The Dolly Sodds name comes from the Dolly Sods Wilderness which is located in West Virginia's Tucker and Randolph counties. This is a favorite camping ground of the bands founding member, Paul Jackson. Click on a members head to learn more about them and their role in the band.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Paul Jackson
Bass, lead and rhythm guitars, and vocals. Paul has played In Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland venues on and off for over twenty years. Writes and records originals, such as Dancing with the Man, Tears, Too Many Times, Dolly Sods and more. Paul loves to camp, and especially likes the Dolly Sods area of West Virginia. This would be the inspiration to the song of the same name as well as the eventual selection of the name of the band. After semi retiring from the scene in the late Eighty’s Paul returned briefly in the Nineties with a group called Swinging Richard and the Washboard Band.
After another “retirement” he formed “You Three Guys” (a name coined by the owner of The Bangkok Blues club) with his old pal Matt, and local Chantilly drummer Rick Myers. The three of them went right to work on original songs and soon decided they needed some help on guitar. After some really “interesting” tryouts they got word that Jeff “The G Man” was available and quickly gave him a call. It was not long before they decided that this was a really good little band, so we decided to hit the road and do our thing one more time.
Dolly Sodds has played numerous private parties (their favorite gig) and local clubs such as "Sweethearts" in Chantilly, Virginia.
Matt Murray
Lead, rhythm and bass guitar, lead and background vocals. Has played classic rock in Northern Virginia venues off and on for more than 25 years with former high school classmate and Shoe Town co-worker, Paul Jackson. After graduating from William and Mary in 1983, he reunited with Paul and was invited to join the band that morphed into Pressed Rat & Warthog. (Occasional sightings of that band's unique t-shirt are still reported!) Matt wrote and recorded one of the band's most often played original songs, "Goodbye."
After a ten year sabbatical devoted to raising a family, he re-emerged with a guitar (or two) in hand. He has repeatedly threatened to bring out his alto sax, which he played in the Falls Church HS Marching Band, but thus far it has mercifully remained in its case in great need of an overhaul. Matt primarily plays his cherry wood 1973 SG, but will occasionally flash his "practice guitar"--a yellow top Les Paul. His nickname, Eleven Fingers, we will leave to your imagination. When not absorbed in his musical trance, "Coach " Murray can often be found at a cross country or track meet, a sport he has been involved with since he bought that '73 SG as a brand new toy.
Past bands include Pressed Rat & Warthog, Axis, and The Washboard Band. Eclectic musical influences include Elvis Costello, REM, and CSNY.
Franco Falvo
Franco is an old Friend of Matt and Paul and played with them in the 80's when they were with Axis. Being a man of few words other than the occasionally mumbled phrase "Witness protection program", Franco says he will come out of the closet one day. Perhaps he is too emotionally scarred from the trauma of running with Matt and Paul in high school...
Jeff Fratter
Rhythm, lead/bass guitar and backup vocals. As a teenager, Jeff played in garage bands in northern New Jersey and upstate New York, playing 1960's rock'n roll songs when they were first released and not yet known as classics! Jeff joined Dolly Sodds in 2004 after not picking up an electric guitar for many years. That summer, he got his AARP card and his first Gibson guitar, and a few weeks later was auditioning with "You Three Guys." Since that summer, Jeff continues to enjoy the ride with Dolly Sodds, revisiting and appreciating the best of classic rock as well as more contemporary songs. Jeff enjoys all types of music, sports, biking and dreams of quitting his day job to focus more on music - and pick-up some more guitar gear.
William Cowan
Lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and (almost) anything else that will hold still long enough to be played with... "Poppa Wills" has been involved in various bands that you've never heard of in the DC area. He started as a rhythm/lead guitar player in a band called "Flight" in the late 70's, then took a procreation break through the 80's (thus saving himself from 80's fashion and big band hair). He then shifted to bassist/rhythm/lead guitarist and lead vocalist in the 90's (just in time for the grunge look) in a bar band called "Moses Tattoo". After a ten-year rock hiatus, during which he performed in a church band, the prodigal son decided it was time for some ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. With a conveniently located rock star next door (none other than the inimitable Matthew Murray), Poppa spied an opportunity to return to his rock roots. Starting as a sound technician, instrument tuner, beer bottle opener, and roadie for Dolly Sodds, he cleverly infiltrated the band and contrived his return to infamy, somehow talking them into letting him fill the recently vacated position of lead vocalist. (Little did they know, the former lead vocalist's "tragic accident" was no mere coincidence...) And, incidentally, Poppa Wills would like to point out to any aspiring future sound techs that they will be watched closely.