Richard Payne (Bass) was born in Omaha and grew up in a musical family that required piano and vocal lessons from a neighborhood music teacher. In grade school, played the trumpet, violin, piano and performed in plays and holiday musicals. Up until 1990, had the pleasure of working with local talented musicians including Glen Burleigh – Minister Music Morning Star Baptist Church, Nate Bray, James Higgins, BB Crosley, Zina B, Rod Griffith and Rich Walters. Most recently, Richard has worked with co-worker Rick Hillyard, on a classic rock, blues, country rock cover band performing mainly in southwest Iowa and the metro Omaha area. Richard has opened up for Hamilton Loomis, Acoustic Groove, SouthPaw and at Winefest 2008. In 2009 worked on a CD with Steve Villamonte, Ed Archibald and the 808 St. Band at BassLine Studio and the single Coffee & Wine was aired on the KFOR-AM Judy a-la carte Show. “In The Gruv” is a culmination of many local talented performers.
Melody Holloway (vocalist) is a 24 year old talented upcoming artist from Omaha. Her ability to perform songs of Soul, Opera, Gospel, Jazz/Blues, Country, Broadway, R&B, Pop, and Rock has allowed her to grace the stage of many international/local concerts and television shows Idol (FOX) and The Sing Off (NBC).
Bobby Figueroa (Guitar) graduated from Boystown and has been in the Omaha Music scene for more than a decade. Figueroa took voice lessons, studied Classical Guitar, Piano, Cello, Drums, Trombone and Violin. Figueroa’s band, The Jacks has opened up for national acts including The Romanics, Edgar Winter, Ozark Mountain Dare Devils, Psychodelic Furs, Guess Who, signed mid tour with the Fixx and played with Buddy Mile’s at Club Arthurs. The Jacks showcased in a 9 state region, and a record deal with Prospect Records of Las Vegas for their Album “In Danger”. Returning to his solo career, Figueroa continues to write and books his One Man Band show, Centerline his full Production Rock band. His solo act includes acoustic guitar, piano and vocals. He completed musical scores and lyrics to Queen Leona, a play written by award winning Omaha playwright Jim Conant. He has been invited back to perform on mainstage 3 years in a row to Nebraska’s largest country music festival, Comstock. Opened up for Mark Wells, Traci Bird, Keith Urban and shared the stage with Clint Black, Dirks Bentley, Martina McBride, Kenny Rodgers, & Joe Nicoles. Figueroa is currently recording his first solo album.
Kolbey Wallinton, (Drummer) a graduate of Omaha Central High School was involved in marching band all 4 years and jazz band for 3 years. His biggest influence in Omaha is Andrew Brookins. Other influences are John Blackwell, Dennis Chambers, Tony Royster Jr., Cora Coleman- Dunham, Buddy Rich and Quest Luv. Kolbey started beating on things at age 3 and at 14 played for churches. Other performances include Jazz on the Green, Joslyn’s Christmas Under Glass, numerous jazz competitions and Salem Baptist Church. Kolbey has played with Baritone Sax player Frank Basile from New York, and the UNO facility Jazz Band.
Zach Fitzgerald (Saxaphone)
Zach Fitzgerald is a 23 year-old woodwind player from Omaha with a Music Education Degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he studied with Darren Pettit and Barry Ford. While in the UNO jazz band he played at the Kaunas Jazz Festival in Lithuania. He plays in several bands in Omaha.
Jason Figueroa (Keyboards)
Born into a musical family, 31 year Jason Figueroa has talent embedded in his DNA. Guitar, drums, keyboards and bass are some of the instruments Jason has mastered. Music is what he has always wanted to do and one of his dreams is to form an all Figueroa Family Band.
