Article by Billy Barner, edit by Kevin Cummings
The King Kom Beaux band is a rockin’ band that performs an awesome mix of Blues with Rock, Jazz, Funk, and a Cajun flare mixed in. The band, formed in 2014, by Billy “The Pocket” Barner (percussion / vocals) and Doug Kearney (guitar / vocals), with the focus of representing the SSBA in the International Blues Competition held in Memphis. The plan worked as they won the “Back To Beale Street” competition in July of 2015.
Billy Barner serves as leader, drummer and a vocalist for the band. He began drumming at age 8 and formed his first band “The Sultan’s” in Jr. High. He has played professionally in many bands throughout the northwest since. He has been teaching drumming, off and on, since 1973. He met his wife Sharon in college, they’ve been happily married for over 50 years.
His Dad was a great pianist with a huge LP collection. He drummed to his dad’s playing as well as to the beats of Big Band and Dixieland LP’s. He loved the Big Band drummers like Krupa and Bellson, later he was influenced by others such as Mel Taylor and John Bonham. He played rock music into the 60’s. He began playing blues in 1968 with the Hometown Blues Band, covering masters such as the Butterfield Blues Band, Hendrix, Mayall and Otis Redding. In 1971 they were the touring band for RB Geaves (Take A Letter Maria). They toured the Chittlin’ Circuit in the Deep South during a time of civil unrest which provided some hair raising experiences – read about some of them in “Birmingham Buzzkill or I Hate To Eat And Run For My Life” and follow him on facebook.
Doug and Billy
Doug Kearney, the other co-founder of KKB, serves as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He and his wife Diane have been married 35 years and have three adult children. Doug is Louisiana born and raised. He is a dynamic presence on stage with his Cajun influenced guitar styling’s, his slide guitar playing and his bluesy vocals. In his teens, he was playing in Southern Juke Joints before he was of legal age to do so.
Billy and Doug met at a Jam session in 2006 and the magic was born. They have played in several bands together over the years. Doug’s early introduction to the blues came when his older brother played some records for him like “Disraeli Gears” and “Are you Experienced”. Guitar became his passion for the next 40 some years, his influences include Duane Allman, Lowell George and Robben Ford. Check out his reverb nation page for more info.
Roger Wood (keyboards / vocals) and Billy met around 1980 when they toured and often roomed together on the road while playing in Jonah’s Whale. When Barner needed a keyboard player for King Kom Beaux he reached out to Roger who was thrilled to join the band and the chemistry is apparent whenever they perform.
Wood, the son of a Southern Christian Pastor, grew up playing organ in his father’s church in Franklin Tennessee. He formed The Original Son’s Of Thunder band as a teen – they were so talented that they toured with The Rolling Stones! Roger was the late Paul Allen’s organist and toured with his band around the world for many years. Roger has been married to his wife Michelle for 37 years and they have seven children and many grandchildren. His outside interests are tribal law and traditions, woodworking and good coffee. You can read about Rogers musical career at http://www.lavoyjenkinsmusic.com
Benny Bostrom has joined the fun on harmonica rounding out the King Kom Beaux sound.
Dan Kopp (bass guitar / vocals) and Billy met at Dawson’s Bar & Grill in Tacoma, where Billy hosts a jam every Thursday night. Dan is well-versed in all kinds of musical genre’s and has played in many popular bands. Billy and Kearney immediately thought of Kopp when KKB needed a bass player. Billy and Dan are like gears in a clock – their bass and percussion form the powerful foundation for the King Kom Beaux sound.
Dan says, “I’ve been playing bass ever since the dead sea was only sick”. Early on he played country music in several Seattle area bands. One of his bands was hired to back the stars of the television show Hee Haw. His true love was the blues and that lead to King Kom Beaux! Check him out at www.facebook/dankopp.com
The band is currently writing content for a new LP project of original King Kom Beaux material to be released sometime in 2024. They will be adding a QR code to www.kingkombeaux.com for people to donate and help with the costs of the recording.
King Kom Beaux has developed a strong legion of fans, and are active on social media. Billy says, “We get tons of likes from Facebook friends, so check out our 2023 schedule and come and see us live. GEAUX KING KOM BEAUX! God bless all of our King Kom Beaux and SSBA friends! We love you all!”