Russ Holitzki

With the ol' Raven four-string bass partially tuned, it had nothing to do with tone, but what it would take to rattle the wooden fork off the paneling and onto the shag below. It was the early 80's and following in my older brother's footsteps, I picked up the electric bass. I played around Nelson in my father's band for parties and special occasions. Through radio and vinyl, I was introduced to players such as Geddy Lee and Chris Squire, who took the instrument to the forefront of what was considered modern rock at that time. I was hooked!

Through the high school years, my days were spent playing in school jazz bands, while on weekends we snuck into local bars to entertain the masses; but from my recollection, we were equally entertained by many of the patrons of the not so respectful establishments. These were the days of big hair and spandex, and we were cranking out tunes by groups such as Journey and the Cars. After high school, it was time to get an education. I just couldn't see myself touring around with a six-pack habit and a motel tan. After college, I retuned to playing country music, laying down deep walkin' patterns while working on vocals. In 1999, I joined the Sonny Boys, a Grand Forks area band, with tight vocals and an uber-diverse repertoire. From Hoyt to Halen, there wasn't anything TSB couldn't do. Count me in! Today, while hairlines have receded, not so for the talent, energy, and professionalism of TSB.