All living near Shellman Bluff, GA with a shared interest in fishing and golf, it didn’t take long for the band members to find each other. A few years ago, the call went out for people with talent to play at a local party. John bought a banjo and suggested to friend Bob they learn a few guitar/banjo songs. Jordy brought his harmonica and it started an all-night songfest. RB and Tim soon caught wind of what had happened and suggested that they all get together and SLACKWATER was complete.

Tim
Guitar/Keyboads
Tim Rhoad grew up in rural South Carolina, with musical influences from the Methodist Hymnal and his father’s classical record collection. Trained in piano and violin, he moved to Savannah, played in a high school rock band, and performed with his brother, Playing Simon and Garfunkel at the local pizza parlor. Studying in North Carolina he added bluegrass to his experience, and several years in California exposed him to West Coast Jazz, Latin and Oriental music. Tim returned to Savannah and joined the Savannah Symphony Choral under noted conductor Christian Badea, singing in an astonishing variety of works ranging from Carmina Burana to Tosca.

Bob
Guitar
Bob Jameson grew up on the island of Okinawa where a friend introduced him to the guitar. Fascinated, he discovered a natural ability for the guitar. Bob was dramatically influenced by the arrival of the Beatles, and the British invasion, and joined a rock and roll band. The band became one of the most popular on the island, but heading off to college in Hawaii channeled him into a different direction. Listening to the styles of Neil Young and CSN, Bob began to explore solo playing. Moving to Shellman Bluff allowed him to rediscover the joys of playing in a band.

John
Bass
John Wilsterman grew up listening to all kinds of music. Someone was always at the piano or strumming a guitar. He joined the school band at age ten. John’s love of music includes rock, blues, country, Broadway, classical, and folk. John has played in bands and orchestras since he was ten, learning such instruments as trombone, bassoon, guitar, keyboards, banjo and ultimately the bass guitar, which seemed a natural extension to John’s musical background. His appreciation for all forms of music allows him to create a solid foundation for band’s wide-ranging styles.

RB
Drums
RB Kluttz’s musical career began at age seven learning piano. Continuing through high school and college playing various instruments in symphony orchestras and developing a wide range of musical appreciation. College brought the opportunity to play drums in a night club during the week to earn extra cash and eventually joining a soul music band traveling throughout the Southeast playing clubs, beach venues, festivals, and fraternity parties. His band’s success gave him the opportunity to appear on stage with groups like The Tams. As the drummer for Slackwater, he enjoys playing many types of music, especially playing live enjoying audiences really mixing it up.

Maria
Backup Vocalist and Percussion
The Georgia Coast with its rich history of soulful sounds and rhythm was a major influence in Maria Rhoad’s musical life. She can’t ever remember not loving music and credits a lot of her musical ability to her early childhood memories of shrimping with her Granddaddy in Thunderbolt, Georgia and singing and swaying with the women as they headed shrimp. She grew up listening and singing along to all the greats like Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin and of course, Aretha Franklin. Maria’s sassy personality and strong back-ups round out the “Great Band, Good Time” sound of The SLACKWATER BAND.