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In the 70s, Danny Young and Bill Joyner were both Fayetteville musicians living miles apart in the Greenville, North Carolina musical community, playing in different bands. A decade later they met when they both decided to go back to school for a degree in electronics at FTCC. Bill was doing a solo act and Danny had a band. Danny joined the solo act and Bill joined the band. Over the years the bands came and went, but the duo continued. After a while, they finally decided to quit renaming the band, and just go with the name Joyner Young Band. They worked with two fine percussionists, both long time friends: Raul Recio and Richard Gates. One day, after completing another successful theater play with great singers, they decided that it would be fun to add a female vocalist. The auditions weren't going so great when Bill went back through a tape of a night when Marie Grimsley came in to sit in for a couple of songs. It just so happened that Marie was up for something different too; and the magic began. They quickly rearranged some songs so that Marie could be on the album that they had been working on. Even though the album had been designed to be a simple time capsule for local consumption, it exceeded their expectations. One of the songs, "Live the Blues" went to number one for 4 weeks on King Curtis's Beach Club. It also received airplay on several other local stations. Not bad for being recorded in Bill's house. Later that year they appeared at the Cammys; the beach music Grammys. Unfortunately, that band went belly up, and Dan, Marie and Bill found themselves without a band. So, they started back simply, with two guitars and three singers. Then Bill started dragging out the keyboards and Marie brought her tambourine and maracas and Danny brought out his Clapton Stratocaster and there was a band again. They'd come Full Circle, just like the name of the album. Bill Joyner:  I started playing at an early age. My love for music is a family trait, all Joyner children learned an instrument and were expected to sing when we got together. I remember being 15 and being in the backup band for Clifford Curry when he came to the Circus Lounge in Fayetteville. As a musician, I became a utility man; someone who would join a good band if they needed someone. I joined the Bow Street Runners and Raleigh's Flic and his Orchestra when they needed a keyboard player. I joined Brandy and Badge when they needed a guitarist and I joined up with Singletree when they needed a bassist. In the 80's after Pegasus, I worked with Solid Sound Recording Studio for 5 years, learning how recording worked from the other side of the double glass. It has been my extreme pleasure to have worked with Danny and Marie; two of the most natural musicians and people that I have ever shared a stage with. They make music fun, like it ought to be. Dan Young:  Well I've been playing a long time. My first gig was on a cruise ship. At least that's what I thought it was. That Columbus character couldn't find his butt with both hands, and he couldn't spell either. He was looking for crews not cruise. Anyway my family settled in this military town with about a million other musicians that had also seen the Beatles on TV, so there was always someone to look up to. I played locally then moved to Greenville for a short stint. I guess Bill and I probably ran into each other up there but those were partying days so you know that story. Anyway I came back and started a band called Cripple Creek with some local friends and we toured the country making sure that we were a traveling felony at all times. Got an offer to play with B.J. Thomas thru some other local friends and toured the country some more just in better style. Got off of that road and noticed that I was getting a little long in the tooth so I decided to go to school and get a degree since I was in need of clothing, food, transportation, and a house with a wife and a youngun on the way. This is where Bill and I started to cross paths. I had always admired his playing and stage presence when ever I saw him play. One night I was on my way home from a band practice and stopped off to see him do a solo act. He asked me to set in with him and I just never left. Even though he tries I keep following him around. Marie and I go back as far as high school. One night she came in to a club Bill and I were playing at and we got her up to sing a song. It just fit like nobody else could and we've been marveling at each other abilities ever since. Marie Grimsley:  I started singing at 18 purely by accident when some musicians I just met told me I should. I needed a job and they needed a singer. I was surprised that I could even sing at all. The first band I was in was Ironhorse with John Ray and Karen Chandler. We were a show band at the beach. My second band was Cripple Creek with Danny, where we played Southern Rock and were a fixture at the Gaslight and Greenville area clubs. Next came Brandy with Bill and playing locally. I then joined Byte, a rock band with Danny and Jeff Bundy where we were the house band at Bahama Joe's. Then came Ferris Wheel with Bink Monroe. We were a top 40 band and played beaches and Housebanding at the Sheraton and The Heart of Fayetteville. Next, I was on the road with Photograph, A top 40 eleven piece showband that played the Marriott and Adam's Mark Hotel circuit all over the country and Canada. I left that band and joined a rock band named Pilot that played up and down the Florida coast. After a few years I came back home and rejoined Ferris Wheel for awhile. Now, I feel very lucky to be playing with such talented musicians as Bill and Danny. It's great to have three lead singers in one band as that is very unusual. I love these guys like they were my brothers and look forward to making lots more music with them. Our CD, Full Circle, has made me very proud. |