BIG BEN ATKINS-LEAD VOCALS
Big Ben Atkins was born and raised in Vernon, Alabama, but now makes his home in Huntsville, AL. Ben has been singing to thousands of fans for over forty years. Ben was the first caucasion solo to sign with Stax Records, a previously predominately black artist label, which was the label of such great artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley, Wilson Pickett and many others during the 60's. He has recorded four albums and fourteen single records. With one album making Billboards's Top 100, and one single in the Top 40. Ben was the co-founder, along with Terrell Hattaway (drummer) , of the Classof65band in 1991. The group has gone through many changes in that time, but one thing remains, the love of making music and pleasing an audience. Ben has a three octave vocal range, and loves to sing all types of music, just whatever the crowd wants to hear. It is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.
TERRELL HATTAWAY-DRUMS-VOCALS
Terrell is also from Vernon, Alabama where he still resides today along with his wife Donna, who also sings with the group (pictured below) and not only that, but his son is the groups sound and light engineer. Terrell is also co-founder of the band, and has never missed a gig since the band began performing in 1991. Terrell began playing the drums in the fifth grade of school and really has loved every minute of it. ' I can remember it just like it was yesterday, when the band director came up to me and ask if I would be interested in playing in his band, and I said to him, 'only if I can play the drums'. From that moment, some 35years later he is still laying down some licks. "I really love the Motown, soul and oldies music that we play, I feel it is some of the best music that also carries over to a wide age range audience , and even the younger age groups are starting to listen to the music, I guess that goes to say,,,,, old music never gets old"
DONNA HATTAWAY-BACKGROUND VOCALS
Donna starting singing with the group just a couple of years ago, but she certainly enjoys getting on stage with the band. She is the wife of the drummer, and the two truly enjoy performing on stage together and making the trips with the band. She is also the wardrobe coordinator for the band, and she does a great job choosing the outfits, and did we mention she plays a mean tambourine, not to mention that she really is a great dancer herself, enjoys the oldies and getting the crowd on their feet!!!!
JERRY BEARD-GUITAR-VOCALS
Jerry is pictured here with his wife Beth Ann and daughter Bethany. They reside in Columbus, MS in Northeast Miss , where they own a fence company that keeps them busy during the week so he can play guitar on weekends with the band. Beth Ann loves to dance to the band's music and Bethany is an up and coming singer herself. Their son Carson( not shown) plays guitar as well. Jerry has been with the band several years and he really loves to play guitar and sing some of his favorite tunes with the group.
BILLY COLLINS-KEYBOARD
Billy is also from Vernon, Al., where he has spent over 30years in the education system as a teacher and a coach. He and his wife Ginger make their home in Vernon, and have two lovely daughters Lindsey and Katherine. Ginger is also a school teacher and has over 30years of service in the education field. Billy has been playing keyboards for over 35 years and still plays a Hammond B-3 organ with a Leslie tone cabinet amp. "I've tried many different keyboards as a substitute for that Hammond B-3 sound, and I admit there are some that are close, but there are none that can match that sound, it was given to me by my parents back in the sixties and I just can't part with it"
RONNIE PENNINGTON-Bass
Ronnie is originally from Vernon, AL., but now makes his home in Caledonia, MS. Ronnie has been playing bass for many years as he grew up around music all his life listening and playing with his family at various functions and family reunions. Ronnie has been with the band several years and he enjoys playing with the group. He is in the insurance business and owns an agency in Columbus, MS. Some of his hobbies are golf.... golf....... and more .... golf ! You see, Ronnie and Terrell are long time friends and are golfing buddies, heck sometimes we have to go drag them from the course to make the gigs.
DEAN TURNER-VOCALS
Dean is another Vernon member and she has been singing for many, many years. She is a natural when it comes to music, and she has a range and voice to bring the background vocals to their best. Talent just runs in her family, her husband is Pat Turner who has in the past been the lead singer for the group until involved in an auto accident and is recovering at home, and the mother of two very talented and wonderful children Shane and Kelly . Dean enjoys singing with the group, although she can't make every gig, she certainly is a valuable member when she is there!
STACEY EASTMAN
Stacey has been singing with the group for about a year and she always enjoys getting on stage with the band. She enjoys taking the front line for a few solo's and has a blast dancing with back up singer Donna Hattaway. Stacey resides in Sulligent, Al., a small rural town located in Northwest Alabama. She is the wife of Todd Eastman and is the proud mom of Jagger, Savannah & Brennan Eastman. "There's nothing better than motivating the crowd, and to get them on their feet and dance!!! There's no music ....... like oldies music!!
ROGER WALLACE-TRUMPET
Roger has been a machinist at a local tile plant in Fayette for 22 years. When the pressure is too great, he picks up his trumpet and forgets it all. Roger has been playing trumpet for 37 years. He started playing Motown and soul music at the young age of 16. Since then he has played with several over the years and has been with the "classof65band" since 1992. He was a volunteer Director for the Fayette Co., High School Stage Band for several years, currently the lead trumpet for Dogwood Productions, a local production company in Fayette, and also has had the opportunity to perform with the horn section of 'Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Review' several times. Roger plays a Bach Strat with a Warburton 5S mouthpiece. Sharon, Roger's wife of 32 years always tries to make the gigs with Roger and she has missed very few over the years. "Thanks, Sharon for your support"..........Roger
BEN FERRELL-Guitar
Ben is an extremely multi-talented musician who performs with the band frequently. Ben has been playing the guitar for many years and it shows once you get to hear him play. He currently resides in Columbus, Ms and has been performing with the band for several years. He is so talented that he gigs with other groups as well. We are fortunate to have Ben with us, as he is a very valuable asset.
DREW HATTAWAY-Sound /Light Engineer
Drew began with the band on their very first gig, and hasn't missed a one. You see, Drew is the drummers son, and he has had plenty of exposure to bands. His dad would take him to gigs long before he could drive a vehicle. He soon became interested in the sound aspect of the band thing, and really paid attention to what the sound engineers was doing. Although at that time, he was too young to know , it wasn't long before he could hook up stuff and twist a few knobs himself. Years past and technologies changed, and Drew found himself right there cranking up some mean thumps from the speakers and has become a superb sound engineer for the group. "He basically taught himself" his dad quotes,,,,"I've seen him in some tough situations in rooms with poor acoustics, etc., and he made us sound like a million dollars! Anytime you take a 12 piece band and never have a sound check before a gig , and then make it sound good in a room you have never been in before.. . . . that my friend .. speaks for itself!!! We demand a out from him, and he always delivers"