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William (Billy) Rendon: Vocals and Percussion
Billy was very fortunate to grow up with parents who listened to many different genres of music. Listening to and playing music is a big part of the Rendon family. His 2nd cousins (The Rendon Brothers) were very well known in the Denver area, and one of Billy's brothers and his Dad both played guitar. He learned to play drums, and like all of his siblings, he could always sing very well. They would perform at family get-togethers and other informal functions. In 1977, at the age of seventeen, he became lead vocalist/front man in a top 40 funk band and did this for 13 years. After this, Billy took a break from performing for quite a few years to concentrate on being a dad. In 2011, he decided to get back into it since his children were all grown and on their own. Currently, he is bandleader/lead vocalist/front man for the classic rock/soul band, Billy Rendon & The Rhythm Rockers. As bandleader/lead vocalist/front man for Abraxas, Billy is excited to get to perform all the great Santana and old school funk tunes that have so influenced his musical career.
Billy was very fortunate to grow up with parents who listened to many different genres of music. Listening to and playing music is a big part of the Rendon family. His 2nd cousins (The Rendon Brothers) were very well known in the Denver area, and one of Billy's brothers and his Dad both played guitar. He learned to play drums, and like all of his siblings, he could always sing very well. They would perform at family get-togethers and other informal functions. In 1977, at the age of seventeen, he became lead vocalist/front man in a top 40 funk band and did this for 13 years. After this, Billy took a break from performing for quite a few years to concentrate on being a dad. In 2011, he decided to get back into it since his children were all grown and on their own. Currently, he is bandleader/lead vocalist/front man for the classic rock/soul band, Billy Rendon & The Rhythm Rockers. As bandleader/lead vocalist/front man for Abraxas, Billy is excited to get to perform all the great Santana and old school funk tunes that have so influenced his musical career.
Kenny Cox: Guitar
Kenny started playing guitar when he was eight years old and has been immersed in it since. By the time he was 12, he was playing in a band with a bunch of guys that were older and they were getting paying gigs. Kenny saw everybody he could in concert; Hendrix, Clapton, The Allman Bros., Janis Joplin, Yes, Mountain, Jethro Tull, Vanilla Fudge, Zappa, etc. For many years, he toured extensively locally, nationally and internationally with more bands than he can recall. He envisioned being a studio musician, so he tried to learn and play as many types of music as possible. While developing his own style, he tried to stay as true to the idiom as he could. This is evident in his original compositions as well. There is a lot of information about his career on his website: Kennycoxmusic.com.
Kenny started playing guitar when he was eight years old and has been immersed in it since. By the time he was 12, he was playing in a band with a bunch of guys that were older and they were getting paying gigs. Kenny saw everybody he could in concert; Hendrix, Clapton, The Allman Bros., Janis Joplin, Yes, Mountain, Jethro Tull, Vanilla Fudge, Zappa, etc. For many years, he toured extensively locally, nationally and internationally with more bands than he can recall. He envisioned being a studio musician, so he tried to learn and play as many types of music as possible. While developing his own style, he tried to stay as true to the idiom as he could. This is evident in his original compositions as well. There is a lot of information about his career on his website: Kennycoxmusic.com.
Jeff Fowler: Trumpet
Jeff grew up in Lakewood where he started playing trumpet in the 4th grade. He was gigging regularly as a teenager in Joy Cayler’s Brass Beat and Memories dance bands. He studied trumpet under Dr. Walter Barr and did jazz studies with Bill Clark at the University of Colorado at Denver, graduating with a degree in Music. Jeff has performed in many styles including Traditional Jazz, Orchestra, Big Band and Pop. He has played in several jazz bands, with the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed in the pit orchestras for the traveling Broadway productions of Cats and La Cage Aux Folles. On Sundays, you can see Jeff performing with the Denver Broncos Stampede Band! Jeff is married to his wife Laurie and they have two children, Olivia and Jackson.
Jeff grew up in Lakewood where he started playing trumpet in the 4th grade. He was gigging regularly as a teenager in Joy Cayler’s Brass Beat and Memories dance bands. He studied trumpet under Dr. Walter Barr and did jazz studies with Bill Clark at the University of Colorado at Denver, graduating with a degree in Music. Jeff has performed in many styles including Traditional Jazz, Orchestra, Big Band and Pop. He has played in several jazz bands, with the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed in the pit orchestras for the traveling Broadway productions of Cats and La Cage Aux Folles. On Sundays, you can see Jeff performing with the Denver Broncos Stampede Band! Jeff is married to his wife Laurie and they have two children, Olivia and Jackson.
Bob Giusto: Saxophone
Bob Giusto considers himself a lifelong lover of music, but a latecomer to truly studying the art of music. He played some in high school, but he was well into his fifties before he started putting in serious hours of practice. A native New Yorker, Bob grew up listening to lots of jazz and his first live jazz show was the legendary Sonny Rollins at the Village Gate in Greenwich Village. Rollins, Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Clarence Clemons, and Paul Desmond are just a few of the renowned saxophonists Bob admires and studies as he strives to hone his craft. Bob has been busy along the Front Range, playing sax for Born to Run, a Springsteen tribute band that was busy for about five years. He has also played with Super Premium Ultra Deluxe, The Closers, Chaz DePaolo, and Tupelo Honey. He looks forward to sharing the stage with his Abraxas bandmates and feels this band truly brings together some of the most talented performers along the Front Range.
Bob Giusto considers himself a lifelong lover of music, but a latecomer to truly studying the art of music. He played some in high school, but he was well into his fifties before he started putting in serious hours of practice. A native New Yorker, Bob grew up listening to lots of jazz and his first live jazz show was the legendary Sonny Rollins at the Village Gate in Greenwich Village. Rollins, Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Clarence Clemons, and Paul Desmond are just a few of the renowned saxophonists Bob admires and studies as he strives to hone his craft. Bob has been busy along the Front Range, playing sax for Born to Run, a Springsteen tribute band that was busy for about five years. He has also played with Super Premium Ultra Deluxe, The Closers, Chaz DePaolo, and Tupelo Honey. He looks forward to sharing the stage with his Abraxas bandmates and feels this band truly brings together some of the most talented performers along the Front Range.
Walter Holland: Saxophone and Flute
Walter is a multi-instrumentalist and award winning jingle writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. He wanted to learn piano, but in the fifth grade ended up with a clarinet because his grandfather was a Benny Goodman fan. In the sixth grade, he learned oboe and in the seventh grade, sax. From the eight grade through high school he was mentored by Bill Hanna, trombonist with the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton big bands, and the Charlotte Symphony. Playing multiple woodwinds led Walter to pit work in musicals and Carowinds theme park. After a year of playing "beach music" and top 40 gigs, he was urged to learn flute by rock 'n' rollers who wanted to play some Jethro Tull. At the same time, he was building up his flute chops studying with Valerie Simosko of the Charlotte and Atlanta Symphonies. Later on he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana majoring in Jazz Studies at Southern University under Alvin Batiste, along with classmates Randy Jackson, Brandford Marsalis, and Donald Harrison. He went crosstown to study oboe with Ernest Harrison at LSU, then landed a jingle writing gig at WJBO/WFMF. Upon visiting Grand Lake, he fell in love with Colorado and never left. Since then he's played the Winter Park Jazz Fest several times, along with the very first Troublesome Fest in Grand Lake.
Walter is a multi-instrumentalist and award winning jingle writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. He wanted to learn piano, but in the fifth grade ended up with a clarinet because his grandfather was a Benny Goodman fan. In the sixth grade, he learned oboe and in the seventh grade, sax. From the eight grade through high school he was mentored by Bill Hanna, trombonist with the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton big bands, and the Charlotte Symphony. Playing multiple woodwinds led Walter to pit work in musicals and Carowinds theme park. After a year of playing "beach music" and top 40 gigs, he was urged to learn flute by rock 'n' rollers who wanted to play some Jethro Tull. At the same time, he was building up his flute chops studying with Valerie Simosko of the Charlotte and Atlanta Symphonies. Later on he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana majoring in Jazz Studies at Southern University under Alvin Batiste, along with classmates Randy Jackson, Brandford Marsalis, and Donald Harrison. He went crosstown to study oboe with Ernest Harrison at LSU, then landed a jingle writing gig at WJBO/WFMF. Upon visiting Grand Lake, he fell in love with Colorado and never left. Since then he's played the Winter Park Jazz Fest several times, along with the very first Troublesome Fest in Grand Lake.
Doug Krause: Piano and Organ
Doug Krause has been a professional musician and composer for several decades. In 2019, he was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame for his work as a member of the band Fyre. He was honored with an induction into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. Doug has performed in many different bands covering musical styles from jazz to country and takes pride in being considered a consummate sideman. A small town boy from the plains of Kansas, he had a natural affinity for the music of the heartland but quickly discovered that the blues, southern rock, and Latin rock suited his style perfectly. His influences include Santana, Little Feat, Bruce Hornsby, The Band, and Dr. John. When not performing with Abraxas, he can be found recording and performing with his project, the Dirty Shoes Band.
Doug Krause has been a professional musician and composer for several decades. In 2019, he was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame for his work as a member of the band Fyre. He was honored with an induction into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. Doug has performed in many different bands covering musical styles from jazz to country and takes pride in being considered a consummate sideman. A small town boy from the plains of Kansas, he had a natural affinity for the music of the heartland but quickly discovered that the blues, southern rock, and Latin rock suited his style perfectly. His influences include Santana, Little Feat, Bruce Hornsby, The Band, and Dr. John. When not performing with Abraxas, he can be found recording and performing with his project, the Dirty Shoes Band.
Mark Messenger: Drummer
Mark grew up in the Midwest and was greatly influenced by the Motown sound of the 70s as well as almost every rock genre of the time. Coming from a very musical family, Mark taught himself to play many instruments including guitar, piano and of course the drums. Beginning with grade school band percussion and on through high school, Mark learned about music in an ensemble setting culminating with playing in local rock bands. After moving to Colorado in the mid 70s, he began meeting and playing with local musicians and developing a strong desire to play good music with good musicians. He has played in many bands since then as a part time avocation and has only recently retired from a "regular" job so that now he plays with many bands as a first call drummer. Sometimes it's a manic schedule, but he's living his best life with the support of his wonderful family!
Mark grew up in the Midwest and was greatly influenced by the Motown sound of the 70s as well as almost every rock genre of the time. Coming from a very musical family, Mark taught himself to play many instruments including guitar, piano and of course the drums. Beginning with grade school band percussion and on through high school, Mark learned about music in an ensemble setting culminating with playing in local rock bands. After moving to Colorado in the mid 70s, he began meeting and playing with local musicians and developing a strong desire to play good music with good musicians. He has played in many bands since then as a part time avocation and has only recently retired from a "regular" job so that now he plays with many bands as a first call drummer. Sometimes it's a manic schedule, but he's living his best life with the support of his wonderful family!
Jean (Jay) Reyes: Guitar
Jay was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he grew up in a musically diverse environment. His mom got him his first guitar on his 11th birthday, and he hasn't put it down since. Jay's parents were always supportive and took him to classes and many live shows where he learned from watching what the performers were doing and by asking them questions about gear and techniques. In 2012, after graduating high school, he was accepted to the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico to study Performance in Classical Guitar. There he would study with such greats as Manuel Barrueco, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Berta Rojas, John Williams (Guitarist), David Russell, etc. He's been living in CO since 2019 where he was introduced to his love of jam bands. Jay attends as many concerts as he can, enjoys nature and visits open jams and open mics around town to play, sing and meet great people. Playing in Abraxas has been a blast for him since they're great musicians, there is space to express himself freely through improvisation and, as a Latino, he is able to put some of that "Sazón Boricua" into the mix.
Jay was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he grew up in a musically diverse environment. His mom got him his first guitar on his 11th birthday, and he hasn't put it down since. Jay's parents were always supportive and took him to classes and many live shows where he learned from watching what the performers were doing and by asking them questions about gear and techniques. In 2012, after graduating high school, he was accepted to the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico to study Performance in Classical Guitar. There he would study with such greats as Manuel Barrueco, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Berta Rojas, John Williams (Guitarist), David Russell, etc. He's been living in CO since 2019 where he was introduced to his love of jam bands. Jay attends as many concerts as he can, enjoys nature and visits open jams and open mics around town to play, sing and meet great people. Playing in Abraxas has been a blast for him since they're great musicians, there is space to express himself freely through improvisation and, as a Latino, he is able to put some of that "Sazón Boricua" into the mix.
Eric Thompson: Bass
Eric has been an active musician since his teenage years. Growing up in Eua Claire, WI, he had the opportunity to study and perform jazz at both the high school and university level. He started playing out in clubs as a high school student. Eric quickly earned the reputation as one of the first call bassists in west-central Wisconsin, and played in numerous rock bands, blues bands, indie folk groups, jazz orchestras and combos. In 2022, Eric left the Midwest to travel the country before settling in Denver. Since moving to Colorado, he has established himself in the music scene playing bass and guitar in various projects. When not performing with Abraxas, he can be seen playing bass with the Cadillac Pirates and guitar in Salads and Sunbeams as well as performing in various other art music collaborations.
Eric has been an active musician since his teenage years. Growing up in Eua Claire, WI, he had the opportunity to study and perform jazz at both the high school and university level. He started playing out in clubs as a high school student. Eric quickly earned the reputation as one of the first call bassists in west-central Wisconsin, and played in numerous rock bands, blues bands, indie folk groups, jazz orchestras and combos. In 2022, Eric left the Midwest to travel the country before settling in Denver. Since moving to Colorado, he has established himself in the music scene playing bass and guitar in various projects. When not performing with Abraxas, he can be seen playing bass with the Cadillac Pirates and guitar in Salads and Sunbeams as well as performing in various other art music collaborations.
Scott Wright: Drums and Percussion
Originally from up-state New York near the Canadian border, Scott has been playing since he was fifteen. As a youngster, he got the opportunity to perform Beatles music at the World's Fair in New York City although he had to borrow a hi-hat and cymbal from another drummer to do it. This began a love of music that has endured for over 6 decades. After moving to the Denver area in late 2015, Scott eventually started going to music venues and attending jams, not as a player but as an observer. After some coaxing by his son, Christopher, a professional drummer and sound engineer, Scott started signing up to play. With encouragement from other well-respected musicians, he started to be noticed by some of the locals. This led to his involvement with several bands and musical projects in the Denver area. Scott is currently a member of Billy Rendon & The Rhythm Rockers, a multi-genre band that has a regular gig every Wednesday. Abraxas presents a lifelong dream of playing in a full horn band and tackling some of the best Latin-rock, soul music that has been recorded in the last 50+ years. He is having a blast working with such a great group of musicians.
Originally from up-state New York near the Canadian border, Scott has been playing since he was fifteen. As a youngster, he got the opportunity to perform Beatles music at the World's Fair in New York City although he had to borrow a hi-hat and cymbal from another drummer to do it. This began a love of music that has endured for over 6 decades. After moving to the Denver area in late 2015, Scott eventually started going to music venues and attending jams, not as a player but as an observer. After some coaxing by his son, Christopher, a professional drummer and sound engineer, Scott started signing up to play. With encouragement from other well-respected musicians, he started to be noticed by some of the locals. This led to his involvement with several bands and musical projects in the Denver area. Scott is currently a member of Billy Rendon & The Rhythm Rockers, a multi-genre band that has a regular gig every Wednesday. Abraxas presents a lifelong dream of playing in a full horn band and tackling some of the best Latin-rock, soul music that has been recorded in the last 50+ years. He is having a blast working with such a great group of musicians.
