Steve Bloom - Drums

Steve has always been surrounded with music. He comes from a family of professional musicians. Growing up in Petersburg Va. Steve first found his love for drumming from his dad, Allan Bloom who played drums in the 1950's with The Continentals. It all started at the age of seven, when he found his dads old Zildjian cymbal and sticks in the closet. He set the cymbal up on a camera tripod, turned over a couple of trash cans, and began to bang away on the make shift drum set. Needless to say, his dad saw the need to buy him a real drum set, which always stayed set up in the den along with a variety of other musical instruments. It was not uncommon for the Blooms to have 30+ musicians over for a jam session. In middle school, Steve and his older brother Art started a band called Okra. Then all through high school the brothers performed around the tri-cities as The Bloom Boys. The Bloom Boys played weddings and private parties and were the house band on weekends at Burneil’s and at the Old Towne Tavern. Steve also played drums and sang for The Dominion Singers, then at Campbell University in the Jazz Band and stage band. Steve loves to sit-in with other local bands and currently performs in a local Richmond jazz group called Dogtown Quartet, which he and Kirk McQuiddy, the BD’s bass player, formed prior to joining the BD’s in the fall of 2006.

Dino Cecchi – Lead Vocals, Trumpet, Percussion

Dean “Dino” Cecchi began his music career at the young age of seven when his father purchased him a trumpet. Dino, along with some of his Hermitage High School friends formed a band called The Inspirations in 1965. In 1984 Dino helped to reform the second reunion tour of King Edward and the BD’s. He remained with the BD’s through 1994, at which time, the BD’s disbanded for the second time. During this time Dino co-wrote and sang lead vocal on the BD’s recording “Going to the Beach”. He also sings lead vocals on other BD recordings including “They Say the Girls Crazy”. Dino joined another talented group from Richmond, VA known as T.C. and the Hot House Band in 1996. While with this group he continued to perform as a lead vocalist and front man during the bands rein through 2001. In 2001, Dino rejoined King Edward and the BD’s for its third reunion group tour. And by the way, the trumpet his father purchased for him at the age of seven is the same trumpet Dino still plays today.

Rod Hyner – Percussion

Rod has played drums and percussion in numerous venues and with multiple groups throughout the Richmond area since 1987. He has performed hard rock, folk rock, blues, funk, jazz and bluegrass. His unique style of hand drumming evolved from playing music that rarely use percussion, combined with the art of Brazilian hand drum masters, who perform with rigorous style. His intent as a percussionist is to complement the drummer, bass guitarist and the rest of the band while adding bits of Latin flavor to songs that keep feet moving and toes tapping. Rod joined King Edward and the BD’s in 2007.

James Lane - Trumpet

James graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill receiving his Master of Arts in Teaching and his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance. James continued his studies at NCSU where he earned a Master of School Administration and is now working on his doctorate at the University of Virginia. James works as an assistant principal in Chesterfield County, having moved here after working for six years as an administrator and band director in Durham, NC. He has performed with several NC bands including The Countdown Quartet, Mr. Potato Head, The Bridge, and the salsa-band Samecumba. He has recorded with artists such as Caitlin Cary, Weekend Excursion, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Talk, and the Countdown Quartet. Prior to James' move to Richmond, VA, he performed with the well known NC band, The Castaways, for 8 years and recorded on their album "Generation 6" which won the Castaways a Cammy for Best New Artist in 2006. James joined King Edward and the BD's after getting married and moving to Richmond in the Fall of 2006.

Jerry Liddle – Baritone Saxophone, Vocals, Percussion

Jerry began his band career while still in high school at J. R. Tucker. He originally joined King Edward and the BD’s in 1985. Jerry performed on the BD’s original recording “Going To the Beach”. He performed with the band for several years thereafter. In 2000, Jerry returned to his BD roots bringing back with him his talent and ability that makes the BD horn section complete.

Elana Lisa – Vocals

Elana comes from a strong musical background. Her father is a professional singer, her mother introduced her to many kinds of music. Her uncle taught her how to play guitar. Elana started writing music at the age of 13 and joined her first band at age 16. For the last 9 years she has been singing for the band Steppin Stone, a blue-rock band. Through her varied musical taste, which includes hard rock, blues, jazz, rockabilly and folk, she has found a way to incorporate these musical styles into her singing. Although she has many influences such as, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Ann Wilson, Nina Simon, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Nicks and Judy Garland, she has developed a style all her own. She sings from the heart with soul. Elana joined King Edward and the BD’s in 2007.

Ed Martin - Keyboards

Ed Martin is the only original King Edward and the BD’s band member still performing with the group today. Thus, he proudly wears his crown as “King Edward”. He joined the original BD’s in 1966 when the band was formed with high school friends from John Marshall High School in Richmond, VA. At that time, the band was called King Edward and His BD’s. While with the original BD’s, Ed performed on the well known BD recordings, in the late 1960’s, “Beg Me”, “MTYLTT”, “I Do”, “Girls Are Supposed To Be”, “Working For My Baby”, and “I Don’t Want To Lose Her”. Ed is a well rounded musician and can be found playing drums, bari sax, but spends most of his time behind his piano and organ. Ed demands…..By Order of the King…….Party!

Kirk McQuiddy – Bass

Kirk, originally from Tulsa, OK, got his start in music during his junior and high school years playing both concert trumpet and bass. Once in college at the University of Oklahoma, he was pro- active in the universities concert band and The Pride of Oklahoma’s marching band. He performed with The Pride during the 1971 Sugar Bowl Game. In the 1990's he played trumpet with The Richmond Pops Band and Keep Your Day Job Band. Currently Kirk performs upright bass in a local Richmond jazz group called Dogtown Quartet, which he and Steve Bloom, the BD’s drummer, formed prior to joining the BD’s in the fall of 2006.

Buddie Throckmorton – Guitar, Vocals

With a four decade music career, Buddie began touring nationally as a guitar artist with Vic and the Versatile's in 1967. While with Vic and the Versatile's, Buddie backed national performers such as The Vogues, Bobby Vinton, and Rodney McDowell. In 1977 Buddie formed his own group simply called “Buddie” in Flint, Michigan. This group was an Elvis show and band performance which toured until 1982. Once back in Virginia, he formed the group Capital Square in 1982, which became the house band for several years at the Satellite Club in Richmond, VA. In 1986, he joined King Edward and the BD’s and played with them up through 1990. Buddie was a major role player in reforming King Edward and the BD’s Band in 2000.

Phil Walston – Keyboard, Vocals

In 1976, while in the Coast Guard stationed in Savannah, GA, Phil became part of a duo group performing at local military bases. While still in GA, he performed with many other groups prior to his Coast Guard discharge. He moved back to Virginia in 1978 and formed a southern rock group called Times of Change. In the early 1980's, Phil joined a local Richmond group called Capital Square, which was formed by, now BD’s guitarist, Buddie Throckmorton. In 2000, Phil and Buddie put together a new group and started hammering out old beach tunes. Upon which time some former members of the BD’s, including Ed Martin, Dino Cecchi and Jerry Liddle joined in and reformed King Edward and the BD’s for a third reunion tour.

Buddy Williamson – Saxophone, Flute, Harmonica

Buddy’s musical journey began in the 1960’s when he performed with Soul Inc. and other rhythm and blues groups. During the 1970’s he performed with other well known groups to the Richmond, VA area such as J. J. and Company and Baby Huey and the Babysitters. During the next few years, Buddy performed with several local community bands for charitable occasions, until his coming out of semi retirement in the music business in 2000, when he joined King Edward and the BD’s.