BAND BIO
We asked each band member to answer three questions: What do you enjoy most about being a PIK Crew Member, what is your most memorable moment, and what are your plans for the future? Here is some info on each of the band members, and their answers to my questions.
Matt Looney, 20. Transferred to Wittenburg University, in Springfield Ohio, where he is nearing the end of his freshman year, and will major in History, and plans to be a teacher. Heavily influenced by Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, and Ralph Stanley, Matt also plays Scruggs-style guitar n some of our gospel numbers. He works for his grandpa during the summer building and remodeling homes. His answers: I enjoy being a member of the PIK Crew, it’s very important to me. My most memorable moment is playing at Bean Blossom. I plan to graduate from college.
Justin Hoke, 20. Will graduate from Tecumseh High School, New Carlisle, oh, in just a few weeks, and has been accepted at Ohio State. An Eagle Scout, he is active in musical activities at school and church.. He plays and teaches all instruments, arranges and writes songs. His answers: I like getting to arrange songs and perform in front of amazing audiences. When we got to play on stage right before The Osborne Brothers, and there was a great, true hearted bluegrass crowd. There were tons of people. I plan on attending Ohio state University, majoring in Political Science. I then plan on going to law School and becoming a prosecuter, After that, I would like to run for judgeship, and eventually run for the U.S. Senate.
Tamara Moser, 19. Active in all musical activities at school, she has also received, for the past three years, the highest rating given at the Ohio Music Educators Association’s Solo and Ensemble contest. She not only plays the upright bass, she carries it on and off the stage! She will start her Senior year at Tecumseh this Fall. Her answers: My most memorable moment was our first paid show. We were all so excited to finally get paid for what we love doing! (Note:It was in May, 2002, and I believe they each got about $20, and wow, how cool was that?) I appreciate all the time spent with the band members for practices and shows. I love being part of the PIK Crew. Future plans will include college.
Ryan Hoke, 17. Also involved in musical activities at school, he is active in the Youth Group at church. He will soon complete his Freshman year at Tecumseh. During all his school years, he has received all A’s and A pluses, with the exception of one B plus! A Life Scout, he is now working on his Eagle Scout badge. His answers: I love to travel from place to place, and meeting new people. I like meeting new people, and playing in a band is a great way to do it. My most memorable moment would have to be when we played at Bean Blossom. It felt great to play on the same stage as Bill monroe, and we even got to sign “The Board”. When I was younger, I always dreamed of being on TV. I paln to go to college and get a degree in Journalism and Communications. This way, I can be a News Anchorman for national television.
Michael Fulwiler, 15. Michael is a Freshman at Tecumseh High School. He shows great talent in Art, and is a computer expert! I recently gave him the job of doing all our art work, designing our business cards, flyers, etc. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, and playin around on the computer. His answers: What I enjoy the most about being in the band is learning new things, going new places, and pleasing the fans. My most memorable moment was when Justin became my new mandolin teacher. My future plans are to continue to play the mandolin, and if that doesn’t work out, I’d go to college to become a computer specialist or an inventor. (Knowing Michael, he will do all three!)
Kaylee Sue Fulwiler, 13. Enjoys going to festivals and jammin’. Her favorite bands are Rhonda Vincent & The rage, and Mountain Heart. She got to go up on stage with them and dance last November! They played Lee Highway Blues, and she danced the whole way through! She will enter middle school this fall. A good softball player, she plays on two teams, including a select team, The New Carlisle Starz. Kaylee’s answers: Being a member of the PIK Crew is very important to me. I’ve learned to play the fiddle better and sing better on stage. My most memorable moment was when we made our first CD, and when Justin bosses me around! My future plans are to be a Pharmacist, and keep jammin’ with other people.
Bernice Allen (Gran) 59 & holding! Songwriter, avid reader, and good cook! Enjoys helping at the Wed. night jam at the Brookville(Ohio) Music Center. Loves being with family and friends. My answers: Being a part of the PIK Crew is one of my greatest joys. We all love what we do, and there is so much love between us, and our family members. We laugh, and kid each other, and just have a ball. Meeting new people and making new friends is great, and our fans are the best! My future plans are to keep playing together as long as we can, and hopefully, in the near future, record a CD of my original songs, with PIK crew Members and music friends helping me. My most memorable moment was walking onto that stage in Bean Blossom. I could sense the presence of all the great ones who had stood there. It was a special, humbling experience.
