Ally Couch was raised in Tupelo
Mississippi. She has grown up with a variety of music
genres starting with her father's swinging 50's band. Music has been a
way of life for this well-rounded, soulful singer since birth. Throughout
her life, Ally has been influenced by her family's mixed talents in blues,
country, and swing. The likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie
Holiday, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane
have inspired her soul and have found their way into her very dynamic vocal
expression.
This vocalist has let music lead her to
perform in many areas throughout the country. From Los Angeles, singing
with various artists, to Las Vegas belting it out in the MGM Grand,
she went on to Texas, singing the blues with her silky, seductive voice. Ally
finally landed in the Tampa Bay, Florida area to sing with the Heebie
Jeebies, the Bombed out Cat, and she produced some knock out
vocals for a variety of jazz recordings.
Ally has nestled in with the Venturas. Her
high energy, combined with the experienced fluidity of this group, breeds an
electricity that will throw you from your seat. You can forget just tapping
your foot to this riveting cast of players.
Greg Poulos Guitar & Vocals
Greg Poulos has been playing guitar
professionally for over 42 years. Some of the many bands Greg has played in
are: The Crystal Pain, The Bits of Difference, The Roulettes, Lebo Nash, Pork
and Beans, The Poulos Ramsey Band, The Anderson Poulos Band, Rock Bottom,
Sarasota Slim, Dan Electro and the Silvertones, and currently, the Venturas. In
1976 Greg spent a year playing and touring as FREDDIE KING's rhythm guitar
player. During this time Greg met and sometimes shared the stage with blues luminaries
such as MUDDY WATERS, B.B. KING, BUDDY GUY, JUNIOR WELLS, ALBERT KING, WILLIE
DIXON, ALBERT COLLINS, and BOBBY BLUE BLAND--as well as the rock stars that gravitated towards Freddie at
the time: ERIC CLAPTON, RON WOOD, JEFF BECK, CARLOS SANTANA and many others. As
a member of Freddie's band, Greg had the honor of playing a private birthday
party for Paul McCartney.
Greg brings this vast experience to The
Venturas. He with J.P. Coley and Art Siegel formed The Venturas after playing
together as the rhythm section for Dan Electro and the Silvertones. In 2008
Greg released his own solo project, entitled ANGELS FROM HAZARD. The cd has 7
original songs and 5 covers-- various flavors of blues, southern rock and
country rock. The record has earned much merit locally and on several internet
music polling sites.
John
Paul "J.P." Coley Bass&Vocals
J.P. began playing music at age 12,
starting with piano lessons. He switched to the bass to begin playing
professionally. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, J.P. returned to Sarasota and resumed his music career by forming the Hurricanes,
an R&B outfit. He has played the blues with Rock Bottom, Dan
Electro, Roy Book Binder, and Diamond Teeth Mary; jazz with Mike
Markaverich, Leon Meriam, and the West Coast Big Band; reggae
with the Instigators and the Strangeways; just about all of the
above with Jennifer and the Venturas.
Recording credits include Harmaniac
and Tone with Rock Bottom and the Cutaways, Polk City Ramble
with Roy Book Binder. With Dan Electro and the Silvertones, J.P.
played on and produced two records, Mr. Smooth and Reason To Lie.
Following that, with Jennifer and the Venturas, he played on and
produced Cover Play, and was a staple in the live club recordings on You
Really Got Me.
His influences have included Ray Brown,
Walter Page, Jimmy Miller, Larry Taylor, Max Bennett, and Berry Oakley. J.P.
plays a 3/4 upright base, a Music Man Stingray electric and a Fender electric bass.
Art Siegel Drums
Art began playing drums at age 15, and was working
professionally by age 17. He spent his early years working with an organ duo in
clubs, developing his abilities in many styles of music. He is one of the
founders of the Sarasota jazz band, Flightpath. As a member of the
variety band, Pangaea, he entertained at the Summerhouse on Siesta Key, Florida for 5 years.
Art was the drummer for Dan Electro and
the Silvertones, where he also contributed to
the band's original music.
Later, he spent his time with Jennifer and the Venturas , now The
Venturas playing drums as well as handling all of the bookings. Art also
plays drums for The Organic Trio
Notable musicians he has performed with
include: Herbie Mann, Gene Taylor ,Kenny
Drew, Jr., John Lamb, Bob Haggart and Chuck Red.
Eddie Tobin keyboards/vocals
Eddie Tobin
was born in Ft.
Pierce, Florida. He studied at Fl. State University and The University of Miami. At UM, Eddie studied
under the highly respected pianist/educator, Vince Laurence Maggio. During and
after college Eddie Played around the Miami area, on cruise ships, and later from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
In 1987, he made Nashville his home for 15 years. He played for the Forester
Sisters and, with that group, opened for Kenny Rogers through 1988.
Eddie also played with Brenda Lee for a little over a year on keyboards
and accordion.
Soon after, Eddie became
pianist and conductor for a show band for four years. This led to a seven and a
half year ride all over the world as pianist, music director and conductor for
Englebert Humperdink.
Eddie has performed in such
prestigious venues as: the London Palladium, Montreal’s Place Des Arts, the Universal
Amphitheatre in Los
Angeles, and the
Kremlin Palace of Moscow. Eddie has performed in such diverse places as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Germany Belgium, and at various casinos in Las Vegas and around the country.
Eddie has returned to Florida where he lives with his wife, son and mother. Since
joining The Venturas in 2006 Eddie’s years of experienced have enhanced the
band’s sound and allowed Eddie to stretch out and display some of his great
talent.
