Kevin’s passion for drumming began at the age of four. His uncle, who lived across town, regularly performed in a rock band and kept a drum set at his home. Eager to play, Kevin frequently asked his mother to take him to “Uncle Wayne’s” house so he could spend time behind the drums. Recognizing his interest, his uncle began introducing him to Southern rock through 8-track recordings, encouraging Kevin to play along.

Reflecting on those early experiences, Kevin recalls, “I remember my uncle loading the 8-track player with ‘Free Bird.’ After listening to it a few times and becoming familiar with it, he had me try to play along. I’ll never forget that day. I’m sure it wasn’t very good, but at four years old, I was completely hooked.” That spark has remained with him ever since.

Growing up in church provided Kevin with the opportunity to play and appreciate a wide range of musical styles. By high school, he was collaborating with fellow musicians, and over time, he performed with multiple bands across the East Coast, covering genres from gospel and classic rock to Top 40.

Today, Kevin has returned to what he considers his roots. “I’ve always loved Southern rock,” he says, “and I enjoy paying tribute to what I believe is one of the greatest bands of all time. The highlight of each show is closing with a powerful song like ‘Free Bird,’ performed alongside talented musicians I consider brothers.”

At just ten years old, Melvin earned his first paid performance. Walking home from church choir practice with his violin case in hand from an earlier school lesson, he stopped by the local Minute Mart for something to drink. The store manager noticed the case and asked, “Can you play that thing? Is that a fiddle?” He replied that he could, explaining that it was actually a violin.

The manager grinned and said, “Alright, want to play over the store intercom? I’ll pay you in candy.” Having already been eyeing the Snickers bars, Melvin happily agreed. Nervous but determined, he played “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” over the store’s PA system. When he finished, the manager smiled and said, “That was great!” before handing him… a 3 Musketeers bar.

There was just one problem—he couldn’t stand 3 Musketeers. He asked if he could have a Snickers instead, but the manager simply smiled and replied, “Nope. That should’ve been negotiated before you performed.” It was a humorous moment that became his very first lesson in the music business.

From that day forward, music became the thread woven through every stage of Melvin’s life. In his early teens, he toured the East Coast several times with a traveling choir. By the age of fifteen, he was performing in local bars as part of an acoustic duo. At sixteen, he formed his first rock band, playing guitar and serving as the group's frontman. Music had always been part of his heritage, inspired in no small part by his grandfather, a gifted multi-instrumentalist who became one of his earliest musical influences.

Over the years, Melvin has performed with several award-winning local bands across a wide range of genres, including variety, funk, dance, house band performances, and even a Doobie Brothers tribute act. Today, he embraces the challenge and excitement of portraying Ronnie Van Zant with Gimme Back My Skynyrd. Learning the lyrics, capturing Van Zant’s unmistakable stage presence, and adopting the signature barefoot, microphone-stand-in-hand swagger have made the role both an enjoyable challenge and a deeply rewarding experience.

Spencer Carlson has been performing music since the age of 10. Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, he got his start playing alongside local musicians at a neighborhood pizza restaurant every Wednesday night, performing blues, funk, and soul music. Those early experiences helped shape both his musicianship and his passion for live performance.

Spencer went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music in just three years. During his time in Boston, he collaborated on numerous singles and album projects alongside musicians and producers who have since gone on to earn Grammy Awards.

Since graduating, Spencer has traveled and performed throughout the United States, bringing his energy, dedication, and deep respect for the music to audiences across the country. Whether performing classic rock, blues, soul, or country, he takes pride in giving everything he has on stage and honoring each song by performing it the way it was meant to be played.

Above all, Spencer’s greatest passion is sharing the stage with close friends and fellow musicians. Today, he proudly serves as the guitarist for Gimme Back My Skynyrd, delivering authentic performances that celebrate the music and legacy of one of Southern rock’s most iconic bands.

Joe Sprunt is a rock and roll guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, his musical journey began at the age of five when he started playing the violin. By age 11, Joe had developed a passion for rock and roll and picked up the guitar. His early influences included AC/DC, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, Jimi Hendrix, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
 

At 18, Joe left home to attend Berklee College of Music, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance. Since graduating, he has performed with numerous bands across the country, playing styles ranging from rock and blues to funk and R&B.
 

Joe's passion for music shines through in every performance with Gimme Back My Skynyrd. He feeds off the energy of both his bandmates and the crowd, striving to perform Lynyrd Skynyrd's music with the accuracy, spirit, and integrity that made the band's classic lineup so special.

Michael Meeks started playing music when he received a drum set as a gift from his parents at 8 years old. His interest in drums led him to join the middle school band as a percussionist, where he was drawn to mallet instruments like marimba and xylophone. He eventually started taking piano lessons and hasn’t stopped playing the keys since.

Based in Wilmington, NC, Michael is a professional keyboardist performing regularly in the Southeast. He is inspired by a wide variety of musicians and genres, but he most enjoys playing rock and blues. Mikey brings a deep appreciation for Billy Powell’s keyboard playing to the band and considers it a privilege to honor the music of Ronnie Van Zant. When he’s not gigging, he enjoys hanging out with friends, taking care of his plants, and going on long bike rides.

Garret Wheeler is a North Carolina based bassist and guitarist. Born in Sanford, North Carolina he began playing bass at the age of fourteen. Although he is inspired by many different types of musicians and genres of music, Garret’s focus has always been on rock ‘n roll.

At the age of eighteen, Garret moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music Technology from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington. During his time at UNCW he played with several different rock outfits, namely The Cliff Wheeler Band, which toured much of the southeast United States.

Garret’s intense love of performing becomes clear from the moment he steps onto a stage. In his own words, his main goal in every group he plays with is to “make the bass thump, and make people move.”