Band Bio

“The Evolution of General Population”
written by Sharon Ann Scott

In the state of Maryland, on two different sides of a small town called Hagerstown, there were very creative and different types of music being made. On one side of town, two friends (Cast of 4 and Sin 7) had been in collaboration with local emcees and DJs all over the region. Writing, rhyming, and pounding out some of the catchiest hooks and gripping rhymes to come out of the area, great futures lie ahead for the duo. But music was taking a drastic turn, and they knew that something was missing. Little did they know the answer was only miles away.

On the other side of town lived T.C. and O.G.B. Jamming together on and off for ten years, the two were always aware of their talent for creating music that would pull you in and make you listen. Like most bands, especially in the Western Maryland area, they were lacking songwriters and singers with the creativity and drive they needed to push the duo closer to their dreams.

One day, through a mutual friend the four musicians met. Instantly, they clicked. With crunching guitar riffs, heart pounding beats, soulful R&B melodies, and stylistic hip-hop rhymes all thrown together, they formed General Population (an appropriate name for their diverse backgrounds and influences).

Since then, the band has moved on to playing gigs around the Maryland/Pennsylvania area, and gaining themselves a extensive fan base amongst friends, family, and the general population. But still, something was missing.

For months, the band had been trying out bass players to try to complete their sound. Finally, after having to settle for quite a few less than par bass players, a bright, young musician by the name of Elisha Levi Ballard Jr., came and added the final link to the GP chain. Elisha added a funky, soulful, hard-edged, dynamic sound to the band’s already existing strong tones. From that point, General Population was complete, and the band vowed to one another that they would each do their part in fulfilling every member of the band’s dreams.

Members' Bios

Birth Name: Josh Morningstar a.k.a. Sin 7
Age: 18
Inspiration: My son and General Population
Influences: The Beatles, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Jonathan Davis, Canibus, and underground hip-hop
Band Position: Vocals
Birth Place: Maryland

Birth Name: Robert Rohrer a.k.a. Cast of 4
Age: 21
Inspiration: My nephew, GP, and "every motherfucker that doubted me from day one."
Influences: Kool G. Rap, The Beatles, and underground hip-hop
Band Position: vocals
Birth Place: El Paso Texas

Birth Name: Nicholas Charles Wilt a.k.a. O.G.B
Age: 24
Inspiration: My mom, GP, Denver, and the rest of my family
Influences: Alice in Chains, Korn, Tool, and hip-hop music, and musicians everywhere
Band Position: Guitar
Birth Place: Maryland

Birth Name: Toby Lee Harris a.k.a. T.C.
Age: 24
Inspiration: My girls, my family, and General Population
Influences: Alice in Chains, Korn, Tool, and hip-hop music
Band Position: Drums
Birth Place: Maryland

Birth Name: Elisha Levi Ballard Jr. a.k.a. Eli
Age: 20
Inspiration: Life, music, General Population, everyone who told me to go to college and get a steady job, and my mother
Influences: Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, System of a Down, Rex from Pantera, Carole King, Ours, The Refused, Marilyn Manson, Rufus Wainright, Janis Joplin, Soundgarden, The Rolling Stones, Kittie, Bjork
Band Postion: Bass
Birth Place: Fayetteville, NC