Band
Jim Bean – Lead Vocals – Rhythm Guitar
I remember my first singing’ performance’ for the family was in the backseat of our old Buick with a rendition of ‘Your Cheat’in Heart’ at around age 5. I went on to an appearance on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show a year or so later.
As a youngster I sang duet’s with Miss Molly Bee at ‘The Little Colonel’s Auction Village’ in Baldwin Park, California and from there started a life-long love for country music.
I have always been influenced by the country legends such as Merle Haggard, George Jones and, Willie Nelson who I had an opportunity to sit in with years later in Austin, Texas.
I’ve been in and around the professional music scene since being discharged from the Marines and was under a recording contract for a time with Hub Records in Santa Monica, California. My ‘countryfide remake’ of Bob Dylan’s ‘Lay Lady Lay’ rose to number 80 on Billboard’s top 100 chart.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to perform vocals for films and television and have been in several bands over the years.
Betty and I fell in love and married in 1993. We have been singing and making music ever since. She is my greatest inspiration.
The rest is ‘Copper Canyon’ history yet to be made.
Betty Bean – Bass Guitar – Vocals
My family migrated to the United States from Ireland and were part of the Tennessee Volunteers from the Appalachian Mountains. I guess you’d say they were the original Hillbilly’s. Homesteading in the Ozark Mountains, many of my relatives were Country Musicians…Guitars, Fiddles, Mandolin and Banjo. Pickers and Grinners down at the Courthouse on Friday nights like a scene from the movie “Deliverance”. In fact one of my Cousins was a banjo picker in the movie.
I developed my own love of Country Music at a very early age. I was the little girl who would dance on my Daddy’s toes while Country Music echoed through the house into the wee hours of the morning. When I was around 8 years old my parents bought me my first small keyboard. Then a few years later they bought me an upright Honky-Tonk piano that I taught myself to play. Many hours were spent singing and plunkin’ out my Daddy’s favorite tunes like “Good Night Irene”, “Cotton Fields” and “The Old Rugged Cross”.
Jimmy and I married in ’93 and began singing together. We soon realized that music would be a very large part of our lives together. He of course, had been singing his whole life. One day as we were browsing at a local music store he asked me “have you ever wanted to play a Bass Guitar?” …..
And here I am.
Tom Fletcher – Lead Guitar
What can we say about this man except he’s an outstanding Country Lead Guitarist! He makes that custom EdenHaus Guitar with it’s Parsons/White B-Bender cry like a steel guitar. He’s far too humble to admit that he’s played with some big names during his career of 40+ years, but trust me on this one, he does have some names to drop. He’s the perfect addition to our band. Plus we love that hat! Welcome Tom!
Jim Witt - Keyboards – Vocals
I began singing professionally at age twelve and traveled with a “Boy Band” throughout Europe performing Folk Music and Show Tunes for US Servicemen serving abroad in 1963 and 1964. After leaving the group I continued singing in the high school choir and began to play drums in the high school band. During that time I was in a couple garage bands for a short time.
In 1995 I began singing with the classic rock band “Back Trax”. I played a little guitar and was encouraged to learn keyboards. This has since remained my instrument of choice. We played bars, parties and wedding receptions. I love Rock music but I’ve always preferred Country Music. When I was asked by long time friends Jim and Betty Bean to join their Country Band with an emphasis on three part harmonies I jumped at the opportunity. I believe that there’s a little bit of Rock and Roll in every Cowboy so the transition was perfect.
Mike Palmer - Drummer
I began playing drums at the age of 12. My very first gig was at age 14 playing Classic Country Music with two other men. I left home at age 16 and began touring the West Coast as well as Europe and Asia.
Performing with a variety of different artists in both the Country and Rock scenes such as the great Bonnie Guitar, Charlie Pride, Hal Agin and the Son’s Of The Pioneers, further lead to my great appreciation of Country Music. Hey, I was even at one time known as the “Pink Spot” of the world famous “Ink Spots”.
I, along with some of my greatest friends have formed many Country and Country-Rock bands. Although my true love is drumming I have also learned to play rhythm guitar by traveling on tour and having a guitar shoved in my hands and being told “here play this chord or that chord so we can rehearse our fiddle or lead guitar licks”.
So here I am today standing with the talented artists of the Copper Canyon Band. One of my greatest pleasures in life is participating in great Country Music which fills the hearts of our Country fans.
Lou Tully - Guitar & Vocals
From Colorado by way of Hawaii, Lou grew up playing in clubs and studios all over the Pacific and west coast. He has also survived being a Del-Tone and Grateful Dead aficionado, and has lived to tell about it. Over the years, his playing style has been forged by spending equal amounts of time in large venues, clubs and studios. Along the way, he has played and recorded in Hawaii, Colorado, Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Australia. Although his musical styles and preferences have grown and changed during his travels, he has returned to his roots with Copper Canyon’s blend of heart-felt classic country.
