Low Bid Band

Pete Clarke – Rhythm Guitar, vocals
Pete grew up in Milton, Florida, when not traveling to foreign places such as Germany, France and Alabama as a military brat. He started "playing" guitar during his sophomore year at Boone High School. After one ill-fated attempt to play in a high school band, life as a professional surfer seemed more attractive.

While in France, Pete listened to BBC radio and became a fan of English rock bands such as the Beatles and Stones. His favorite band is the Moody Blues.

As the rhythm guitar player for the Low Bid Band, Pete is eternally grateful that he can continue to work his day job for Orange County as the Deputy Director for the Health & Family Services Department.

Dave Freeman – Harmonica, mandolin, percussion, vocals
Dave was born in Alabama but grew up in Orlando. He went to Valencia Junior College and Florida Technological University before joining the Orlando Fire Department in 1973. He retired from the OFD in 1994 to manage the Emergency Medical Services office for Orange County.

Dave’s family was very musical. He sang in the church choir and was a member of a barbershop quartet. Dave’s dad was the choir director at church, sang in a gospel quartet and was a jazz trumpet player. He taught Dave to play trumpet, guitar and harmonica. Dave grew up on gospel, big band, jazz, blues, country and rock and roll. He played trumpet in high school and college.

After joining Orange County, Dave hooked up with Pete and Mike to accompany the children at Great Oaks Village for their Christmas caroling. At first, they were called the “No Name Band,” or “the Pete Clarke 5.” Later they adopted the current name “The LOW BID BAND” and the rest is history!

John Geiger – Drums, vocals
John grew up in Ohio where his drumming foundation was built, however, he has spent most of his life in central Florida. John says drumming fuels the creative side of his life. John took drum lessons starting in the sixth grade and has enjoyed membership in various rock and roll bands ever since. He enjoys playing a set of Gretsch drums with Zildjian cymbals and Gibraltar hardware. In addition to classic rock, John enjoys listening to smooth jazz.

John served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Central America. He is a licensed professional engineer with a master’s degree in environmental engineering. John enjoys protecting the natural resources of central Florida through employment with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division.

Rhonda Newberry - Bass, vocals
Growing up in New York City, Rhonda was always interested in music and theatre. As one of the early graduates of Full Sail Recording School in Orlando Florida, Rhonda realized music was in her future. While there she met Jim Wallace, the lead singer of a band from Boston, called Albatross. When he explained that his bass player Jay Stewart had died Rhonda decided she would continue playing in his honor.

She learned how to play the bass guitar from many well known players in including at the New School in New York City. She became interested in all types of music from jazz to rock. In the 80's she played in various "Hair" rock bands including Star Driver and Cut Glass. Most recently she has played in the hard hitting band Average Enemy.

Rhonda says she has come full circle in the classic rock band Low Bid where her driving bass beats can be heard returning her to the roots of rock and roll.

Mike Robinson – Lead Guitar,
lead vocals
Mike was born into a musical family whose mother was a classical pianist who learned to play by ear as a preschooler. He loved the soul and rock artists of the 1960's and learned guitar and bass listening to everything from the Rolling Stones to Otis Redding.

After playing in numerous bands at dances and local gigs in the 60's and 70's, Mike gave up playing until co-founding the LOW BID BAND in 2003.

Mike works for Orange County Government with the Health and Family Services Department directing programs for at-risk children and youth and currently manages the Ryan White Program.

Dennis Ward - Keyboards,
lead vocals
Dennis inherited his brother’s accordion at age 6 and took lessons into high school when he traded the accordion for a portable organ to play keyboard in a rock and roll band. Back in the early sixties he was influenced by many R&B artists, the Beach Boys and, of course the invasion from across the sea. During his formative years, he also sang in the church choir and continued singing in all the bands he has played in since.

Dennis reached moderate success in his college years when a group he was in at the time was signed to a recording contract and played a number of gigs in the South Florida area. When “overnight success” didn’t pan out, he did what everyone else has done and got a day job. For a while, music became a hobby and form of relaxation.

He recently joined the “reformed” LOW BID BAND and has added a dimension musically and vocally that has rounded out the sound. His primary influences today are Billy Joel, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Eric Clapton.

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