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 The David Holland Band's roots go back to 1995 when 4 guys were the only pickers to show up for a jam session. They ended up playing all night long and, because they had so much fun, agreed to come back the next week to do it again. Thus the band "Barefoot Jack" was born... featuring lead vocalist David Holland.
For a couple of years this high energy, young band performed in Kansas and Oklahoma at rodeos, festivals, and nightclubs. During this time, David began working on securing a record deal with an independant label and eventually signed with Center Creek Records. This left the band with a dilemma... do we still call ourselves Barefoot Jack? The band decided to market themselves as "David Holland & Barefoot Jack.
In late 1997 the band absorbed yet another big change... longtime friend and bass player Danny Kerwood was being transferred to Florida. He would have to be replaced. About this time, the Slate Creek band was disbanding which left bass player Ken Potter looking for a gig. As if it were meant to be, Ken stepped right in to the roll better than could've ever been expected. Soon after, the band would suffer yet another loss when close friend and drummer Jerry Boone left the band. After auditioning numerous drummers, the band decided to accept seasoned percussionist Dave Windsor into the group. Dave had been doubling on drums and lead vocals for the group Road House. So now David Holland, Ken Potter, Dave Windsor and original keyboardist Rick Decoster made up the lineup. Since half of the original Barefoot Jack band was gone, and David was promoting a solo album, they dropped "Barefoot Jack" and became known simply as "The David Holland Band".
Over a period of years, David had developed a good friendship with Scott Henderson, who had been playing steel/fiddle/guitar for Sam Bidwell and Nightshift. They worked together for FM radio station 93.1 in Hutchinson hosting a radio show together fittingly called "The Scott & Dave Show". Of course, if you ask David, it was called "The Dave & Scott Show". When Nightshift disbanded, Scott would come sit in with David's band occasionally. After about a year of this, and a little coaxing, Scott joined the group on a full time basis and the 5 of them formed a powerful force in the Kansas band scene for a couple of years until tragedy struck the group in April of 2000. Rick was diagnosed with Cancer. With the heart of a lion, Rick continued to play for almost another year, but finally, he became too sick to perform anymore. This world lost Rick Decoster (Rick'O) on Aug. 22, 2001. The band was forced to mourn for their lost brother while trying to carry on as a 4 piece band. They tried a couple of times to replace the irreplacable Rick'O, but never successfully.
In the spring of 2003, the band underwent it's most drastic change.....losing Scott Henderson and Ken Potter at approximately the same time. The multi-talented Scott secured a position with Lee Mace's Ozark Opry in Osage Beach, Mo. This allows Scott to play music 6 nights a week and fish all day... now who could turn that down? Ken Potter accepted a position playing on the road with longtime friend Mike Love and his band Raizin Kane. Replacing these two power-houses would be no easy task. It turned out, however, to be easier than expected....thanks to the hiring of steel guitarist Kurt Graber. Kurt has played with local greats such as The Wichita Linemen, the Crawdaddies, and Tina Dunigan... and turned out to be a quick study, stepping right in so that the band never missed a beat. Dave Killgore had provided great vocals and played bass for local legends such as the Ark Valley Boys and Slate Creek and had spent the last 5 yrs touring with Mike Love. Dave had grown tired of being away from home as often as required by Mike Love's band, so David Holland and his good friend Mike Love just swapped bass players...thus allowing both bands to keep right on truckin'.
Thus the David Holland Band has evolved from a biker bar jam session to being one of the most popular bands in the region. Undergoing many changes and suffering many losses, this band has weathered storm after storm and emerged out the other side a little stronger each time. This band is more than a bunch of guys trying to make good music, make money, be famous, or simply have a great time... these guys want to do all of those things while remaining the closest of friends. And so far, they are a complete success.
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