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The GroanUps is a fabulous group that has been packing clubs, ballrooms, statehouses, you name it, since 1982. The band has an enormous repertoire of music and features veteran Arkansas musicians who don't take themselves too seriously, and who know how to have a great deal of fun. Combine that with a professional stage production and presentation and you have a complete entertainment package for any event.

The Players:

Gio Bruno
Gio Bruno
Frank Cox
Frank Cox
Ricky Wise
Ricky Wise
B.J. Davis
B.J. Davis
Paula Long
Paula Long
Mark Hays
Mark Hays

GIO BRUNO - vocals, guitars, percussion - Gio began singing in bands with "The Other Side" in 1967 (which quickly became "Frank Cox and The New Other Side" by '68). His band during high school was an 8 or 9-piece combo called "Demian" (even then, one of the few local bands with a horn section). Before joining "The GroanUps" in late '85, Gio sang and played guitar in a number of cover and original bands, notably "Second Wind" and "The Consumers." Once, "The GroanUps" shaved Gio's head onstage giving new meaning to his occasional stage fright.

FRANK COX - guitars, vocals - Frank began his guitar career before Paul McCartney was anatomically correct and has played with bands including "Main Squeeze" and "Spare Time" which also featured Ed Nicholson. Frank was a co-founder of "The GroanUps" in 1982 along with Ricky Wise, Ed Nicholson, and B.J. Davis. He also likes to ride great big motorcycles.

RICHARD WISE - electric bass, vocals - Richard has been a fulltime musician since he was sixteen; however, in his spare time he managed to complete a formal education and put in 50 hours a week at assorted local businesses including Acxiom and Entergy. Pre-GroanUp music experience includes gigs with "Junction", "Daybreak", "Quapaw Rhythm Dukes" and a virtual plethora of sideman gigs. He also represents "The GroanUps" managing the band's professional and financial affairs.

B.J. DAVIS - drums - B.J. is the proud father of three girls and one hairy-legged boy. B.J.'s first band in 1967 was "The Seeds of Vermin", a junior high bunch with one amplifier and no bass player. Other Hot Springs bands of distinction were "The 100 Millimeter Banana", "The New Banana" and "The Free Word", all winners of Battle-of-the-Bands competitions. He also toured nationally (along with Ed Nicholson and Steve Patrick) with the country singer "LaCosta" (Tanya Tucker's sister) in the mid-seventies. According to Patti (his wife), B.J. spends way too much time at the driving range and golf course, especially in view of his high handicap.

PAULA LONG - Keyboards, vocals - Lead singer and piano player Paula Long began her professional career - at age fifteen - as a featured vocalist on the Vic Ames television variety show. By the time she was nineteen, she was the featured vocalist with “Smiling in the Dark”, one of the most popular bands in Colorado. Upon her return to Central Arkansas, she took a hiatus from performing in order to raise her children, but she continued work in the recording studio. For several years Paula was the busiest jingle/promo singer in Little Rock, featured on local and national radio/tv ads. She returned to performing during the 1990's and has received rave reviews in a variety of private/public settings, including the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club, the Memphis Summit Club, and the Peabody Hotel (Memphis and Little Rock) and continues to be “first call” at some of Little Rock’s most prominent recording studios.

MARK HAYES - guitars, keyboards, vocals - Mark Hays loves to sing, play guitar and keyboards! Mark has been singing in public since the age of five and continues to do so. In 1970, Mark was recruited to be lead singer for Creepy Tom, a Pine Bluff based heavy blues-rock band. Since that time, Mark has played with, and written songs for, groups including Foundry (jazz-rock), Sullivan’s Tamales, The Saint James Group, Silverheels and others. Mark says The Groan Ups are different from most bands in which he has performed, because the vocal section has such range and diversity. Mark has recorded two solo albums, two independent movie themes and many commercial jingles, in addition to working on several other writers’ albums.

To contact The GroanUps for your next party, wedding or event, simply send an e-mail (below) and put "Need a good band bad" in the subject line or fill out the 'Booking' page form and submit.

E-Mail Richard Wise: richard@thegroanups.com

And/Or

E-Mail Frank Cox: frank@thegroanups.com