In the mid sixties the group known as Band of Oz had its humble beginnings in eastern North Carolina (Grifton) . It was a bunch of grammar and junior high school guys ( because no one was old enough to drive) being hauled around in Ray Houston’s Chevy station wagon pulling a little red trailer. The group at that time was called The Avengers.
As the mid sixties would have it the band was a guitar and keyboard group playing the sock hops at area schools, private parties and an occasional club whenever the owner would risk having them. The later part of the sixties saw the group bring in a horn section which brought a big change in the music. Freddy Tripp (Band of Oz, Dynamic Upsetters, Embers, Shakers, Breeze Band etc.) and Jimmy Smith were the first horn players. Until the name change around 1970 three members of the group had remained the same Johnnie Byrd, Buddy Johnson and Keith Houston.
As area available players (school mates of members) ran out, the band got its first player from the Greenville, NC Chuck French on trumpet. When the name was changed to the Band of Oz in 1970 most of the group was from the Greenville area, Chuck French / Trumpet, Gary Warren/sax, Randy Hignite/Keyboards , Jim Heidenreich/drums, all of Greenville and Johnnie Byrd/bass, Buddy Johnson/vocals and Keith Houston /guitar. Around 1971 another long time member Billy Bazemore replaced Buddy Johnson on vocals. Through the early seventies they continued playing the Frat parties private functions and clubs in the southeast.
In late 1976 the band now comprised of members from Raleigh to Greenville decided to try it as a full time band. Members were Chuck French /trumpet, Bob Lynch/sax, Ronnie Forbes/keyboards, Shep Fields/bass, Freddy Tripp (returning)Trumpet, Billy Bazemore/vocals, David Hicks /drums and Keith Houston /guitar. They hit the road traveling extensively in the Southeast playing the club circuit.
In the late seventies the band decided to try and cut back on some of the traveling and concentrate more on the Carolinas. They recorded and released their first single ìShaggin’ written by Billy Bazemore and Keith Houston in 1978. The radio airplay and promotion seemed to catapult the group to another level. In 1979 they recorded their second single “Star of My Life” written by Chuck French.
The next big personnel change came in 1980 when John Thompson ( Monzas, Embers) and Butch Barnes (Songbird) joined the group. John’s baritone vocal gave the group a new facet and Butch’s sax and stage presence only enhanced the show. In 1982 (now working Mike Branch) the group recorded Ocean Boulevard written and produced by General Johnson and Warren Moise. Ocean Boulevard went on to be voted Beach Music song of the year and the group won Best New Group at the BMA show. Their first album (real vinyl) “Keep Keepin’ It Up” ( title track written by Tommy Red of Nantucket) was released on Surfside Records. In October of ë83 David Franks Replaced Mickey Hardy on keyboards.
In 1985 Butch Barnes and Billy Bazemore left the group and were replaced by Chris Keaton (High and Mighty The Kings) on sax and Doug Adams (Entertainers, Bill Deal, Fat Ammon’s Band) . Doug left and was replaced by Gary Brown. The group started working their second album containing ” Over the Rainbow ” which was arranged by Chris. The album ” One More Step ” was completed and released on Metro Records in 19 . It was one of first regional projects released on CD.
After the release of ” One More Step ” the group continued performing 200 to 300 shows per year.
In 1991 after being gone since 1985 Butch Barnes returned . Work on their third CD began in the early 90’s this project was handled by the group themselves and recorded at CMC in Zebulon, NC, then released on Ripete Records in 1995. This CD ” Let It Roll ” contains “Shama Lama Ding Dong” the People’s Choice Song of the Year at the Cammy Awards in 1995. It is still one of the most requested beach songs of all time.
1996 brought on big changes when John Thompson decided to get off the road. Jerry West was brought in as his replacement. The change actually expanded the versatility of the group by adding a high tenor lead voice that was able to cover more and different types of material. Once the transition was made, the guys started working on a third CD. Work on this project was stopped mid stream when Jerry decided to leave for Nashville. Rick Strickland (ShagTime) from Columbia, SC replaced Jerry on bass and vocal. Within a year and a half Jerry was back. The lineup at that time was David Hicks /drums, Chuck French /trumpet, Butch Barnes /sax, Keith Houston /keys and guitar, Rick Strickland /bass and Jerry West /guitar. Within months of the release of ” Dancing in the Streets ” Rick Strickland left. At this time David Franks rejoined the group on keyboards.
After working on their last project for over a year the Band of Oz released their latest CD ” Over the Rainbow ” They feel it is one of, if not their best work ever.
In March 2005, Band of Oz owners Keith Houston and David Hicks decided to bring a new, youthful sound to the band after Butch Barnes announced that he would be leaving in April 2005. At that time, Scott Fine /Vocals and Trombone, Tim Morris /Vocals and Trumpet, and Daniel Morris /Saxophone and Vocals joined the Band of Oz to bring a new youth and a BIG new sound to the band.
Keith Houston
Bass Guitar / Guitar
Keith started playing guitar in 1964, at the age of nine. In the mid sixties put together the Avengers with some of his friends and school mates. He, along with David Hicks owns Different Drummer Inc. which handles the Band of Oz. Keith originally played guitar with the group but through different personnel changes, now plays bass but still plays guitar on a few tunes. On the songs Shaggin and Super Summer Keith was co-writer with Billy and Butch. He owns Oz Music in Dunn, NC a Pro Audio retailer and full production studio. Keith has produced and worked on recording projects with numerous artists other than the Band of Oz in the beach, gospel and contemporary markets.
David Hicks
Drummer
David was born in 1952 into a family of drummers. He grew up with two older brothers as well as uncles that were drummers and tap dancers. With at least one set of drums around the house always, it was only natural for David to start playing at an early age. David’s brothers Irvene and Tommy played with such notable groups as the Swigging Medallions, the Original Pieces of Eight, the Tassels and Gene Barbour and the Cavaliers. After high school David played weekends as he attended NC State. In 1976 he joined the Band of Oz and has been with the group ever since. He currently handles booking the group through Different Drummer Inc. The agency was started by David’s brother Irvene in the late 60s and serves as agent and management for the Band of Oz.
Chuck French
Trumpets / Vocal
Chuck is originally from Greenville, NC and attended ECU School of Music as a trumpet major. He is the voice on several of the bands biggest songs Shama Lama Ding Dong, Baby’s Got My Number and the newest release One Foot Draggin. Chuck has performed on all of the Band of Oz albums as well as material released by other artist.
Daniel Morris
Saxophone / Vocals
Daniel enjoys playing Scrabble and sipping beverages such as sweet tea & hand squeezed juices.
He plays the Saxophone for Band of Oz.
Chris Jennings
Guitar / Vocals
Chris began playing guitar in his teens after being inspired by a friend’s rock music collection. After moving through the ranks within the local band scene he landed the guitar position with a signed recording act and moved to Florida. Over the next 10 years Chris traveled all over the US and abroad with various acts before moving back home to the Carolinas. Throughout his career, Chris performed and recorded with many notable artists including Paul Davis, Nigel Olssen and The Righteous Brothers. Chris spent several years performing with The Fantastic Shakers..
Jody Bundy
Vocals / Keyboard
Joseph (Jody) Bundy from Raleigh, NC first appeared on stage with his father, James Bundy, performing magic at the age of twelve. During the same year, he started playing saxophone enjoying a wide variety of music genres. While attending Millbrook High School , Jody was a member of the concert, jazz, pep, and marching bands.
He began performing classic rock and beach music with fellow classmates and formed the “Chapter One” band. After graduating High School in 1982, he continued with “Chapter One” and other groups while attending East Carolina University as a Music Major. Jody then switched gears performing Country Music as a keyboard, vocalist, and saxophone player with CBS recording artist, Runner. This led to time on stage with numerous national acts and TV appearances.
Jody followed his path back to Beach Music eventually joining Bo Schronce and The Fantastic Shakers in 1991.
After moving to the N. Myrtle Beach area in the late 90’s, Jody was the Master of Ceremonies and performing cast member with the Eddie Miles Theatre. Jody formed The Coco Loco Party Band in 2000, based from North Myrtle Beach, SC where they performed and traveled throughout the southeast. Jody joined Blackwater Band in 2017, and The Embers in 2021/2022.
He now resides in. Wake Forest, NC with wife, Nancy, youngest of four daughters, Sommer, and their dog Bongo.
In 2023 Jody has found a home with one of the Southeast’s finest groups, The Band of Oz and hopes to be performing for years to come.
Doug Winstead
Vocals/Trumpet
Dustin Ahkuoi
Vocals
Dustin was born and raised in Chapel Hill NC. From a very early age music and art have been a huge part of his life.His father who is from the island of American Samoa played instruments and sang in bands as well as in the home with Dustin almost everyday of his childhood. His mother is a poet and comes from a family of poets,painters.authors and musicians.
In 2003 Dustin moved to Atlanta to pursue his musical dreams and called Atlanta home for 15 years. While in Atlanta, Dustin worked full time in the music industry for over a decade. He has traveled the US and internationally with successful bands that have opened for acts such as Usher. Pitbull,Sister Sledge. Jason Derulo,Blondie and many more. He has been honored to perform for former first lady Michelle Obama and share the stage with Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn and Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys.He has also released viral comedic videos that have amassed millions of views on You Tube and Facebook.
Dustin recently moved back to Chapel Hill to be nearer to his family and has loved reconnecting with his North Carolina roots.He is beyond excited and deeply honored to join the legendary Band of Oz.Dustin spent every one of his childhood summers in the Outer Banks of NC so the Carolina beach is embedded deep in his heart. He is looking forward to sharing the stage with BOZ and connecting with all of you through the gift of music!