Our Funktastic Bios Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about us, but were too afraid to ask.  | Billy Jive Lead Vocals and TambourineShane grew up enjoying the music of the 1970's from artists like 'The Ohio Players', 'Kool and the Gang', 'Earth, Wind & Fire', Marvin Gaye and other funk/soul artists. As a drummer, Shane played in serveral bands who opened for the likes of Trooper, Doug and the Slugs and Helix. A hand injury left Shane unable to play drums for longs periods of time, so he switched to keyboards, an instrument he studied as a teen.
When a former band could not find a suitable lead vocalist, Shane started singing the songs in practice and found himself lead vocalist. After a few years of singing cover songs of rock/pop songs that were hits at the time, Shane decided if he was going to sing, he was going to sing songs he actually enjoyed and started 'Billy Jive and Funktastics'.
| | |  | Dr. Disco - Dave Dragon Guitar / VocalsDave grew up in a music loving family and started playing clarinet and sax between the ages of 12 and 14 until discovering the guitar. He has been playing ever since, having taken guitar lessons in school and later private lessons in both rock and jazz contexts. Dave has performed solo in the past in coffee shop settings where he was sung with the accompaniment of his acoustic guitar, he as also performed by invitation at the "Home-grown Coffeehouse" series in both Kimberley's Center 64 and Cranbrook's Stage Door Theatre.
In addition to the Billy Jive experirence, Dave played the role of bassist and singer for the hot Kimberley surf-rock trio "the Pulse" now known as the "Surf Dragons" band. He and the band gigged in the East Kootenays and hosted a weekly Thursday evening jam session at the Legends Pub in Kimberley from 2006 which still continues today. | | |  | Hi-Ya Karate Drums / Martial ArtsWith over 15 years of pro playing experience and studio work laying drum tracks for several independent artists, Keon has been known to sit in for session drummers like Randy Cooke (Kim MItchell) and Jeff Salem (Lee Aaron). In 1998 he toured Western Canada which brought him out to Cranbrook, British Columbia, to continue his craft of teaching the drums to over 50 students and gigging on a regular basis as he sits idly by waiting for those drum endorsements from Mapex, Sabian, Evans and Vic Firth.
Keon is a Taurus and in his spare time he enjoys making sushi, learning how to use chopsticks and watching the Karate Kid movies. | | |  | Janice Jackson Bass / VocalsJanice Nicli was known to be a musician since birth. Her parents tried to have her play the accordian like a typical Italian child, but it just wasn't going very well. Instead of practicing "The Tarantella", Janice would play songs like "Thunderstruck" or "Smoke on the water". As one of the original members, Janice's musical ability and energentic personality has helped bring Billy Jive into the spotlight. Bass is now her main instrument but at parties or social events Janice is known to pick up the acoustic guitar and entertain the crowd. Proud of her Italian culture, Janice things that her family dinners and social events would be a great idea for a reality TV show.
If you get a chance to talk to her ask about the time the grass caught onf fire. It's a good story. | | |  | Heather Hotlips Hoolihan Trumpet / VocalsHeather Stuart was born and raised in Cranbrook. She has a diploma in music with a major in recording. He greatest passions are the outdoors and animals, she has several pets and is known to take in stray or wounded animals from time to time. Her goofy nature and "cuteness" has brought a new energy to Billy JIve.
Heather is currently working on a diploma in Tourism and is planning to get a degree in the near future. | | |  | Bari-Blowin' Berndawg Baritone Sax / VocalsBorn in Germany, Bernie Primbs could very well be one of the only vegetarian Bavarians around. Having grown up in Cranbrook, BC, Bernie has always had a love for music and the outdoors. Along with a music diploma with a performance major, Bernie has grown a love for composing and arranging songs. In winter on this off-time, Bernie can be found at the ski hill administering first aid with the volunteer ski patrol, or wakeboarding and hiking in the summer. He used to compete in freestyle skiing and will very soon be seen amoung the world's best ping pong players...well at least in his heart. | | |
|