Chuck Welch - Drums / Guitar / Lead & Background Vocals - Birthday: October 3rd

Chuck's Dad taught him to play drums at the age of 5 and later he started tinkering with the guitar. Seeing Elvis Presley in concert 5 times at a very early age solidified his love & passion for music. His first major performance was in the 5th grade when he played a drum solo in a regional talent show and finished in 2nd place to a college music major. He continued off and on to play through high school then after college, he played drums and sang lead vocals in the band Shogun for around 15 years. After a long hiatus from music, he joined The Dockside Band in 2010 to play drums and sing.

 

Chuck and Mike Cox formed Southern Chill in the fall of 2011. 

 

Musical influences include: Elvis Presley, Chicago, Alabama, The Eagles, The Gap Band, Charlie Wilson and Earth, Wind & Fire.

He has had the opportunity to open up for such national recording artists as: Merle Haggard, Trisha Yearwood, LeRoy Parnell, John Anderson, Marty Stuart, Linda Davis and Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs a well as sitting in with The Drifters, The O'Kaysions and The Showman.

 

Chuck is also the grandson of the late country music entertainer Glenn Thompson.  Chuck would like to thank his wife Toni, his 3 sons - Chas, Cameron & Caden, his mom Brenda and his late father Steve for their always unending love and support of his music both past and present.

 

Chuck's Gear  -   Fender American Standard Stratocaster / Gibson Les Paul  / Taylor 810CE Acoustic / Fender Mustang GTX100 Amp / Elixer Strings / Shure SM58 Vocal Mic

 

 

 Mike Cox - Guitar / Lead & Background Vocals - Birthday: February 12th

Mike, affectionately known as "Rock" started playing music at the tender age of 7.  He learned to play mandolin and guitar with his family band in the mountains of West Virginia where Bluegrass, Gospel & Folk music reign supreme.  He played in local bands around his hometown and started listening to acts like Travis Tritt, George Strait, Garth Brooks and Lynyrd Skynyrd and realized his love for Country music and Southern Rock.  It's no wonder that he sounds so much like Travis Tritt.

 

He is very thankful to be a founding member of Southern Chill where he is out front with Chuck, playing the guitar and sharing lead and background vocal duties.  Mike feels that the vocals in this band are one of the strong points of the band and he is proud to be playing with the talented musicians assembled for this group.

 

Mike would like to thank his wife Deanna and his 2 daughters - Delaney and Avery for their love and support on this journey.

 

Mike's Gear  -  Taylor Doyle Dykes Deluxe Acoustic / Elixer Light Strings / Shure Vocal Mic

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 Ray Allegrezza - Lead Guitar - Birthday: August 3rd

Ray (a.k.a. Rayzar) has been involved in music most of his life.  He was a member of the middle and high school chorus and it was during this period that his voice began to change and he was relagated to a one octive range.  While the kids of the period hooked on

"Beatlemania", Ray's Afro-American chorus teacher took a few kids to the Apollo Theater in Harlem.  After hearing a full night of Motown

and Blues including a staggering set by legend B.B. King, he was forever hooked on the Blues.

 

His love affair with the guitar started in high school - self taught.  Like lot's of younger musicians growing up in the late sixties, he played

in numerous garage bands including Texas T, The Sidewinders, Lucky Mud & Southern Cross.  He considered leaving college to pursue

a career in music but decided to pursue his college degree instead.

 

Today, Ray is the Editor in Chief of Furniture Today, the leading magazine for the home furnishings industry and he is thankful that this position has afforded him the opportunity to raise his 4 sons - Mike, Steven, Danny & Anthony.  Ironically it was in this capacity that he met

Chuck & Mike (both also in the furniture industry) and they asked Ray to join Southern Chill as the lead guitar player.

 

Ray says "I really believe that musically with these guys, the best is yet to come."

 

Stay Tuned!!!!!!

 

Ray's Gear  -  Gibson SG Junior / Gibson ES-335 / '64 Fender Stratocaster / Vintage Yahama G-100/115 Amp / Vintage Roland JC-55 AMP 

Daddio Overdive Pedal / D'Adarrio .10 Strings

 

 

 

 Brian Cooper - Bass Guitar: Birthday: October 22nd

Brian (a.k.a.Coop) is the latest addition to Southern Chill and he truly completed the sound of this band.  He was the bass guitar player for the Dockside Band - the same band that Chuck was in prior to the start of Southern Chill.  Needing a bass player, Chuck was certainly familiar with Brian's steady playing ability so it was perfect timing and a perfect fit.

 

Like the other members of the band, Brian started playing at an early age.  He actually began playing drums at age 6 and at age 16 he joined his first band as a drummer.  He played in several bands over the years but in 1998 he decided to pick up the bass guitar and he taught himself to play.  As an experienced drummer, it certainly made the transition to the bass a little easier because a drummer and bass player work so closely together to provide the rhythm section of any band.

 

After settling in on the bass, Brian played in several beach bands over the years including The Top Five Band, The Centerline Band & Dockside.  He is now stoked about being the bass man in Southern Chill and he enjoys playing a larger genre of music in this band.

 

He would like to thank his parents for putting up with all the noise that he made as a child and their support has always been there.  He would also like to thank his wife Karen of 24 years for all of her support and being there through all the years of playing.

 

Brian is excited about the sound of Southern Chill and he continues to look forward to each and every show - playing and entertaining all of the "Chilly's" that are ready for a night out for some fun and great music.  He hopes to see ya soon!!

 

Brian's Gear  -  Ibanez SR 505 5 String Bass / Gallien-Krueger Bass Amp / Kerly Bass Strings