SOUTHERN RUKUS

"Country With a Twist"

SOUTHERN RUKUS

THOMAS BLAKE

 

Tom was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL where he has been entertaining people with his distinctive vocal style.  Around 1980, he started performing in various nightclubs in and around the Jacksonville area.  He has a natural talent that sometimes leaves trained musicians wondering why they have to work so hard at something that comes so naturally to him. 

 

 

DENNIS PRIES

 

Dennis was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa. At the age of 13 he started with a pair of drum sticks and used the couch as his drum set.  After many lawn mowing jobs he bought his first drum and continued with odd jobs until he had a full set. During High school he played in the marching band and jazz band. Then directly after high school he joined a band that went on tour and also played with numerous other bands during his off time.  A few years later he joined the Navy and continued to play with fellow sailors, performing gigs overseas.  After 22 years of service he still has the desire to play music.   

 

 

JESSIE WAGNER

 

Jessie was born in a little town just northeast of Memphis, TN. He began his love for music at the young age of fourteen when his Mother gave him a guitar and showed him three cords.  At seventeen, he took the blues melodies he heard from living on the river and mixed it with Southern Gospel to form his own band with some high school friends.  A few short years later he joined the Navy and took his love for music abroad.  He played in three different bands that performed at numerous USO shows throughout Europe playing Top Forty and Rock and Roll.  His first introduction to playing country music was with a band called “Blue Steel” from Jacksonville, FL.  Over his twenty-four years of service and dedication to our country, Jessie kept his dreams alive by playing whenever and wherever he could.  In July 2004, he answered an ad in the local newspaper and became one of the founding members of “SOUTHERN RUKUS”. 

 

 

PHIL JONES

 

Phil began playing guitar at age seven in his family's gospel group, and never looked back. He has two solo albums to his credit, as well as numerous recording credits with other bands over the years, including five albums with Southbound, with whom he played for some 28 years.  He has shared stages with stars including Mark Wills, John Connelly, Johnny Van Zant, and members of the Allman Brothers Band.

 

 

GREG SMERSH

                                                                                                    

Greg was born in Seattle, WA and moved to Florida in 1990 to attend UF. He first began performing as part of an acoustic guitar duo called "The Countrymen" in Ganesville area in the mid 90's. In 1997, the two were asked to join the "Paul Rogers Band" where he started playing the bass guitar. He also performed with another North Florida country band "Crosstyz" for a couple of years. He enjoys fishing, water skiing and riding his horses.