Jon W. Wollenzien, Jr.

Jon W Wollenzien, Jr. is a singer/songwriter from Atlanta; GA. Jon, born and raised in Huntington, WV, began his musical ambitions at the age of 10 when he was handed his uncle's trumpet.  Jon studied the trumpet for the next 8 years participating in his high school jazz and marching bands.  While in band, Jon was introduced to an aspiring piano and keyboard player, Scott Coughenour.  At age 19, Jon co-formed the band Aluminus with his then music partner Coughenour. Jon and Scott wrote 10 original songs over a 2-year period.  In 1982, Aluminus participated in a battle of the bands competition in Coalton, KY.  Aluminus was the only rock band participating in the all country western competition.   Although Aluminus gained fans during the competition, the band never performed live again.  In 1983, Jon sat aside his musical ambitions to pursue his education. Jon graduated with a BBA in Management from Marshall University, a significant accomplishment considering that he was expelled from the University during his freshman year for failing grades.  Jon went on to earn his MHA at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA, and his Doctorate of Business Administration at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

Jon has worked as an administrator, associate administrator, Vice President, and CEO of both profit and non-profit healthcare organizations.  Jon is currently the CEO of Palmetto Health Council, Inc., a network of six community health centers providing healthcare services to Georgia’s uninsured and underinsured citizens.  In 2008, Jon awoke his musical passion with the purchase of his first guitar.  Over the next several years, Jon received training from several of Atlanta’s top guitar players including jazz recording artist Ede Wright, touring and recording artist Mark Dannells, and Guitar Decatur's Eddie Minjarez.  In 2010, Jon began writing and arranging his first three original tunes - Snapshot, Where Have Your Been, and Bi-Polar Love (The Unforgiving EP).  During the summer and early fall of 2012, Jon worked with Jeff Gardner at the Windstor Studio to record his first EP - The Unforgiving.  The Unforgiving was released to worldwide distribution on December 2, 2012.  During 2014 and 2015, Jon recorded two live performances, Wollenzien Live, that was released October 20, 2015.  Wollenzien Live is available for download or purchase on iTunes, Amazon, cdbaby, BestBuy, Target, and many other outlets.  Please go out and purchase your disc today!      

Eric Sanders is a drummer and classical percussionist, originally from New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and was awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate in Classical Percussion Performance from Penn State and went for his Masters Degree in Jazz Performance on the drumset at NYU. He studied with John Riley and Dom Famularo, as well as taking some private lessons with Jojo Mayer and Mike Clark. One of the main drum instructors at the Atlanta Institute of Music, Eric has been teaching, gigging, and recording in Atlanta since 1996 and has toured throughout the U.S. and overseas, working with numerous groups and artists that run the gamut of musical styles. He has released 2 solo percussion CDs of original compositions on his own label, Flam Five Records, and is currently working on a 3rd disc, as well as writing a snare drum book and developing a college curriculum.

Vaylor Trucks is part of the underground fusion band The Yeti Trio, and has also gained a small amount of jamband noteriety through his tenure with the prog-flavored Bonobos Convergence.  However, Vaylor is probably most well know for his direct relation to both Butch Trucks and Derek Trucks, and for being a guy on an album cover.

Andrew Loggins - Bass / Guitar:  Andrew has been performing music since he was a child. His first proficiency was violin. He played in Nashville, Atlanta, and many other places with his orchestra. Later, he went on to play trumpet in school band before he tried drums and then settled down with guitar.
Andrew is a graduate of the Atlanta Institute of Music. He works with many children who have a variety of learning and physical disabilities in his lessons.
When Andrew is not teaching or running Music Authority, he tours with musician Ty Reynolds. Their tours have taken Andrew up and down the east coast and as far west as Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Montgomery.

Eugene Smenner is from Manchester, GA, and has been playing harmonica since a very early age.  He leaned harmonica by listening to his father who he says "plays a mean blues harp".  Both parents always had music playing and even formed their own county bluegrass band at one point.  Later, Eugene played with various local talent and friends over the years.  Finally, at age 50, Eugene joined Aces & 8s, a classic southern rock and roll band, also from Manchester.  This Eugene claims, was set up by his wife Lisa as a surprise birthday party present.  Aces & 8s released their first CD in September of 2013.  Eugene plays in both Aces & 8s and The Jon Wollenzien Band and inspires both of his sons who play four different instruments.  Eugene says, "there is no better feeling than getting onstage, playing an instrument you love, with fellow musicians, and entertaining the audience"!