Bill Peterson Drummer, Vocalist ~ When he was around 9 or 10 years old, Bill's father took him to a car show in Lakeland, Florida, where there was a rock ‘N Roll band called “The Travelers” performing. When Bill saw the drummer, a guy with a crew cut, smoking a big cigar, named “Zeke”, he was hooked. “I thought this was the coolest thing I had ever seen”. Bill recalls, “The high school kids were all dancing and the band was playing Gene Vincent's “Be Bop a Lula”. This was something that Bill knew he had to get in on someday. That year, his elementary school started a music program and Bill's mom and dad bought him his first drum. He hasn't put the sticks down since. Not long after that, Bill's family moved to Tampa and he immediately joined the school band and began to be introduced to the local rock ‘n roll scene. “In high school I played with a great little group called “The Dynamics”. He played at teen clubs, school dances and occasionally the two Surfer's Clubs, where I first met Charlie Souza and Eric Turner (later forming the other members of the Bacchus Trio). At that time, Charlie and Eric were with the original Tropics. In 1969, Bacchus was born and the band spend around 5 years touring the south, playing with acts like Grand Funk Railroad , Free, and even BB King . They also recorded quite a bit and put out several singles. In 1974, Bill joined with Charlie again in White Witch and recorded an album, ,Spiritual Greeting on Capricorn Records. The album, Spiritual Greeting has been re-released on CD and is doing well. In the late 70s, Bill did a stint with a Miami group called ”X” and worked with several studio musicians from TK Studio . After moving back to Tampa, he decided to get off the road and play drums as an avocation instead of all the time. Eventually, various circumstances led Bill back to USF where he earned a Master's Degree in Education and became a teacher. He has never quit playing the drums, however, and spend the last few years working with a local group called Mainstream and a Blues Brothers tribute show. When the opportunity to get back together with his old bass man, Charlie Souza, came up, he was elated. “This is a wonderful opportunity to create original music and to keep alive a great legacy, I couldn't resist. This band is going to rock and have lots of fun. I hope people come and experience the good times with us.
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