The birth of The Ron Kemp Project came in July of 2010.  We've gone through quite an evolution from that time to present day.  The original line-up featured Marcus Zapanta on lead guitar and Maic Joyce on bass.  For a few gigs, The Ron Kemp Project really had a blues-rockin' edge.  However, both Marcus and Maic, the incredibly talented musicians they are, had other projects going on at the same time they joined TRKP.  In both cases, their schedules eventually disallowed them to handle another project.  Exit Marcus; enter Scott Geshen.  Scott brought a whole different sound and feel to the band.  And, a third voice!!!  Suddenly, we had 3 part harmony!!!!  I've always loved good harmonies.  However, after a few shows, I decided to take the sound of the band in a different direction.  I'd heard about this young, hot-shot guitarist:  Adam Schoen.  It only took one song at his initial rehearsal to realize that this was the sound and style I was looking for.  So, Adam Schoen became the lead guitarist for TRKP.  Around this same time, Maic's schedule is really heating up with his other projects.  "Here we go again" was my first thought.  At one point, I even questioned whether this whole band thing was worth it.  Being a solo performer is much less complicated!!  But, I LOVE the sound of my music played with a band.  So, I trudged doggedly forward.  Adam volunteered that his original instrument is actually the bass and that he wouldn't mind moving over to bass.  About this same time, my #1 choice for lead guitarist for the band, Kerry, became available.  So, now we're set!  Or, so I thought.  I think we got one gig in, and Adam vanished into thin air.  Never saw or heard from him again.  So, for a while, with gigs beginning to line up, we used subs on the bass until we could find a permanent bassist.  Dave Bleistein was a regular at the Open Mic I host.  "Singalong Dave" is the name he's earned there!  One night, he brought a bass to Open Mic and played with some guys.  And, he played well!  AND, he could sing like a bird!!!  I asked, and he accepted.  So, now we had a permanent bassist who really rounded out the sound of The Ron Kemp Project.  Set!  Well, for a while.  A guitarist vocalist first and foremost, Dave had his fill of life in a band as bassist and left TRKP in mid-2011.  Hey, that was just a couple months ago!!!  So, the search was on again.  And, the schedule was really loading up for the summer.  Luckily, I had several friends who were able to fill in for us as we continued our search.  Bob Kass was introduced at one of our shows.  And, he is now our permanent bassist.  Well, maybe not, after all.  Bob stayed with us for a couple months.  We parted ways amicably, giving him time to really master his craft while giving the band and me chance to find a bassist who was "road ready" right now!

Did you catch all of that?  And, this revolving dooritis has been all over the course of just over a year!

I want to recognize and give thanks to some incredible musicians who have lended their talents to The Ron Kemp Project at one point or another along the way:

• Frank Celentano
• Don Muller
• Kevin Markle
• Wesley Melvin
• Nick Sears
• Ryan Rahimly

Without you guys, we would've been in a whole lot of trouble!!