Lionel Tiberius Jones or as he is better known, “Little Lionel Jones” hails from the small fishing hamlet of Rutabaga Island, just a hairs throw off of the coast of greater Maine. The runt of the litter, his mother gave him his moniker as the result of her oft “stymie-ifcation” due to the youths herring sandwiches and sprung guitar chords piled in forgotten lumps on his bedroom floor.
Lionel first met up with The 18 Karats because of an ad in the Atomic Music Review classifieds, placed by Tricksy Mingo and Buddy Hambones who were looking for a competent jazz player that knew how to play more than the “Triangle” and didn’t say “Daddy-O!” ad nauseam. (That was Tricksy’s bag…)
He soon found himself the lead player of the ragtag quartet through circumstance and a tale much longer than I can tell of here…. Aside from herring sandwiches he enjoys warm milk , is a “lefty” and wishes he could grow a mustache like his idol Django Reinhardt.
Budderick “Buddy” Hambones is the 2nd youngest of the 18 Karats. A well-oiled balloon lunger, Buddy is a fan of Chet Baker and Coltrane. A self-styled beatnik hipster he is rarely without his trademark beret and horn and is the musical driving force of the group. Despite his beatnik/hipster allegiances he is at heart a sweet natured and contemplative soul. Buddy enjoys mochi ice cream and pop art.
Charles “Tricksy” Mingo is a veteran Jazz bassist. A penchant for too much cream soda and get-rich-quick schemes and disastrous shortcuts has made life a bit of a square wheeled roller coaster ride for him. Tricksy is the oldest of the group and (in his mind) the quartets’ father figure. He hails originally from the forests of Southeastern Indianapolis, (Yes we realize Indianapolis has no forests but he insists that it did when he was a pup.), and packed his bags for the big city in search of fame and fortune.
A competent bassist this latest incarnation of the all-star group of his dreams just might pay off… If he can avoid squandering the groups’ money on another harebrained notion…
A competent bassist this latest incarnation of the all-star group of his dreams just might pay off… If he can avoid squandering the groups’ money on another harebrained notion…
Francisco “Chico” Estaban Nunez LaRoca or Chico LaRoca, is a self-styled legendary Hide Hitter. Energetic and enthusiastic, the young Toucan was raised outside the tropical resort of “Juan Deppitito’s Cabana-Land Resort and Haberdashery” located in the South American jungles. Loud, gregarious and always ready for a jam session he first learned of the 18 Karats in a discarded American paper 's classified ads. Familiar with the infamous Tricksy Mingo he stashed aboard a banana freighter and made his way to the states in search of his musical fortune. Chico was ready for a fresh start, not much else was going on around town, save for the current musical opportunities on the resort being boy bands named after hot soups….
