Band Bio
Band Leader Alan has been playing music since he was 15. He plays a number of instruments and his career includes years of playing the Sydney Pub Scene. He has toured around the world and credits his musical influences as Billy Joel, Keith Green and Steely Dan as well as others.
In recent years he has been a Pastoral staff member at two large Regional churches, in the role of Music minister. Before these appointments he managed a Christian Radio station on the Gold Coast, after returning to Australia with his family from serving in YWAM in the UK. Alan is a gifted vocalist and the key board player. In a church situation, Alan leads the programme though a unique combination of singing and teaching from the keyboard.
Robert is a medical professional originally from the UK, an accomplished guitarist and keyboard player. He has played and recorded with a number of bands for over 40 years. Not without reason do we call him “the king of distortion” Robert plays lead and rhythm guitar and is totally at home playing the smooth ‘George Benson’ riffs to the driving rock guitar sounds of the Doobie Brothers. Robert plays a part in his home church praise Band.
Howard was for some years involved in Real Estate. He is a vocalist and an accomplished bass player, playing professionally for many years He has toured Australia as bass player for an endless list of local & international artists, such as Matt Monroe, Bobby Rydell, The Seekers, Sir Harry Secombe, Cilla Black, Wickety Wack, Julie Anthony and Ronnie Corbett. Some of his musical influences being The Doobie Brothers and the Eagles whose songs he performs without effort.
Don, a lead and rhythm guitarist of the band has seen careers in the RAAF as an F111 mechanic, a Qld Fire Service Officer, and then a long stint in the commercial property development industry. Don has played in pub bands and in younger days, Qld based gospel rock bands including Soul Reason and Zion. He’s the guy’ with the Fender sunburst guitar and the Taylor acoustic! Don plays in the band at his local church.
David has had an interest in music now for more than 35 years. Every band has at least ‘one character’ and “David is ours” says band leader Alan! Self taught on guitar and harmonica his favourite style of music is blues. Born in Sydney, David has been bending bananas since 1984. He is involved in the building industry when not pursuing his passion for sharing the good news of Jesus through music, (hence ‘Gospel Band’). David is right at home playing Dylan, Neil Young and plays a very mean harmonica!
Norm at 46 is literally one of the ‘boys’ of the Old Gospel Band. You could almost say he is in the band as a kind of support role to the older frail members or even as window dressing to attract a younger audience. While Norm’s bass playing would rival that of Donald "Duck" Dunn, Bassist for Booker T & The MGs and the original Blues Brothers band, his real claim to fame is that he has played with several unheard of rock bands that except for the bass playing, are best left ‘unheard’. In a world turned upside down Norm is passionate about using music as positive influence.
Pete at 38 is the real ‘boy’ of the band who started his musical career as a roadie for a relatively successful local band. Loving music and enjoying being around musos, he taught himself how to play drums and after some time and practice, was filling in as the bands drummer. In his 20+ years as a drummer he has played and recorded with a number of bands. Outside of music, apart from the fast food, trolley pusher jobs, he spent 10 years working as a chaplain/youth worker in South East Queensland. Having spent the best part of 8 years in tertiary education and having a few of those letters after his name which none of the rest of the band understands, Pete is literally one of the driving forces behind the sound of The Old Boys Gospel Band.