Band Members

Theresa Lowe – Vocals

Theresa has been singing and performing in front of a crowd since

the age of 11. Her voice was trained classically, but her music

styling’s run the gamut of R&B, rock, blues and jazz. Over the

years Theresa has had the honor of singing with some of the

Pacific Northwest finest musicians, including Sonny Hess, Lisa

Mann. Rae Godon, Lady Kat and many more. Theresa's first original

band was Inner City Blues. Inner City Blues was nominated for a

Muddy award for 'Best New Act' in 2005. Theresa also has the

honor of being a part of NW Woman Rhythm and Blues, headed up by

'Sonny Smokin' Hess'. Theresa's most recent band was UnderCover.

Wilton Merritt - Vocals & Percussion

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Wilton has played the Portland

music circuit for over 20 years. Wilton is the youngest of 8; his

Mother and siblings all played or sang music. At 12, Wilton

joined a gospel group called Emitt Foster and The Silver Clouds

and toured all along the east coast. In 1976 they released a two

sided single, "Fill My Cup" b/w "He's a Shelter7 that received

radio air play throughout the east coast. This led to many tours

opening for artists such as The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Shirley

Caesar, James Cleveland, and many more. In 1977 he began working

with The Mighty Golden Jubilees touring with both groups. The

Goldens scored two hits on the national charts with: "Show Me The

Way Lord" b/w "The Rough Side Of The Mountain.” From 1976-78

Wilton was also a member of the William M Raines Marching Band,

which led to a music scholarship to Morris Brown College in

Atlanta, GA, where he was a member of the drum section called

"The Sticking Sensation" (later featured in the movie Drum Line).

Wilton later left Morris Brown for Warner Pacific College with

his brother in Portland. In the years here in Portland Wilton has

been in such diverse bands such as Tommy Smith and The Fuse,

Kamikaze Lovers, Film at Eleven, Ellen and The Nightwatchers,

Dismal Nitch Orchestra, Lives in Limbo, and Drop Dead Red.

Tim Doyle - Keyboard &Vocals

Tim "the Deacon" Doyle hit the first milestone in his career by

signing a major label record deal at 18 years of age with

Quad/MGM, as songwriter and keyboard player for Douglas Fir. With

40 plus years of experience behind him, he has backed such mega

stars as: Bruce Willis, Andre Crouch, Blue Oyster Cult, and Lee

Oscar of War. He's toured the national blues circuit with Robby

Laws and played with local Portland bands: Lori Bouck and The

Interpreters, Sonny Hess's Power Band, and Undercover, to name a

few.

Joanne Mead - Bass & Vocals

Also known as: "Lady Funk" or "Grandma Funk:' Fulfilling a

lifelong dream of being in a band, she was in hot pursuit of

making this dream come true only seven years ago, very late in

life. She has received lessons from many of the best musicians

and instructors that Portland has to offer, and also instruction

from many nationally known bassists such as Chuck Rainey, Bobby

Vega, Ed Friedland, Mel Brown of the Tonight Show Band, and

Anthony Wellington of the Victor Wooten Band.  She fills the

bottom end with wonderful style and technique, keeping the rhythm

strong and steady, equally talented on all styles of music.

Joanne has music in her heart and easily conveys that love to her

audiences from Portland to New Jersey and down to Florida. Don't

miss an opportunity to hear her play with Drop Dead Red Band or

any of the other three bands that she plays with in the Portland

area.

Joanne's motto is: "IT'S NEVER TO LATE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW!"

Jon Tennis – Guitar & Vocals

Eagle Scout Jon Barrington Tennis bought his first guitar at age

fifteen in an effort to torment his parents by pretending to be

Jimi Hendrix. His musical career of fronting bands and backing up

a long list of nobodies has out lasted most of the local dives

and weddings he has performed at. When not exploiting the

proletariat as an evil landlord Jon likes to decoupage small

artifacts and work in his garden. His eccentricities and dubious

behavior have even got him banned from Star Trek Conventions.

Bob Anderson - Sax

Bob started playing the alto sax in the 8th grade. (It seemed

cooler than the clarinet.) In high school he began playing jazz

but quit playing for 25 years while raising a family. Bob was

re-inspired in 1989 when he went to the Dandelion Pub in NW

Portland on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and heard Curtis Saigado.

He knew immediately that he needed to play music again. He rented

a tenor sax and after building up his confidence started to play

at blues jams and developed a love of  blues music. He has played

sax with The Arnold Brothers, Myrtle Brown's Destiny, Out of The

Blue, The Fabulous Essentials, Inner City Bluez, The Under Cover

Band and Rockin' Robert and the Backbeats, among others. Bob

joined Drop Dead Red in 2012 and is wailing his sax to old R&B,

soul, blues and rock music.

Chandler Bowerman - drums

Chandler Bowerman gave up his dream of being a .200 hitter for

the Chicago Cubs for a career in drumming.  For the last 20 years

Chandler has developed a reputation for being the worlds most OK

drummer in a variety of situations.  He has performed with many

local and national acts including The Diamonds, Pinetop Perkins,

Mars Williams, and Nashville artist Jessa Anderson.  Armed with a

B.A. in music from the first school to let him graduate in 10 years,

Chandler built a successful teaching studio in the Midwest.  He was

also the Percussion program coordinator for several high school

marching programs for 13 years.  After moving to the Portland area,

Chandler has become immersed into the blues scene and currently

plays drums for Francine West and the High Speed Wobblers,

Chad Rupp, and of course Drop Dead Red. 

Home   Gigs  Song List Photos   Videos   Music