The Band
RUSS ANGELL - LEAD VOCALS
Russ is a lifelong Oklahoman having grown up in nearby Oilton and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Although Russ (who is considered a "true tenor") grew up with a love for a wide variety of vocal music, he spent most of his early adult years singing solo's and being part of the choral ensembles at the churches he attended, as well as singing at weddings, funerals and work functions. In 2010, he became a founding member of the local Tulsa group, The Blazer Band, which allowed him to display his diverse vocal range as the lead singer and front man for five years until the group disbanded in 2014. The Blazer Band, much like RendevouX, focused on fun and entertaining classic rock music from the late 50's through the early 80's.
Russ has been most influenced by The Beatles (Paul McCartney), Billy Joel, and The Eagles (Don Henley). Russ has had the privilege of performing at the following venues in and around the Tulsa area: Elwood's, the Blue Rose, Plaza del Sol, the Tulsa State Fair and as a headliner at the Glenpool Black Gold Festival.
Russ is a lifelong Oklahoman having grown up in nearby Oilton and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Although Russ (who is considered a "true tenor") grew up with a love for a wide variety of vocal music, he spent most of his early adult years singing solo's and being part of the choral ensembles at the churches he attended, as well as singing at weddings, funerals and work functions. In 2010, he became a founding member of the local Tulsa group, The Blazer Band, which allowed him to display his diverse vocal range as the lead singer and front man for five years until the group disbanded in 2014. The Blazer Band, much like RendevouX, focused on fun and entertaining classic rock music from the late 50's through the early 80's.
Russ has been most influenced by The Beatles (Paul McCartney), Billy Joel, and The Eagles (Don Henley). Russ has had the privilege of performing at the following venues in and around the Tulsa area: Elwood's, the Blue Rose, Plaza del Sol, the Tulsa State Fair and as a headliner at the Glenpool Black Gold Festival.
Tracy Carter - Lead Guitar EmeritusThe overview of Tracy's musical career doesn't differ too much from the usual story. Tracy's granddad taught him a few chords on an old acoustic guitar (which he still has) when he was 6 or 7 years old. He learned a few tunes and continued to have an interest in playing. He played in several high school bands, covering the popular rock and roll songs being played on KAKC and KELI radio stations. The main influences were Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson (James Burton), Lonnie Mack, and Duane Eddy.
During the summer and fall of 1965, he got the opportunity to play lead guitar for Gary Busey and his band, "Gary and the Guys," before Gary moved to Hollywood and became a star. Tracy spent a couple of years in Muskogee, OK attending Bacone Junior College and then moved to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. During those years, he played with a band named "The Executives." They enjoyed some regional success playing fraternity and sorority parties for some of the surrounding colleges. Tracy's playing, for the most part, stopped in January, 1969. He got married, had a couple of kids, went to work, started his own dental laboratory, coached little league baseball, football, basketball, worked on paying mortgages, college tuition, etc. He basically didn't play (other than a yearly jam session with friends or an occasional special at church), for 30 plus years. Tracy started getting back into the band scene a few years ago. He was very fortunate to meet and become friends with the guys that are involved with the RendevouX project. Not only are they great guys to be associated with, they are some of the best musicians around. Tracy certainly feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of it. Our hearts are broken as Tracy went to be with the Lord on January 25, 2025. Tracy's leadership and incredible guitar work will be missed so much by this band and our followers. We know he is now in Rock & Roll Heaven. |
Les Thomas - Bass GuitarLes' interest in music started with the Springfield, MO 4th grade band when he first picked up an instrument (the French horn) and began a lifelong love of music. Learning to play the guitar at age 15 got him involved with several garage bands in Tulsa and, after realizing the shortage of good bass guitar players in the area, he learned to play the bass.
Receiving a music scholarship to the University of Tulsa, Les played French horn in Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, and the Marching Band. He was also in several rock groups during his college years playing lots of sorority/fraternity jobs, private parties, and clubs. He attended TU for two years and then finished his degree in business administration at the University of Oklahoma. The next 30 years or so were taken up primarily with marriage, kids, and work leaving little time for only occasional playing opportunities until a few years ago when he decided to seriously get back into music. Les played a variety instruments including drums, guitar and bass in the Asbury Methodist Church praise and worship band. Strong influences in Les' music interest include The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, and Rick Nelson. At the same time he started playing in a couple of local rock and roll groups which led him to partnering with RendevouX. |
BRYAN SMITH - LEAD GUITARKIM KNAPP - RHYTHM GUITAR AND VOCALS
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Steve Berry - DrumsSteve began learning to play drums/percussion in grade school and played in the marching band and orchestra throughout junior high and high school.
Steve got his first real break into the world of music when his older brother's band, The Soul Seekers, hired him when he was in the 8th grade. The Soul Seekers, based out of Bartlesville, OK, was an eight piece rhythm and blues group with horns and the traditional Hammond B3 organ. In the summer of 1967, certain members of The Soul Seekers, including Steve, were asked to form a new group based in Tulsa called Steamer's Trunk. This was a nine piece rhythm and blues group that served as the house band at a very large and popular teenage night club called The Machine. A major influence upon Steve and Steamer's Trunk was the show bands out of Lawrence, KS (Red Dog Inn) featuring The Fabulous Flippers, The Red Dogs, and Spider and the Crabs. Steamer's Trunk would alternate sets with various guest bands, including Rubbery Cargo, Teegarden and Van Winkle, The Grass Roots, and many others. Steamer's Trunk eventually left The Machine as the house band and changed its name to James Mobley and the Bo-Jives. The Bo-Jives played a variety of venues throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. From 1969 through 1971, Steve played with a small four piece combo called A Sure Thing that featured a varied repertoire of tunes from Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Credence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and The Beatles. At the end of his sophomore year (1973) at the University of Tulsa, Steve decided to put down his sticks and focus solely on his education. The drum set stayed packed away in the attic for 30 years before returning to his interest in music in 2003. Steve is one of the original founding members of RendevouX. |