Willie Smith/Vocalist:
The band features Willie Smith on lead vocals. He can invoke the soul of Otis Redding or sing the blues as well as Bobby
"Blue" Bland. He has a presence that makes women swoon with only his voice and moves!
Willie is 64 years old, but you would never think so. He got his start in the church singing gospel hymns. At 15 years
of age, he was heard by a sax player, Robert Phillips and was asked to start singing for his band, The House Rockers. They
also did shows as "Push". They played gigs from Mississippi to Terre Haute, Ind.
One day, on the way back from playing a gig in Louisville, KY they heard another band playing a radio show that included
John Coker and Chris Hardesty and loved the sound! Robert found out who they were and they formed the Fender Benders!
Robert has since past on and Willie has kept singing with all his heart! Once you hear Willie sing you will never forget
that incredible voice!
Willie Smith is the heart and soul of the Fender Benders and he keeps gaining a fan base every time he starts to sing!
He has no intentions of stopping anytime soon and everyone of his fans hope it will last forever!
Gary Graves, Sax/Vocalist:
Gary is the newest member of the Fender Benders, but has been playing for more years than he can remember!
Gary is a retired BellSouth employee and works part-time for a Bowling Green automobile dealership.
He has played in numerous bands in the area with an extensive repertoire. He has played in just about every venue and event
in the Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee area.
A great sax player with a great voice to compliment the lucky bands that he has played with. He has added a new dimension
to the band. The Fender Benders are very excited to have him be a part of the band!
Bhrett Puckett, Guitarist/Vocalist:
Bhrett has been a part of the Fender Benders for 3 years now. A guitarist that concentrates on what the songs need and
adds just enough color to them to make them shine!
He owns a thriving lawn care business in Bowling Green. He also plays in another local band, Cootie Brown and a duo with
another great guitarist in the area.
Bhrett has been playing in bands since high school. Moving up through the ranks of the best musicians in Bowling Green,
KY and has left his impact on each and every one of them.
He has been playing with a Beatles Tribute show for several years, which shares the stage with the Bowling Green Orchestra.
It has sold out every show and has branched out to perform in other cities around Kentucky.
Bhrett is also a very good vocalist. He and Gary give Willie a chance to recharge his soul and enjoy the band. He sings
most of the classic rock tunes the band plays. He is also a great driving force behind the Fender Benders since he joined
the band.
John "JC" Coker, Keyboards:
John is an original member of the Fender Benders. He has also been playing in bands since high school. Playing keyboards
are second nature for him and plays the songs the way they should be played!
He has played in numerous bands in the area and has a very successful sign business in Bowling Green. Art and music go
together for him, but music is an escape from the everyday rigors of running his business. A passion for making music that
people can dance and be happy listening to!
John has also helped book the band for years and keeping them together through some rough times! Through many members going
in and out of the band, he and Willie have kept the band together all these years!
Mark Johnson, Bassist:
Mark is an original member of the Fender Benders, but left for a few years to pursue other musical interests. He returned
to the band about 5 years ago after realizing how much he missed the magic of the Fender Benders.
He owns a new neon business in Bowling Green, KY. He is the only glass bender in Bowling Green and is starting to reap
the rewards of being a needed commodity!
Mark learned to play bass by watching his stepfather play bass for country and gospel bands as a kid. He would help set-up,
then watch him play and then help them tear down. He learned the music business, as well as how to play, by the time he was
a teenager.
He has played many types of music, but that Motown sound was what made him the happiest! Grooving and playing in the pocket
is what it is all about for Mark!
Chris Hardesty, Drummer/Backup Vocalist:
Chris is also an original member that left the band for a while to play with the power trio, Supafuzz. Supafuzz was a force
to be reckoned with, but he too found his way back to the Fender Benders.
Chris is one of the best drummers in the entire area! He plays in a very unorthodox method. He is left handed, but sets
his drums like normal except the hi-hats are on the other side. He blows people away just by the way he sets them up, but
once he plays the audience is even more blown away!
He also plays in a side band with Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters. The band is called Rufus Huff and they play
as Greg takes a break from the Headhunters and other musical projects. Luckily his passion is still with the Fender Benders
though!
He is the groove machine behind the band! He is also the ears of the band! If something is not right with the song, he
is the first one to hear it and knows what it takes to fix the problem!