Wheezetones...

Apply directly to the ears.
Apply directly to the ears.

September 25, 1992, John Ballew, Doug Dickeson and Paul Burner came together musically, 33 years after they met. It actually was supposed to be a "one-time" thing. But something in them came alive. This music had to be sung. There was magic in the air for them! In response to a mutual joke and a physical ailment of John and Paul (they both have asthma), the name Johnny & the Wheezetones was coined. Fitting... humor and craziness are "worked on" almost as much as the time they spend practicing.

Over the years the music evolved and extra "friends" had to be added. Bob Creager was first. He wore out so many drink straws playing on tables while listening to us that he just had to be put to more constructive use. Of all the guys in the band, Bob wins "the most toys" award - and that is a tough competition with these five guys!

Then there was this guy that kept visiting the band when they played. We think he kept coming because he felt sorry for John, Doug and Paul as they passed the bass guitar around pretending to know what they were doing. And then one night the band wised up and asked Keith Cornelius to play a couple songs with them. Discovering that Keith was an asthmatic soul brother, they never let him leave after that night! (And THEN they found out he could sing too!)

For the Wheezetones it is mostly about the harmony. Harmony as friends and harmony in the music. Three and four part harmonies are the norm on most songs. Song lists play toward the vocal strengths of each member in the band.

And someone can usually be heard complaining about how a guy in his 50's shouldn't have to sing this high.