Meet the Band... Robbie Bush (percussion) has been drumming professionally since the late 60's and was on the road with bands such as The Jerry Scott Show, Southern Comfort and Rimrock and last played with The Hubcats before starting his own band. " My vision is to offer great vocals, horns and rhythms in medleys and songs you love to hear and to accommodate your requests to give you the best possible entertainment! Working with this particular band is a privilege as everyone strives to raise a collective standard that seeks to make each client and each "gig" a special event. Leslie Ladd (bass player & harmony vocalist) Well ... I can't claim quite as many years on the planet as Duncan, but ...I am a happily married mother of 2 awesome boys. When you get right down to it there are 2 things that I love to do: Go on family adventures and play music! Growing up, I listened to Dad's jazz and classical music juxtaposed with those 60's, 70's and 80's tunes that I so loved. At the age of 12, I discovered my love for the bass guitar, which has availed so many unique experiences, the most memorable being my one year international tour with Up With People. In 1986, the sluggish local economy necessitated a 14 year relocation to the Washington, DC area, where I worked as a programmer for a government contractor. All the while, music continued to play an exciting role, as our clients ran the gamut from large organizations, such as the World Bank, to corporate parties and ethnic weddings. As our family began to grow and priorities shifted, music was placed on the back burner. Our 2001 decision to move back to Cajun Country put me back in the saddle with these talented albeit crazy musicians and I'm enjoying the ride as it unfolds. Duncan Thistlethwaite (guitar) looks back at nearly 50 years on the planet and several things are obvious: good coffee is important, and the single thread which ties most of those 50 years together is his love of the guitar.Starting back in the early 60s with folk music, especially Bob Dylan, through the British invasion which brought the Beatles and so many great groups to the world, along with bringing back to America the best American music ever: Blues and Rock and Roll, Duncan has rowed through the decades with a guitar as his paddle. He's still paddling, less furiously now, but with all the more love and a deeper appreciation of the beauty of the instrument and the bliss of playing great music with great musicians and wonderful friends. There are few things in life better than spending an evening on a bandstand with a clicking band like The Robbie Bush Band before responsive audience. Come join the fun. Jolayne Francois Miller was born in Eunice La. She began singing in church choirs at the age of 12. Jolayne has performed not only locally, but has also had stage appearances in Athens, GA., where she resided for a couple of years She participated in the Wrangler GMC Showdown, where she finished in the top ten in 1992 and placed third in 1993. It was her performance in the 1999 Showdown which caught the eye of the manager of Country Express, a local band that performed in the Lafayette area. She accecpted an invitation to join Country Express and was with the band until 1996. In 1995, Jolayne was nominated for Country Female Vocalist of the Year in the Times of Acadiana Jolayne has been with the Robbie Bush Band since the summer of 2002. Being with a band as musically diverse as the Robbie Bush Band has allowed Jolayne to expand her musical repitoire and lyrical abilities well beyond that of a country artist. Rodolfo Espinoza (leader and writer of the horn section) was born in Iquique, Chile, but grew up in Abbeville. He is 35, married and has 3 daughters and a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Masters in Music Performance. Bassoon and Saxophone, but teaches social studies at Lafayette High School. “It's always been a goal to play in a good cover band with lots of horns. Each style group that I perform with; jazz, orchestral or wind band, is musically challenging and rewarding in a variety of ways. However,the audience reception and energy of playing in this band is unmatched by the other styles. This is also the hardest working band I have performed with.” Buddy LeBlanc (Trumpet) brings decades of musical experience to the Robbie Bush Band, with a degree in music, a member of several musical groups playing many different styles, a former Army Band musician, he has played for Kings, Queens, Presidents and for many thousands of people, both in the USA and in Europe. A home town guy with deep roots in Acadiana, Buddy jumped at the chance to join the RBB after a long absence from the party band scene primarily because of the high caliber of the musicians associated with the group. Buddy says, "Believe me when I say, from R & B, Soul, Funk, Swing, Latin, Pop, etc., this band ROCKS! " Roy Bertucci (lead vocals, vocal arrangements & keyboards) Originally from New Orleans, Roy is a singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and computer based music technology specialist. He's shared stages with.....GG Shin, Warren Storm, Johnny Allen, Charles Mann, Luther Kent, Dwayne Yates, Bobby Kimball, Everette Brady, Freddy Pate, Pat Breaux, TK Hulan, Chubby Checker, Wayne Toups, Steve Adams, Richard Le Beouf, Jerry Lecroix, Kip Sonnier, Jeff Dugan, Tracy Menard, Glenn Delaune, and Robert Burton. He's played in bands you may recognize: The Fenders, Louisiana Red, The Hot Damn Band, Top Dogs, Mr. Wizard, Country express, The Delta People, Whitcomb Steele, Boogaloo, All-n-All, and Countless sit in's. Bobby Dwyer began playing music in church at the age of 16. He went on to play and eventually manage a Lafayette based country and variety band, Country Express, where he entertained crowds all over Acadiana for over 10 years. Bobby went on to perform with several variety dance bands as a lead vocalist. Bobby enjoys performing many different styles of music, ranging from Otis Redding and James Brown to Elton John and all in between. Bobby has now found a new home with the Robbie Bush Band, where he performs as one of the lead vocalists. As a member of the Robbie Bush Band, Bobby feels privileged to perform with such a diverse group of talented musicians. Mark Mclain (trombone) started playing trombone when he was 10 years old because his dad played it. While other kids were listening to pop music , he was listening to swing and jazz. There is very little music that he doesn't like to play or listen to, but rock & roll and swing are definately his favorites. Mark did his part in raising a third generation "bone" , his daughter. Will there be a fourth generation? His grandaughter is already showing signs of music ability. Long live rock & roll!