a performing musician for over forty years, on vocals, guitar, bass, and "blues harp" (harmonica, or "Mississippi saxophone"). Primarily known around Atlanta as the frontman for the JumpKings for the past nearly twenty years, performing in clubs, private parties, weddings, festivals, and corporate functions, he is also a founding member and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Blues Society. Bob has also been a member of the Yaarab Shrine Entertainers Unit for the past 10 years, performing at benefits, festivals and the Annual Shrine Circus to benefit the Shrine Children's Hospitals.
  While attending Mississippi State University, Bob performed as bass player and vocalist with the Soul Solution, a band which played at the Straight 8 Jr. in Columbus, MS – a club which also frequently booked stars such as Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty and Jerry Lee Lewis.
  One of Bob's musical compositions, "We The People…200 Years" celebrating the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, was adopted as a National standard.
  Bob is a registered Professional Engineer and licensed Electrician, who retired after over forty years in corporate and federal government service.
  From an Atlanta Journal Constitution performance announcement regarding the JumpKings:
  "BIG Chicago blues sound from well-seasoned vets. Bob Fulton's powerful vocals dominate."
  Matt, of Fatt Matt's Rib Shack, Atlanta, GA
  "The JumpKings: Those boys can sure put away some bar-b-q. Helluva band too."
  Bob Fulton joins Jefferson Ross, Stan Ray and Leo Dean IN THE ROUND this Sunday at Doc's on Tybee.
  This entry was posted in artist feature, In The Round, Music Events on Tybee Island, Savannah Songwriters' Series and tagged Bob Fulton, Doc's on Tybee, Savannah Songwriters on May 6, 2011 by TL Ross.
  Savannah Songwriters Artist Feature – Leo Dean
  By 1965 Leo Dean had his own band and it was off to the races !
  The late sixties found Leo playing in the coffee houses singing the folk and protest songs of that era that convinced him that music was in his soul and also that the young hippie girls loved it, well that didn't hurt either.
  By the early 70's Leo was sharing the stage with the then unknown Johnny Paycheck and Tex-Mex
  star, Freddy Fender. It was also a transition from the acoustic Guitar to electric, all the while sitting in
  with various bands as a drummer.
  By the early eighties it was time to be a weekend warrior musician, continue an education and raise a
  By the early nineties the bug had bitten again and contemporary country music was a draw, so he
  played in a number of high powered country bands until he bought another acoustic Guitar and
  re-discovered Jimmy Buffett and the ParrotHead movement.
  So after a short stint as a duo in the JamesDean Band, playing southeast Georgia,Leo was once again
  a solo acoustic act…and thats when he played a gig in a seaside bar on St. Simons Island Georgia and
  met the founding members of a newly formed ParrotHead called who called themselves
  "The Southern-EZE ParrotHead club of St. Simons Island Georgia".
  To make up for the lack of a band Leo adopted the latest computer technology and was a full blown
  "sequenced" act. In addition to, at the time, over 500 songs. Leo's set list also included around 50
  Buffett tunes and another ParrotHead was born.
  Now, some 2 thousand gigs later and a seasoned pro, Leo's sequenced set list is over a thousand
  songs and includes some 125 Buffett tunes and growing. He has played ParrotHead clubs up and down the East coast of the US and as far west as East Texas.
  As of September 2004, Leo is finishing his third CD titled " I got it made", a collection of original
  music ranging from smooth ballads about the baby boomer generation, lots of tunes about the
  Islands and the tropical life to Nashville wannabe tropical hillbilly stars.
  Leo Dean will join Jefferson Ross, Stan Ray and Bob Fulton at the Savannah Songwriters Series at Tybee this Sunday at Doc's 6pm.
  This entry was posted in artist feature, In The Round, Music Events on Tybee Island, Savannah Songwriters' Series and tagged Doc's on Tybee Island, Leo Dean, Savannah Songwriters' Series on May 4, 2011 by TL Ross.
  Artist Profile – Lauren Lapointe
  IN THE ROUND – Sunday, April 17th
  6PM at Cha Bella
  Lauren Lapointe is a Savannah-based singer/songwriter who has been gaining recognition across the country for her soulful songs, unique voice, and strong live performances.
  Her CD "Butterfly," has been played on more than 100 radio stations in eight countries and reached #8 on the Georgia Roots Artist Radio Airplay Chart.
  Lapointe's influences include Canadian songwriters Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, and Loreena McKennitt as well as Southern storytellers Bobbie Gentry, Lucinda Williams, and Gillian Welch.
  "a great talent!" – Steve Young (Steve Young, songwriter ("Seven Bridges Road" by the Eagles, "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" by Waylon Jennings)
  "phenomenal!"– Renee Kennedy, WRHQ Quality Rock 105.3 FM in Savannah, GA
  "An acclaimed live performer…Lapointe has definitive gifts with melody and lyrics."– Kathleen Wehle – Southeast Performer Magazine
  "If you see her once, you're sure to come back again and again."— Sheri's Caffe del Giorno, Greenville SC.
  This entry was posted in artist feature, In The Round on April 14, 2011 by TL Ross.
  Artist Profile – Roy Schneider & Kim Mayfield
  6PM Cha Bella
  Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield have been making music together since their first date in 2003. The duo began touring when Roy ended his nationally syndicated comic strip, performing in 26 states and the UK in the 3 years since. Roy's songs have earned him spots in several prominent songwriting contests, including the 2009 Kerrville NewFolk competition. Their roots influenced, Americana/Folk music features Roy's soulful songwriting and virtuosic playing of anything stringed, accompanied by Kim's mellifluous harmonies, piano, guitar or mandolin.
  "Roy Schneider's rootsy songs contain a mix of blues, country, folk and Americana all rolled into a beguiling and tasty stew."