Bad Sneakers
Bill Spurlock
Guitar, Vocals
Bill has over 30 years of experience as a guitarist and has been singing since he was a toddler. He and his siblings used to harmonize to the music of James Taylor and others back in the day. In high school, Bill played trumpet, which kindled his interest in horn bands and jazz-influenced music. His main influences are Steely Dan, Little Feat and his great friend and teacher, Rick Gordon.
Bill is a people person. When asked about a memorable musical experience, he related a story about an 80+ year old couple who happened by one of our gigs. They were skeptical that they would like the music but from our first song their eyes lit up and they did their cool 40’s era dancing for every song that night. They were like kids again. Very inspirational!
Karen Welling
Vocals, Percussion
Karen grew up listening to bands like CSNY, Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Heart and many more. Those early vocal influences inspired her to get involved in school choir at an early age. She sings all styles and has even had experience in barbershop quartets!
She met Bill Spurlock in 2003, during an early iteration of what eventually became Bad Sneakers. After many years and musicians developing the current Bad Sneakers team, she is thrilled that she "gets to stand in the middle of it all and experience the making of some of the best music ever written!"
Robert Coler
Keyboards, Vocals, Band Management, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Don't let his youth fool you! Robert has played and studied piano since age 12 and played drums all his life. Currently, he plays keys and sings in several bands around Houston. Rob auditioned for Bad Sneakers when he as only 17 years old. He is an accomplished musician and we are glad to have him!
Robert is a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX where he studied drums and piano in the university jazz ensemble. He extended his education in seminars with Bill Champlain, the incomparable Gino Vannelli, and at the Berklee College of Music. In addition to performing, he is an accomplished sound engineer and owns a production company.
Eric Taylor
Jeff "Tree" Hoke
Drums, Vocals
Jeff has been a part of Houston’s music scene for over 35 years. After cutting his teeth in local rock bands such as Bitesize, The Spies, and Mad Tango, he moved into the party band scene with the band Nightlife. In 2005 he completed a fifteen year run with The Guilty Party.
Jeff has also been involved in projects with Michael Marcoulier, Blue Flash, Airwaves, and Blowtorch Repair . Presently he is a member of Mainstreet, The Navigators, and The Texas Blues Bros, and sits in with many other bands in the Houston area.
Playing with Bad Sneakers has been the “Dream Band” that Jeff has always wanted to be a part of. The music is so difficult and the grooves are so deep, that it takes a group of special talented musicians to pull this off. And this group really makes it fun! Long live the music of Donald and Walter!!
Jim Rinke
Saxophones, Flute
Jim has performed in numerous jazz, rock, blues, country, and gospel bands since 1972. He has studied with jazz greats including Bob Montgomery, Clark Terry, Gary Foster, Dave Leibman, and Jamey Aebersold. Until 1983 Jim played in the Kansas City area and in various road bands. He has been in the Houston/Galveston area ever since, playing with local bands including Salty Dog, 1900 Storm, Gayle and the Hurricanes, The Kingpins, Soul to Soul, Martha White, Bayou Funk Experiment, Hit 'n' Run, Larry Callies, Main Street, Shapeshifters, and others.
Jim has recorded with major artists such as Israel Houghton, Gary Oliver, and Joe Pace and has played shows with Kevin Mahogany, Dianne Reeves and others. His influences include Wilton Felder, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker.
Jim enjoys a wide variety of different styles and plays what the style calls for. He can honk Texas blues, rock out, play soothing smooth jazz, or emulate country fiddle parts, and all with a large dose of soul. He plays directly from his heart.
Don Kelly
Saxophones, Flute
Don was inspired to play music by his father who was a sax player in the Orlando, FL area. He started on clarinet at about age 10 and picked up sax 4 years later. Later, he learned to play flute and upright bass. Over the years, he has studied with many fantastic players, including Woody Witt, Bob Sheppard, Tim Armacost, Jeff Kashiwa, and Greg Fishman. His main influences are Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Houston Person, Dexter Gordon, Joshua Redman.
Don has played with many bands including Speed of Sound and the Austin Big Band. Recently, he edited a jazz improvisation book series.
Jonathan Starnes
Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jonathan got his professional trumpet start playing salsa bands in the Austin/San Marcos area while attending college at Texas State University. There, he was also a member of the top Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Drum Major of the Bobcat Marching Band.
After receiving his degree in music education Jonathan moved to the Clear Lake area and was a middle school band director for three years. At this time he started breaking into the local music scene by playing with the Galveston Symphony, Alvin Big Band, Kirkland Street Band, Andy and the Dreamsicles, and Bad Sneakers.
Jonathan is currently pursuing a Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Houston and owns a dance studio, Harbour Dance School, with his wife Dominique in Kemah, TX.
Gerald L. Calhoun
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Bass Guitar
From Houston, Texas, Gerald has been active in music since a very early age. He began singing in the choir under the direction of his mother. Soon he turned to musical instruments, alto saxophone, electric bass, bassoon, double bass, piano and guitar and music production.
He attended high school with the awarding winning high school "KSB" Kashmere Stage Band under the direction of Conrad O. Johnson. He also toured Europe by his 18th birthday with that band.
Gerald attended University of North Texas State and received a Bachelor of Music degree. There he joined legendary Dallas, Texas band "Phyrework" which recorded for Mercury Records.
He wrote for successful R&B group "Confunkshun" and toured with R&B vocal group "Bloodstone" and the Department of Defense for the troops stationed in Turkey and Greece.
Gerald performed in the musical theater production of "American Jukebox" under the direction of Edward Love, playing bass, and solo performance of James Brown.
He was presented with a Platinum album for the debut of "Pebbles", for her twice Grammy nominated album. He lived in Belgium as a vocalist touring internationally with "The Magic Platters"
Gerald has shared the stage and or worked with: The Temptations, Average White Band, Patti LaBelle, Mary Wells, Herbie Hancock, Kool and the Gang, Grover Washington Jr, The Ohio Players, Confunkshun, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lightin Hopkins, Gino Vannelli, Bloodstone and the Tramps, the Magic Platter's, Michael Henderson. Also with NY Gospel Experience, Everette Harp, Calvin Owens. Brazilian recording artist Alcione, Ney Matogrosso and Marcio Montarroyos.
He was the bassist for "Disco Night Fever" including George McCrae, Patric Hernadez, Ottawan, Gibson Brothers and Boney M.
He also released 2 solo CD's in Europe. "It's A Reason To Love" that of which the single went to #1 in Portugal, and "Don't Stop" with it's single "Get This Party Started" duet with Alcione to the top of the charts in Portugal and Spain. He appears and performs in the critically acclaimed documentary 'Thunder Soul". Nominated by the NAACP for best documentary about his senior high school stage band.
