When you listen to the foot stompin’ grooves of Gypsy Switch, it is no wonder people are steadily becoming attracted to this down home eclectic group. The music of Gypsy Switch is infused with hints of Blues, Rock, Soul, and Kentucky Grass Roots, deeming them quite a unique Americana band. In the Fall of 2004, Chet Surgener and Daphne Luster formed Gypsy Switch after meeting at Lamont Gillespie’s 100 Proof Blues Jam, featuring renowned guitarist Steve Ferguson of NRBQ. Their first experience together was a recording session, as Chet had composed several songs that were well fit for Daphne’s soulful voice. Recording that afternoon led to late nights and more collaboration. Beginning as a duo, Daphne and Chet composed 19 songs between August and December of 2004. They steadily began sharing their music with their friends, pickin’ tunes on the porch and in their basement, as well as playing acoustic gigs in clubs throughout KY. Today the band consists of four members, which includes, Daphne Luster (lead vocals), Chet Surgener (recording engineer, guitars, percussion, and vocals), Rick Ennis (percussion, viola, and vocals), and Paul Hatchett (guitars, keys, banjo, and mandolin).Daphne began singing and playing piano as a little girl while living in Darien, GA. Throughout her youth Daphne’s singing led her to attend the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY where she studied musical theater and began composing music on piano and writing lyrics. In 2001, her love of music and Anthropology took her to Ghana in West Africa where she spent 3 months living in a rural village. It was there that she discovered her need to make music the central focus her life. Daphne’s vocal style is frequently compared with the stylings of old soul singers. People are usually dumbfounded that a woman 5'2 can wail with such confidence and emotion.
Raised in Harlan, KY, Chet began playing music at an early age and has been playing, engineering, and recording music for more than 20 years with numerous bands in the South. In addition to playing with Gypsy Switch, he frequently records bands in his studio, and plays drums with at least three or more bands on an ongoing basis. Gypsy Switch is the first project in which Chet has co-written, produced, and played multiple instruments on all of the works in entirety. Paul Hatchett and Chet have been playing music together for nearly ten years. Paul is also a native Kentuckian and resides in Glasgow where he enjoys composing and playing music, as well as tending to his farm in the hills. He too is a busy multi-instrumentalist, classically educated, with an eccentric talent for accuracy, patience, and grace. Paul is a visionary artist and shares his abundant flexibility in Gypsy Switch, not only playing with them, but also arranging and composing on several of their original works. Rick Ennis began playing gigs with Gypsy Switch by sitting in with the band on the djembe. Rick’s stage presence attracts most listeners as he captures them with homemade percussion instruments and contagious playful energy. Together, with their wide range of experience and limitless talent, there is not much that this band can’t get away with. FOR BOOKING, CALL Celeste at STRONG-ARM BOOKING, 502-777-1186
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