Big Society started in the early 90's as a backup band for the first Tom Shields album (originally issued as a cassette). Early in the sessions Jerry Kee played drums and Bo Taylor was on lead guitar. Thomas Wilson was brought in to play Bass. Mr. Taylor's band at the time (Motorcaster) left for a European tour and Jerry had production work to do. Tom Shields set out to put a more permanent band together.It was in a downtown Raleigh club that he saw King's Dream playing one evening and at a break he approached Jim Biddell and Ric Ervin about working on the stalled project. Thomas Wilson stayed as the Bass player and Jim became the Big Society drummer and Ric the lead guitarist. Jerry Kee has been at the helm of all of Big Society's efforts. Besides engineering he can be found somewhere on many tracks playing anything from keyboards to drums.This core of players has not changed 15 years later although guests through the ages have included: Sarah Bell - mandolin; Danny Moses - piano; Bo Taylor - guitar; Jim Smith- guitar; Estelle Collins- fiddle.Though rarely playing live, (last live show was at Paulfest in Wake Forest, NC -October, 2009) Big Society continues to record. Tom recently presented the boys with a batch of new material which is slow being churned into a full length disc. Though described as Americana, heard can be influences of blues, jazz, folk and rockabilly. Tom has been been hosting the weekly Open Mic at Java Madness in Wakefield, RI and has been rumored to be talking with some local music scene heroes about some collaboration. Stay tuned...
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