The Best In Dance Hall Country Music

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 The Doctors Of Honky Tonk

Jamie French - Rythm Guitar / Lead & Harmony Vocals

Jamie was born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in the Ft. Worth area, where he still makes his home. At a young age, as many musicians do he started developing his musical talents in the church his family attended. Jamie’s parents were musicians and singers and as a youngster his home was full of music.

Jamie began playing six string guitars in his early teens and started publicly performing, playing bass guitar in the church his family attended. During a recording session Jamie met Gary Carpenter, a pro-steel guitarist from the Ft. Worth / Dallas area. From the day Jamie worked that recording session he wanted to play the pedal steel guitar.

Several years after meeting Gary, Jamie contacted him and started taking steel guitar lessons. Within about three months of his first steel guitar lesson Jamie was playing steel guitar for a local band. For the next year or so he worked all the hot country nightspots in the Fort Worth / Dallas area. At one time or another he’s worked all the clubs in the Ft. Worth Stockyards and many others like West End and Deep Elm in Dallas.

After about two years into playing the steel guitar Jamie was able to go full time in the music business. He went on the road with the band Stampede, playing the A market club circuit from Tucson to Omaha and everywhere in between. Within the first three years of learning and developing his steel playing ability and style Jamie had the opportunity to work major shows, opening for label artist such as Toby Keith, David Ball, Brooks & Dunn, The Bellamy Brothers and David Allen Coe.

Now with many years of playing experience behind him, Jamie enjoys scratching the musical itch by booking out with other bands and working local venues in the North and Central Texas areas. Jamie plays rhythm guitar and provides the lead and harmony vocals on many of the songs the band performs.

Jamie is a founding member of "Dr. Honky Tonk" and as do the other members of the band, there’s no doubt that Jamie’s style and ability contribute to the distinct Honky Tonk sound of "Dr. Honky Tonk".

Gene Ruffin - Bass Guitar / Lead & Harmony Vocals

Gene was born in Hugo, Oklahoma and raised in Fort Worth Texas. Gene began developing his musical talent at the age of eight years old. Like many youngsters noise is the desired effect so Gene began playing the drums. Within about 4 years started playing the guitar.

At the age of seventeen Gene began playing publicly. Gene relates the story that he was the least accomplished guitar player so the band moved him to playing the bass guitar. He hasn’t changed instruments since.

Although Gene’s influences were artist such as Merle Haggard, George Jones, Buck Owens, Bob Wills, Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs he did spend a short time right out of high school working with a Rock & Roll band playing songs of artist like Ted Nugent, The Eagles and ZZ Top.

Gene’s bass playing and vocal harmony abilities became outstanding and it wasn’t long before Gene caught the eye of local Country Music celebrity Sammy Vaughn. Gene began playing music full time, working with Sammy from 1977 to 1980. As many people recall Sammy was the former rhythm guitar player for Earnest Tubb and  also wrote songs that were made hits by Ferlin Husky, Keith Whitley and Mel Street. Gene’s time with Sammy brought many opportunities to open shows for label artists of that era such as George Jones, Eddie Rabbit and Tammy Wynette. From 1980 to 1983 Gene worked with artist Dusty James and an Oklahoma band called "Walnut Ridge". These artists worked primarily in the Upper Midwest, Mountain States and Oklahoma. It was during this time that Gene had the opportunity to attend a couple of semesters at the Hank Thompson School of Country Music. From 1983 to 1985 Gene relocated to the North Eastern United States and worked with a regional artist named Bob Handley. During Gene’s tenure with the band they won the North Eastern regional battle of the bands competition. In 1985 Gene was back in the Fort Worth area working in Steve Stewart’s original band, "Brazos". It was during this time Gene had the opportunity through Steve’s band to open shows for label artists such as Sylvia, Gary Morris, Janie Frickie, Eddie Raven and Dan Seals. Between 1987 and 1991 Gene worked in Bodie Powell’s band "Borderline" and Steve Stewart’s re-formed band "Spirit Of The West" both of these artist had large local followings in the Fort Worth / Dallas area and they worked many of the A market clubs such as Billy Bobs, Rodeo Exchange and The Top Rail.

After 1991 Gene slowed his musical career, earned a business degree and changed the way he makes his primary living. As all the other members of "DHT" Gene works a day job to support his desire to be a weekend warrior playing Country Music. 

Gene is a founding member of "Dr. Honky Tonk" and as do the other members of the band, there’s no doubt that Gene’s style and ability contribute to the distinct Honky Tonk sound of "Dr. Honky Tonk".

Doug Norman - Lead Guitar / Lead & Harmony Vocals

Doug began playing guitar in his late teenage years.  Primarily self taught, Doug began playing the guitar because of his guitar influences like Billy Gibbons, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King and numerous other blues & rock greats. His first public appearances were sitting in with various blues bands in the Dallas area. In 1993, Doug won his first blues competition, a twelve week series that tested his grit but paid off.

Doug is also a lifelong fan of country music, being influenced by Gene Watson, Buck Owens, George Strait, Dwight Yoakum and newer artists such as Cross Canadian Ragweed and Aaron Watson.  He began playing in the country music scene with a two year stint for Les Davidson and One Drink Away.  Later he worked with current Dr. Honky Tonk drummer, Johnny McDaniel playing with Les Alexander & WBB.  This was a great experience opening for acts such as Gene Watson, Billy Joe Royal and playing the Ft. Worth Arts Festival with the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

He earned a Geosciences degree from Texas Tech University and later his Teaching Certification from the University of Texas at Dallas.  During the work week he is a Science Teacher and Coach. Playing music is a lifelong fascination for Doug and he is very honored to be a part of the "Dr. Honky Tonk" experience.

Doug joined "Dr. Honky Tonk" in January 2008, playing lead guitar, harmonica and vocals. There is no doubt that Doug's style and ability contribute largely to the distinct Honky Tonk sound of  "Dr. Honky Tonk".

Johnny McDaniel - Drummer Extraordinaire

Johnny was born in Bowie, TX and raised in the Crafton / Chico area where he lives now with his wife & two sons.

Johnny began playing the drums in High School primarily with friends & family. Most of Johnny's playing took place at family gatherings and venues such as friends parties. He started playing seriously in 2003 when he began playing with Les Alexander & the WBB band. Johnny says working with Les really exposed him to what a good country music drummer should be. Johnny's grateful for the opportunity & the invaluable experience he gained on his instrument during the time he worked with Les Alexander.

Prior to joining "Dr. Honky Tonk", Johnny has most recently been performing with Les Davidson & One Drink Away, Les Davidson is a long time friend  of Johnny's and Johnny certainly enjoyed working with Les & his band. While working with Les, Johnny was exposed to new experiences and opportunities such as opening shows and concerts for great performers like Moe Bandy, Gene Watson, Eddy Raven, & Johnny Rodriquez.

Johnny joined "Dr. Honky Tonk" in May of 2007. Johnny brings a lot of drum horse power to  the band and it goes without saying, the other band members are pleased to have Johnny cutting the groove for the band to follow.

Bobby Hearn - Steel Guitar

Bobby was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas. He moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1993 where he married his best friend Elaine. Bobby and Elaine now live in the Bridgeport, Texas area.

At a young age, Bobby began picking on an old guitar his grandfather bought for him at the local flea market. It was tuff playing that old guitar and Bobby certainly didn’t become an accomplished player in these early stages of his musical endeavors. Bobby took up playing the guitar again in the early 90’s taking it a little more serious and with better guitars than his early efforts. His enjoyment of playing led him to get together with other musicians and began playing in what they called a “doghouse band”. He loved these picking sessions, spent many all nighters jamming with local musicians all the while improving his ability and talent as a guitar player.

Bobby has always loved the sound of the steel guitar and around 2006 decided to make the move to playing pedal steel guitar. As did many steel players local to the North, Texas area, he began taking pedal steel lessons from the legendary Gary Carpenter. After his first few lessons, his passion for the instrument exploded. Bobby lives, eats and breaths steel guitar. He diligently pursued his love for the instrument and it wasn’t long after beginning to play the steel guitar Bobby began playing with various local bands around the North Texas area. 

Most recently Bobby worked with Richard Beverage and the “59 South Band”, playing clubs and dances in the North, Texas area. During his time with the “59 South Band”, Bobby had the opportunities to open shows for such acts as Darrell Dodd and Tommy Alverson. Bobby is grateful for such experiences and will always appreciate the players that gave him his first opportunities to play peddle steel in working bands. 

Bobby’s favorite style of music leans heavily toward traditional country music, with lots of fiddles and of course steel guitar.  Some of his favorite steel guitar players and influences are John Hughey, Lloyd Green, Gary Carpenter, and Ralph Mooney.

Bobby is the newest member of “Dr. Honky Tonk” joining the band in late summer of 2009. As with the other members of “Dr. Honky Tonk”, Bobby’s style and ability contribute greatly to the Honky Tonk sound of “Dr. Honky Tonk”.

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