About the name: although it proved to be quite a burden to fit in onto flyers, etc., it was less an ego trip than a little tribute to the past, based on the old sixties-style groups like Mel Torme and the Meltones, plus it had a good play on words in Knowlton/Tone. Don't let it fool you, though: the band was very much a collective effort, with all members contributing to the songwriting and arrangements.
Click here to read the history of the group.
Ken played drums throughout the Knowl-Tones career, and hosted the
group's rehearsals in his well-appointed garage (the only carpeted garage
in Jackson County.) His swinging backbeat and creative fills reflect
his love of the blues and classic rock. In addition to his fine head
for arrangements, he shares composer credit on Sea Sick, Good
Neighbor, Down Under, In My Veins, I Don't, Schizophonic,
and Debt.
Ken is now using his talents to spread the gospel message by playing
in the Christian rock group Damascus.
Steve played guitar and sang lead vocals for the entirety of the Knowl-Tones
tenure. While he has compared his singing style to a "midwestern
Paul Stanley", his main influences were the pop and soul of the
late sixties to middle seventies. He wrote all of the group's lyrics and shared composer
credit on almost all of the group's songs.
Steve is no longer active in music, but does devote some of his creative
energies to maintaining Steve and Abe's Record Reviews on the web.
Jason contributed keyboards and backing vocals from March 1999 to September
2000. His stunning keyboard lines were shaped by his interest in
Romantic composers and Motown-style R&B. His composition credits
include Sea Sick, The Onion, Down Under, Good Neighbor,
Fester, Auburn Mist, I Don't and Schizophonic.
Jason continues to compose and perform instrumental compositions (such
as those found on his Crabapple album Fin de Siecle) and preludes
for church services.
Mike played bass and sang backing vocals from August 1999 to March
2000. His solid bass lines owed their quality to Mike's interest
in classic rock. He was the main composer behind Down Under.
Jason played bass and sang backing vocals from April to October 2000.
His experience in choirs brought harmony singing into the band, and a punk
influence gave his bass lines an experimental edge. Jason's composition
credits include Good Neighbor, In My Veins, Auburn Mist,
I Don't and Schizophonic, and he sang lead on It's a Shame
About Ray.
Jason plays and records his own compositions both as a solo act and
in various groups.
Charlie played lead guitar and sang backing vocals from November 2000
to April 2001. His hard rock influences brought a new sound to the
band, and he shaped the main motif in Dry Clean Only.
Charlie now plays classic rock covers in Second Hand Smoke.
Joe contributed bass and backing vocals from November 2000 to April
2001. A combination of funk and progressive rock influences shaped
his powerful playing. He shares composer credit on Debt and
I Stand Corrected, and he produced the group's last album, III.
