About Me
In 2001, British artist Mark Sprex, a well known drummer and double bass player, moved over to Belgium. Originally from Weymouth, England, Mark is known as the original drummer of The Houserockers and Playboys. He has worked with many other top-rated bands and famous faces over the years both on the 'Rockin'-Scene' and in the 'Mainstream' music fields.
Mark is currently also the drummer of "The Wayne Hopkins' Hemsby houseband" at Hemsby Rock'n'roll weekenders, Americana Weekender and Rockers Reunion, backing stars like Ray Campi, Janis Martin, Dale Hawkins, Billy Adams, legendary "SUN" recording artist "Sonny Burgess", Graham Fenton from "Matchbox", British 60's rocker "Tommy Bruce"... to name just a few!
Mark also played double bass in a rockabilly band "Dancehall Racketeers" together with "Toby Tomanov", ex-drummer of "Primal Scream".
Between 2001 and 2003, he was often employed as a session player in Belgium and Holland.
Mark, who is not only a drummer but also an excellent double bass player and singer, started "The Rhumba Kings" as a new project in the summer 2003, taking centre stage as front man and double bassist.
BART VERVECKEN a young and very talented guitarist from Leuven in Belgium, is asked by Mark to join the band. He is a great guy, great player and some young wild rockin' blood in the band. Together with Mark, Bart also appears with "The Legendary Johnny Trash and the Amphetamine four".
FABRICE GUALDI, " from Dijon in France, is the main drummer of The Rhumba Kings. He is a superb drummer, solid as a rock and an "Animal" on drums. Fabrice is also known from "The Astro-Zombies" and "The Meteors". He fits perfect within' the band.
When Fabrice can't make it for some of the gigs due his work as a fireman, The Rhumba Kings are using another drummer.
KOEN VERBEEK aka LEGENDARY JOHNNY TRASH , from Leuven in Belgium, is a great performer and drummer full steam ahead. Koen deserved his stripes as a drummer with bands such as "Sin Alley", "Runnin' Wild"... He was also known as the frontman of "Hetten Des". When Hetten Des have been split up, Koen formed "The Legendary Johnny Trash and the Amphetamine four", which features Mark on bass and Bart on guitar.
A little detail...., Koen was the original drummer of The Rhumba Kings 5 years ago. Back then, he couldn't commit anymore to The Rhumba Kings due his own band "Hetten Des" so JEAN COLLING took over untill recently.
Now, Jean passes on the torch to Fabrice. Because of Jeans busy life with recently a big promotion at his work and his family, he could not commit to the band anymore. Therefore out of respect for the band, Jean felt he had to make the hard decision to leave the band as from september 2007. He will always be a good friend and sometimes he will still make a guest appearance with The Rhumba Kings.
A mini album is released in september 2004 in conjunction with the band's debut appearance at the world's premier rock'n'roll festival at HEMSBY in England, where they had a lot of success! The Rhumba Kings are booked to play there again in may 2008.
In july 2005 they were support act for Stray Cats drummer "Slim Jim Phantom" and in november 2005 they did a tour with Stray Cats fantastic "Bulletproof doghouse bassplayer" LEE ROCKER.
Still now, the very good comments about the band keep on coming. In November 2006, They were support act of the legendary king of the surf "DICK DALE".
In february 2007, they were supporting LEE ROCKER again. Since then, they've supported THE JETS, THE QUAKES....
THE RHUMBA KINGS are working well composing licks and arrangements mixed with Mark's talent of writing, lyrics, song structures and concepts. The band performs a lot of own written material, mixed with carefully selected covers which are personal favourites of the band members....
The Rhumba Kings recorded a full CD with Thierry Limelette in january 2007 produced by MARK PENINGTON of legendary British neo-rockabilly pioneers 'THE CARAVANS'.
This CD is released in september with cd release parties.
So far, they've played a lot of gigs at various bars, clubs, cafes, festivals and private parties in Belgium, Holland, France, England, Switzerland.....
** These are our new T-Shirts. They are complete black with the logo made by "Rockin' Devil". Men and girlies available in all sizes**
