Les Falconer (DRUMS)
Les was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. Les has worked with Evelyn Champagne King, Billy Preston, Johnny Guitar Watson, Toni Braxton, The Ojays, Jack Mack & The Heart Attack. Les is also a songwriter, producer and vocalist.
Les met Keb Mo in the early eighties playing in a band called the Late Nite Express. They did gigs around the LA area, sometimes dodging bullets and fights in clubs… their musical connection turned into a friendship that continues to this day.
Les uses Paiste cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks and Yamaha Drums.
You can contact Les at drumster32@hotmail.com
Jeff Paris (GUITAR, MANDOLIN, HARMONICA)
Jeff’s played with Keb Mo since 2000, performing on guitar, mandolin, keyboards, organ, harmonica and vocals. They met while touring with A Taste of Honey in ‘82. He’s also toured with Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Bill Withers, Dan Fogelberg, and many others.
As a songwriter, Jeff’s songs have been recorded by more than 60 artists. He’s contributed to gold and platinum albums by Sheena Easton, Jeffrey Osborne, Vixen, Alias, Mr. Big, and Lita Ford. He and Keb’ Mo’ co wrote “Shave Your Legs” and “The Itch.”
As a recording artist, Jeff’s album releases are: Pieces, as part of the band Pieces on United Artist Records, 1980 – Race to Paradise as a solo artist on Mercury/PolyGram, 1986 – Wired Up as a solo artist on Mercury/PolyGram, 1987 – Lucky This Time as a solo artist on Now & Then Records, 1993 – Smack as a solo artist on USG Records, 1997 – Freak Flag as a solo artist on Barenuckle (Japan), 1998 – Broken Chain, 2011
You can contact Jeff at jeffparisbrokenchain@yahoo.com
Kevin So (KEYBOARDS, GUITAR)
Kevin So has earned the respect of Keb’ Mo’, Billy Bragg and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, and has built a loyal fan base around the world for the past 16 years, opening for artists such as Joe Cocker, Randy Newman and Little Richard. He has performed on the main stage at several folk/blues festivals across the US, and more recently appeared with Keb’ Mo’ at Carnegie Hall and The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Kevin was also proud recipient of the 2007 New York Fringe Festival Award (Best Music & Lyrics) for “Great Wall” – a musical loosely based on his life and times. His songs have been recorded by Keb’ Mo’ (“Crush On You”, “Talk”), Shemekia Copeland (“Sounds Like The Devil”) and Big Wide Grin (“Individual”). He is blues, folk & soul in its finest blend.
Kevin currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his dog Monk.
Vail Johnson (BASS GUITAR)
Vail was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, the youngest of 7 boys in a musical family. After honing his skills in school bands, and then about 10 years of 6 nights a week in West Coast bars and clubs, he met Kenny G. 1986 marked the beginning of his tenure with Kenny and he has played with him ever since. He’s also had the honor of playing bass and singing with many other great artists throughout his career, ranging from Herbie Hancock to Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton to Stevie Nicks and so many more in Jazz, R&B and Pop genres.
In 2010 he moved to Nashville after a 24 year run in Los Angeles. While enjoying the better quality of life afforded by the move, he met Keb Mo through a mutual friend. He played on several of his different projects including ‘The Reflection’ and is now proud to be a part of the touring band as well!
Michael Hicks (KEYBOARDS, ORGAN)
Watching the energetic, spontaneous, and passionate musicianship of Michael Hicks on stage, one would find it hard to believe that this fiery keyboardist is reserved, introverted, and even shy off stage. A native of Warner Robins, Georgia and a current resident of Nashville, Tennessee, Michael brings a musical background rich in the culture of gospel music and the rhythmic stylings of soul and funk. Having met Keb at a session for “Memphis Beat”, he began working with him on a daily basis and soon became the newest addition to Keb’s band. Quietly becoming a force in Nashville’s urban music scene, he produces and writes for various artists and he is the frontman and songwriter for Nashville’s newest force of funk, Funktional Punctuation (aka The Funk Puncs).