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.
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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, Virgina.
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.
Rick Myers
Rick grew up a stone's throw from the West Virginia hills known as "Dolly Sods." He starting playing metal pots and pans as a tiny tot inside his parent's log cabin. He failed completely at early attempts to play guitar and other real musical instruments. And so, Rick compromised by turning to the simple world of percussion for the musically-challenge... (or it that the world for the simple-minded?)
Anyway, it was during those early years that Rick perfected playing the cow bell, usually while drinking B-52's in his baby bottle - a practice he continues today. His first cow bell was housed on his favorite, pet raccoon, who often suffered from an occasional miscue.
Rick has a passion for cheap lager beer, rusty old pick-up trucks and hanging around the local McDonald's with his motorcycle friends. While it's unclear exactly how many local, national and internationally-known bands Rick has played with, he will be the first to tell you that he was absolutely great in each and every one of them. No matter how hard he tries, however, Rick can't remember the 1960's, the 70's or even what he did last week!
Though we try not discredit his claims of drumming for The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Cream - all at the same time - we do know that he is a solid and consistent drummer for Dolly Sodds. Unbeknownst to Rick, however, we recorded the drum part for the entire Dolly Sodds set list, drowning out the cacophony of crap he generates while attempting - and never succeeding - to keep a consistent beat for the band.
Rick is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, (but if you ask him, he won't remember that).
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.
Shawn Smith
Lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, and harmonica. Newest member of Dolly Sodds. Shawn has played in bars around the country and around the world including Massachusetts, Texas, Nebraska, Arizona, London, Dublin and various other places in the UK and US. Formally of the band Psychedelic Starfish which toured Eastern England from late 1999 through 2001, Shawn joined up with Dolly Sodds late in 2005 to get back into bars to have a good time playing good music with a good band. Shawn's musical tastes range from the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Eagles to ACDC, Dishwalla and Dave Matthews Band.