Orleans

With a 37-year ongoing history, it's VERY hard to write a one-paragraph Bio ;-)

Orleans began as a trio in 1972 in Woodstock NY. Guitarist John Hall, drummer Wells Kelly and multi-instrumentalist Larry Hoppen played tirelessly all over the Northeast and up / down the Eastern "corridor" for nine months, then added Lance Hoppen (Larry's brother) fresh out of high school on bass to form the quartet that would record its debut LP in 1973 at the legendary Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama.During the rest of the 1970s Orleans released several more albums, including "Dance With Me", "Still The One" and "Love Takes Time" among other radio staples and toured with Jackson Browne, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, Marshall Tucker Band, Chicago and numerous others, expanding their fan base by going way beyond radio hits.

One of the many signatures of Orleans was and still is harmony guitar riffs and two serious players trading rhythm and lead between them, all seamlessly. Larry and John were, for most of this still-active band's 35-year-and-counting career, those players.

When John Hall left for a solo stint in 1977, Orleans found Dennis "Fly' Amero, a lefty, upside-down Strat player (in the manner of Jimi Hendrix) who took over for several years.

After original drummer Wells Kelly passed away in October 1984, Larry, Lance and John played at his Memorial event. They decided to work as Orleans again; from 1985 through 2006 (when John got elected to US Congress - D, NY-19) Orleans always included three original members! Over that time, 8 more albums were released, always new material.

In 2001, Lane (3rd bro) Hoppen was added as a permanent member. Shortly after, Charlie Morgan - drummer with Elton John for 13 years - joined. Early in 2006, as John Hall began his election campaign, Fly Amero was asked back by the band - including John - roughly 25 years after Fly's first 'term'. Orleans' 2006 "We're Still Havin' Fun" DVD features BOTH John and Fly in a smooth transition!

Fly and Larry's guitar chemistry is obvious, as is the whole group's camaraderie. Besides being a great guitarist, songwriter and singer with a strong blues/R&B soulful tilt, Fly is great with a crowd and has a Gold Record for comedy music featuring his parody lyrics.

In Nov. 2008, John won re-election; Fly is a permanent Orleans member, as are Charlie, Lane and original mainstays Lance and Larry (the voice on all the radio hits, by the way).

Thirty-seven years in, Orleans' trademarked slogan couldn't be more appropriate: "We're Still Havin' Fun".