DA' BOY'z

Dick “Spanky” Maley / Drums & Vocals: Born in Washington, D.C. he attended Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va. Dick moved to New Orleans in 1978 at the ripe old age of 22, where he performed in many notable night clubs on Bourbon Street with the “New Dixie Zing Kings” Dixieland show band. 1980 saw Dick move to Clearwater, Florida where he started honing in on his jazz skills under the tutelage of many great jazz artists such as Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Bill Allred, Tom Saunders, Chuck Hedges, Henry Cuesta, Bob Draga, Mike Vax, Bob Havens, Johnnie Varro and Ms. Connie Haines, to name a few. Dick “Spanky”, presently resides in Lakeland, Fl. just outside Orlando where he performs for the Walt Disney Company, as well as playing in many local jazz Festivals

John DePaola / Trumpet: Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John majored in music at college at Duquesne University. After college he toured on the road with a show band called “Delegation”. John then, moved to Orlando to perform for the Walt Disney Company in 1987. Working at the theme parks by day, He also played nights at the “Rosie O’Grady’s” showroom, and numerous other venues around Orlando. John’s list of “played-with's” are many: Ray Charles, Moody Blues, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., Kenny Rogers, Ira Sullivan and even Howie “D” of the Backstreet Boys. In fact, busy as he is, he still finds time to sleep.

Herb Bruce / Trombone: Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Herb played his first notes on the trumpet in first grade, and switched to trombone three years later. With a degree in music from Peabody College and graduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Herb spent seventeen years in Nashville performing with anyone and everyone: two years with the Nashville Brass, shows with Steve & Eydie, Boots Randolph, and s many years with the Ringling Brothers Circus Band. He currently works for Walt Disney Worlds “Rhythm Rascals”. He’s also very active in the US Army Band and the Kentucky National Guard Band.

Jeff Phillips / Piano: Born in Warren, Ohio Jeff moved to Naples, Florida at the age of 5. He played and paid his way through college to earn a Bachelors of Music degree in Tuba.... Tuba? That explains why he plays piano in Dick’s band. Jeff has performed with many notables during his college and post-college years, including Buddy DeFranco, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry and Peter Appleyard, and even The Coasters and The Drifters. He also played for over eight years at the Naples “Ritz Carlton Hotel” and the “Grand Hotel” on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Mr. Phillips is currently performing at Walt Disney World with the “Hollywood Hitmen” and the “Rhythm Rascals”, as well as free-lancing with numerous other bands in Orlando.

Dave MacKenzie / Sax's: Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dave performed with various lounge acts including Allen and Rossie, and Jaye P. Morgan. He also played with the modern jazz group “Apocalypse” in after-hours clubs. \After leaving Atlantic City, Dave and his wife Georgia moved to Orlando in 1989 where he started performing for the Walt Disney Company. There, he has played the bass\ sax with “Screen Extras” and “Florida Keys” sax quintet, and continues to be a regular sub with the “Rhythm Rascals”\. Dave is is the principal composer / arranger for the modern jazz group “Surface Tension”.

J.J. Argenziano / Tuba & Bass: A native of Cleveland, Ohio, J.J. moved to New Orleans, La. in 1982. Three years later, Tom Hook hired him to perform aboard the “Delta Queen Steamboat”. Against the advise of family and friends, he and his few remaining brain cells followed Tom to Orlando, where he polished his Dixieland skills under band leaders Bill Allred and Harold Johnson at “Rosie O’Grady’s” downtown. J.J. himself became the resident band leader at “Rosie’s” for several years and free-lances in the area. In addition to his musical skills, J.J. has his own company that installs electrical power for swimming pool contractors. Talking about being wired.....

Jim Snyder / Tenor & Clarinet: Our clarinet player is Jim Snyder, who we hope will make it before the end of the first set. Born in Michigan, raised in Indiana, and educated on stage all over the place, Jim's musical career has been, to say the least, varied. He has performed for the grand opening of an ATM in a Winn Dixie parking lot, crawled out the basement window during a fraternity house party that turned into a drunken brawl at a small Virginia university, and was asked to accept a small monetary settlement for his band to leave after only two songs at the inaugural Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach. His recordings are difficult---if not impossible---to find on the open market, which is okay, since he was never paid for most of them. His bands have closed many of the rooms in which they performed regularly, most notably Woody Riley's Warehouse (Clearwater, FL), Rosie O'Grady's (Orlando, FL), and the Rhythm Rascals job at Walt Disney World. Jim currently is living on weekly unemployment checks, while his wife works a 10 hour day to hang on to the house.

Steve Falkner / Trumpet: New Info coming soon on Steve. Please stop by again.