Dave Cox - Vocals and Harmonica
Music
has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember,
beginning with singing in church choir at age 5.
My first lead singing role coming in the third grade,
having a father who
was a professor of speech and drama ignited a passion for the
performing arts,.
Roles in high school and college led me to NYC where I attended The
American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Professional singing roles in NY include performances in Oliver,
The
Pirates of Penzance ,
Brigadoon,
and Jesus
Christ Superstar.
I left NY in 1986, having discovered (among other things) that I was a
lousy waiter. Richmond became the place for me and my lovely bride,
Deb, to raise a family. I've since been a member of St. Bartholomew's
Episcopal Church, singing in their choir, as well as one of the
founding members of their contemporary music group, The
Spirits.
I've also had the privilege of singing with The Richmond Symphony
Chorus.
I'm a self-taught harmonica player, first picking it up at age 17,
because I didn't have the discipline to learn more
‘serious’ instruments. Musical influences are too
numerous to mention, ranging from Bach to Zappa, the Beatles to ZZ Top,
and , of course, blues pioneers like Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy
Williamson, and Little Walter.
The Silverback Blues Burners is the brainchild of Jim McCauley, myself,
and original keyboard player Gary ‘Smitty’ Smith,
whose career unfortunately has taken him elsewhere and who is still
missed. This is the 5th band I've been a part of in my life, and it is
the most versatile and the most fun!
Paulo Franco - Guitar and Vocals
I cannot recall a time where music has not been an integral part of my life. From listening to my grandmother sing to me as a baby in Spanish, to learning classic guitar as a boy, playing in bands in high school, college and as a young lawyer, I have always had a passion for music.
I have an eclectic taste in music that I try to incorporate into my playing. My playing style is heavily influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Dickey Betts, Mark Knopfler and the greatest rock and roll band ever, the Rolling Stones. Jimi and the Stones are why I play Strats and Teles. While that sounds like a lot of classic rock, you'll always find classic alternative like the Clash, Iggy Pop and English Beat, to modern punk like Social Distortion, singer/songwriters like John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams, New Orleans funk, zydeco and R & B, like the Iguanas and Anders Osborne, Americana like Wilco, Sonvolt and Cross Canadian Ragweed, and the honky tonk sounds of the Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam on my MP3 player. Right now, I am very much into the music of modern acts like Gomez and the Drive By Truckers. As for the blues, my favortites are Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roy Rogers, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.
My friend and fellow lawyer Jim McCauley asked me to play with the band, and the rest, as they say, is history. I am very thankful for the opportunity and outlet to channel my passion for music and guitars, and to do it with a great group of guys that share my passion.
I am originally from Washington, D.C., but have settled in Richmond. If I'm not playing my guitar, you can be sure to find me riding my bike on the streets of Richmond and the surrounding counties!
Miles Johnston - Percussion and Vocals
I
started playing drums after a church retreat in high school. I remember
coming home to tell the parents I wanted to become a drummer, much to
their initial dismay that I should instead return to piano or guitar
... or bass, or anything which did not require them to wear ear
protection. Apparently my piano playing passed that test many years
before.
I played throughout my years at
Collegiate Schools ,
and continued in college at
William and Mary .
I have played with the Covenant Players in Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and
Godspell.
I was involved in various bands: Lionel Ritchie's Head, an original
punk band (look at the old Ritchie videos for clues to this one), and
Pictures of Larry, so named after our lead singer and rhythm guitarist
met Larry in Alaska. No one knows if Larry is still around, but I'm
sure he would have appreciated it in some way.
After college, I moved back to Richmond and joined up with Broke Down
Engine after proving I could play tupperware, buckets, barstools,
etc. and, finally in 2002, I joined the Silverbacks. They still keep me
around - Marty's a pretty nice guy.
Jim
McCauley - Guitar and Vocals
Although
I make my living as a lawyer, music has always been a part of my life.
At age 7, I learned to sing and read music in an all boys choir at a
Catholic Church. In high school, I picked up a guitar and started a
band that played at school dances, proms, parties and other social
events. I performed in musicals and sang in the high school choir, and
made All County and All State Choir.
When
I was drafted in the Army, I had a part time job teaching guitar, and
played with other musician at USO and officers' clubs throughout
Germany. My influences at that time were the Beatles, James Taylor, Jim
Croce, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens who were popular during the 70's.
When I finished my tour in the Army, I continued to play acoustic
guitar and sing at coffee houses and bars during college and
law
school.
I joined my church choir at
All Saints Episcopal Church in
Richmond, VA and formed a worship group called "Plunky and the Sisters
of Soul." Plunky and the Sisters performed at my church and led the
music at annual retreats at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, Virginia.
Dave Cox and I started playing together informally and came up with the
idea of starting a blues band in 2002; so emerged the Silverback Blues
Burners. This band has a lot of energy and talent and we have put
together an impressive repertoire.
Dick
Phillips - Keyboards
I
started playing a Wurlitzer electric piano with a college pick-up band
in the early 1960's that lasted 2 and 1/2 years. We played soul and
rock at fraternity parties from ODU to U.Va. and I quit after
graduating and getting married. My music career restarted after a
divorce in the mid 1970's. I was playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano
with a "commercial" band playing a little jazz, standards, rock and
beach music 5 or 6 nights a week at regional hotels and clubs.
Marriage
arrived again and I quit for 25 years. I returned to playing
blues and classic rock with the Silverbacks using a Yamaha
P-250 stage piano and a Roland VK8M organ module and
I do not intend to quit again.
Marty
Schwab - Bass and Vocals
Lessee...
it's all kinda been blurry up 'till this point...
Richmond
born, Southside raised, I've been bassin over 30 years, and playing
guitar nearly as long. I'll carry a tune, given a big enough bucket,
and it's a good thing ,too, because although I've been many things over
the years, what I am is a musician.
(Ed.
note: the rest of the band agrees with the fact that Marty is indeed a
musician.)