Transmit This Band Member Bios

Choose another section of the Transmit This web site So who is this Motley Crue, uh, Transmit This band anyway? Check out the member's nicknames and musical backgrounds - you might be surprised!
BILL " FLIPPIN' SWEET WILLY " BURCH / Lead Designer Print and Online, WRAL-TV / Vocals His love of music stems from singing in various school & church choirs in Wisconsin since the beginning of Sharp Cheddar Cheese. During the high school years Flippin' Sweet Willy was introduced into the world of barbershop harmony with three great buds. Our quartet sang and entertained through their college years performing a few commercial jingles and singing 6 days a week during the summer months with Marriott's Great America in Gurnee , Illinois . Yep, they mixed it up with the likes of Goofy, Tweety, Elmer, Bugs, Porky & Taz. The quartet also had the pleasure of performing on the Captain Kangaroo Show with Mr. Green Jeans and cast, The Bozo the Clown Show, and by singing the National Anthem at the Milwaukee County Stadium for a Brewer's game, and more importantly, a Durham Bulls game! With all that under his belt, Flippin' Sweet Willy thinks it's time to loosen that belt, the chords, and ROCK with some mighty good talent.
JOHN “DR. SAX” HARRIS / Director of Programming, WRAL-TV / Vocals, Sax Born the son of a sax-playing preacher and a free spirited ballet grand dame, John “Dr. Sax” Harris' musical influences range from Grover Washington, Jr. to “Blue Pete” Tchaikovsky. Harris cut his musical teeth playing the clubs and juke joints of rural Eastern North Carolina , rising from the swamps of Contentnea Creek to a breakout performance at Mr. Whipple's bar in downtown Wilson . For the last 39 years he has toured the Southland in a traveling minstrel show known as “Sherlocke.” Harris has also performed with the “Sister Mary Elephant Trio” and the nouveau jazz-fusion-blues-country-punk consortium known as “Self Inflicted Scab.” He's well known for his robust “safe sax” sound and spirited mantel dances. Harris appears with “Transmit This” through special arrangement with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
JAY "THE JELLY ROLL" JENNINGS / WRAL-TV - Music Director, Rhythm Guitar, Trumpet With the force of a super nova, Jay "Jelly Roll" Jennings exploded onto the music scene of rural Missouri in the 1970s. Whether singing in the high school choir, the barbershop quartet or playing second chair trumpet in the band, the "Jelly Roll" firmly established himself as in the pantheon musical "wannabes." Soon after, "The Grizzly Mountain Men" needed a new lead singer (truthfully, this was Jay's brother's band and they were desparate for a singer for a gig at the local VFW). Alas, this rocket ride was less meteroic than mediocre and it became time to hang up the mic and the trumpet. While many believed (and hoped!) he would never play again, the "Jelly" soon stepped up to the mic again, this time when his church couldn't find anyone else. Now armed with an electric guitar and a total of four chords, the "Jelly Roll" is back...and ready to TRANSMIT THIS!
ANDREA “OZZIE” OSBORNE / Corporate Communications Specialist, CBC, Inc. / Vocals Ever wonder what Maria from “The Sound of Music” would sound like grinding it out with a rock band? Now you know. Even Mother Superior would break out her Bic for this musical-theatre-meets-country-music-croonin' mommy turned rocker. Belly button rings and stretch marks collide as Transmit This transforms a mild-mannered ingénue into a Barracuda-lovin' wild child.
DALLAS “RED ELVIS” REESE / Radio Music Director, WCMC-FM / Keyboards, Vocals Dallas Reese was born to a poor sharecropping family on the back forty acres of the Mississippi Delta. He spent his formative years living in a teepee with just a piano and guitar for company. Humidity and too many requests for Freebird and Led Zeppelin songs eventually forced him from Mississippi to North Carolina where he moved to a small town called Welcome to play piano for a local western style barbecue restaurant. He wrote songs about the good points of western and eastern barbecue and became a fan of vinegar and tomato sauce and eventually realized it's all good!!!! He met a girl from Welcome and she proceeded to tell him goodbye. He then drifted aimlessly playing piano with such formidable figures as Johnny Johns, Jimmy James, Jimmie Johnson and Darrell Waltrip. Boogity, Boogity Boogity became his mantra and he made his living playing piano and guitar for many years before accidentally finding a golden EIB microphone in a field of dreams. He brought the microphone with him wherever he went and was soon offered employment as the public address announcer for the Forsyth County Prison horseshoe league. After learning many tips of the trade from prison employees about how to make a leaner worth more points, Dallas decided that he had to get out of prison or he would go crazy and run off to Florida to be a shuffleboard professional. He bought a dog named Jake, a truck, got married, had four kids and moved to Raleigh to play country music and convince Governor Easley to let him sing on the steps of the Capitol. He still hasn't sung on the steps of the Capitol but is on the radio every day for Capitol Broadcasting on the NEW 99.9 Genuine Country!
MARK "BUS-HEAD" ROBERTS / Reporter-Trafficologist, WRAL-TV / Drums Lacking the proper medication, Mom placed the young hyper-one in front of the TV. While mocking "Animal" on the Muppets, the future mass-transit cranium tore up the countertops while keeping the beat with kitchen utensils. Mom then surrendered, allowing a drum kit in the house, until young Bus-Head sent the chandelier crashing down on a Tupperware party. As his hair grew to his shoulders "The Bus" played in basements, backyards and beer bashes. Then, while playing in a band called, oddly enough, "The Rumblestrips" the kid hit pay dirt. He landed the coveted "Bruce Dickenson-Need More Cowbell-Fellowship" at Back Beat State . Fresh from a "sit-in" gig with Frankie Faucet and the Drips at the State Fair Waterfall stage....the Bus-Head says simply..."Transmit This!"
AL ROBINSON (aka, BUNDY) / Broadcast Technician, WRAL-TV / Vocals, Congas Al Robinson (aka, Bundy) burst onto the scene in Norfolk, VA. Born to a songbird named Gladys…not to be confused with Ms. Knight…singing is literally in his blood. Like many before him, the church is where it all began. Then he hit the road, bound for the city lights of Raleigh …where Shaw University couldn't pass up on his undeniable talent. After a few years of polishing up his chops it's time to share the love. What does "Bundy" have to do with his name? It's simple. "He'll be Killing you Softly with his song."
NIEL “CAESAR” SOLLOD / Local Sales Manager, WRAZ-TV / Lead Guitar [To the tune of “The Beverly Hillbillies”] Listen to a story about a man named Niel. He likes Zeppelin and Stones, but doesn't like Seal. One day he was he was pickin' his Strat, and out of the Amp came a sound that was Phat. Black Soul, North Carolina Sweet Tea. Well, the first thing you know, Niel is out on DVD, so he packed up his Strat and moved to CBC. Capitol Broadcasting that is…HD TV's, Skating with Celebrities…. Well now it's time to hear Niel and his guitar. And he would like to thank you for kindly setting your DVR. You're all invited to come and hear this New Celeb, or I'm sure one day you can Google him on the Web. Transmit This, that is….Set a spell, get that IPOD out yer ear. Y'all come back now, y' hear?
DEBBIE “DOWNRIGHT” STRANGE / Associate Producer, WRAL-TV / Vocals She broke onto the music scene at an astonishingly early age, wowing the First Baptist Church Young-At-Heart Club with a stirring rendition of Jesus Loves Me. “Downright” went on to become a regular in Christmas Cantatas, Valentine's banquets, and church luaus. After beginning formal vocal training at the age of 12, she moved up to bigger venues, including festivals, parades, school events and competitions. As a member of an all girls patriotic singing group, “Downright” performed at the National Daughters of the American Revolution Convention in Washington , DC , on the steps of the Capitol, and at Arlington Cemetery . Her biggest audience to date was as a performer in the Liberty Bowl half-time show in Memphis . She's looking forward to adding the Triangle Corporate Battle of the Bands to her long and impressive musical resume.
GREG ”BOOGER” WEAVER / Account Manager, Microspace Communications / Bass Guitar Booger was born in the hills of Missouri to a performing bluegrass family called “The Big Butte Pickers”. This family has had tremendous success in the back hollers of mid-America. You may have seen some of his family members in a variety of movies over the years. Most notable was Booger's Brother/Cousin-Eddie Ray playing the Banjo on the bridge in the movie “Deliverance”. Others had a variety of cameos throughout the movie as well. It was soon discovered that Booger lacked the coordination skills to play any instrument that would contribute to the family band. However, a kindly old Veterinarian working at the Ozark Mountains Medical Research/ Feed and Grain Company discovered a way to partially implant enough of the family dog's brain into Booger to allow him a minimum amount of coordination to at least play Bass. Over the past 30 years, Booger has continued to expand his playing ability, which now includes 6 notes. He enjoys playing at all types of venues. However, due to car chasing occurrences in the past, we try to limit his outdoor events.
ED “WARPED” WILLIAMS / Corporate Communications Specialist, CBC, Inc. / Rhythm Guitar In the year 3611, on a molecular transport expedition from his home planet of Rickenbacker to FortunateSun in a quest for solar energy, Ed was sucked into a time warp and whisked down to planet Earth. His molecular structure traveled through a black hole into California and passed through Neil Young, John Fogerty and Roger McGuinn who were performing a benefit concert for whale rights. The time warp journey concluded in the studios of WRAL-TV, where Ed found himself planted in the middle of Transmit This! band auditions. Faced with the prospect of having to choose between auditioning or returning to his home planet empty handed, Ed, armed with DNA from the professional musicians he had passed through, opted to perform and was selected for the band. Like so many other aliens who call the Triangle home, he plans to leave his molecular structure intact here for the time being, warped as they are Warped was added to the Gretsch Guitar web site shown playing his White Falcon - Transmit This done gone nationwide!

Transmit This logo

So who is this Motley Crue, uh, Transmit This band anyway? Check out the member's nicknames and musical backgrounds - you might be surprised!

BILL " FLIPPIN' SWEET WILLY " BURCH / Lead Designer Print and Online, WRAL-TV / Vocals

His love of music stems from singing in various school & church choirs in Wisconsin since the beginning of Sharp Cheddar Cheese. During the high school years Flippin' Sweet Willy was introduced into the world of barbershop harmony with three great buds. Our quartet sang and entertained through their college years performing a few commercial jingles and singing 6 days a week during the summer months with Marriott's Great America in Gurnee , Illinois . Yep, they mixed it up with the likes of Goofy, Tweety, Elmer, Bugs, Porky & Taz. The quartet also had the pleasure of performing on the Captain Kangaroo Show with Mr. Green Jeans and cast, The Bozo the Clown

Show, and by singing the National Anthem at the Milwaukee County Stadium for a Brewer's game, and more importantly, a Durham Bulls game! With all that under his belt, Flippin' Sweet Willy thinks it's time to loosen that belt, the chords, and ROCK with some mighty good talent.

JOHN “DR. SAX” HARRIS / Director of Programming, WRAL-TV / Vocals, Sax

Born the son of a sax-playing preacher and a free spirited ballet grand dame, John “Dr. Sax” Harris' musical influences range from Grover Washington, Jr. to “Blue Pete” Tchaikovsky. Harris cut his musical teeth playing the clubs and juke joints of rural Eastern North Carolina , rising from the swamps of Contentnea Creek to a breakout performance at Mr. Whipple's bar in downtown Wilson . For the last 39 years he has toured the Southland in a traveling minstrel show known as “Sherlocke.” Harris has also performed with the “Sister Mary Elephant Trio” and the nouveau jazz-fusion-blues-country-punk consortium known as “Self Inflicted Scab.” He's well known for his robust “safe sax” sound and spirited mantel dances. Harris appears with “Transmit This” through special arrangement with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.

Jay Jennings - Director/Guitar

JAY "THE JELLY ROLL" JENNINGS /
WRAL-TV - Music Director, Rhythm Guitar, Trumpet

With the force of a super nova, Jay "Jelly Roll" Jennings exploded onto the music scene of rural Missouri in the 1970s. Whether singing in the high school choir, the barbershop quartet or playing second chair trumpet in the band, the "Jelly Roll" firmly established himself as in the pantheon musical "wannabes." Soon after, "The Grizzly Mountain Men" needed a new lead singer (truthfully, this was Jay's brother's band and they were desparate for a singer for a gig at the local VFW). Alas, this rocket ride was less meteroic than mediocre and it became time to hang up the mic and the trumpet. While many believed (and hoped!) he would never play again, the "Jelly" soon stepped up to the mic again, this time when his church couldn't find anyone else. Now armed with an electric guitar and a total of four chords, the "Jelly Roll" is back...and ready to TRANSMIT THIS!

ANDREA “OZZIE” OSBORNE / Corporate Communications Specialist, CBC, Inc. / Vocals

Ever wonder what Maria from “The Sound of Music” would sound like grinding it out with a rock band? Now you know. Even Mother Superior would break out her Bic for this musical-theatre-meets-country-music-croonin' mommy turned rocker. Belly button rings and stretch marks collide as Transmit This transforms a mild-mannered ingénue into a Barracuda-lovin' wild child.

DALLAS “RED ELVIS” REESE / Radio Music Director, WCMC-FM / Keyboards, Vocals

Dallas Reese was born to a poor sharecropping family on the back forty acres of the Mississippi Delta. He spent his formative years living in a teepee with just a piano and guitar for company. Humidity and too many requests for Freebird and Led Zeppelin songs eventually forced him from Mississippi to North Carolina where he moved to a small town called Welcome to play piano for a local western style barbecue restaurant. He wrote songs about the good points of western and eastern barbecue and became a fan of vinegar and tomato sauce and eventually realized it's all good!!!! He met a girl from Welcome and she proceeded to tell him goodbye. He then drifted aimlessly playing piano with such formidable figures as Johnny Johns, Jimmy James, Jimmie Johnson and Darrell Waltrip. Boogity, Boogity Boogity became his mantra and he made his living playing piano and guitar for many years before accidentally finding a golden EIB microphone in a field of dreams. He brought the microphone with him wherever he went and was soon offered employment as the public address announcer for the Forsyth County Prison horseshoe league. After learning many tips of the trade from prison employees about how to make a leaner worth more points, Dallas decided that he had to get out of prison or he would go crazy and run off to Florida to be a shuffleboard professional. He bought a dog named Jake, a truck, got married, had four kids and moved to Raleigh to play country music and convince Governor Easley to let him sing on the steps of the Capitol. He still hasn't sung on the steps of the Capitol but is on the radio every day for Capitol Broadcasting on the NEW 99.9 Genuine Country!

MARK "BUS-HEAD" ROBERTS / Reporter-Trafficologist, WRAL-TV / Drums

Lacking the proper medication, Mom placed the young hyper-one in front of the TV. While mocking "Animal" on the Muppets, the future mass-transit cranium tore up the countertops while keeping the beat with kitchen utensils. Mom then surrendered, allowing a drum kit in the house, until young Bus-Head sent the chandelier crashing down on a Tupperware party. As his hair grew to his shoulders "The Bus" played in basements, backyards and beer bashes. Then, while playing in a band called, oddly enough, "The Rumblestrips" the kid hit pay dirt. He landed the coveted "Bruce Dickenson-Need More Cowbell-Fellowship" at Back Beat State . Fresh from a "sit-in" gig with Frankie Faucet and the Drips at the State Fair Waterfall stage....the Bus-Head says simply..."Transmit This!"

AL ROBINSON (aka, BUNDY) / Broadcast Technician, WRAL-TV / Vocals, Congas

Al Robinson (aka, Bundy) burst onto the scene in Norfolk, VA. Born to a songbird named Gladys…not to be confused with Ms. Knight…singing is literally in his blood. Like many before him, the church is where it all began. Then he hit the road, bound for the city lights of Raleigh …where Shaw University couldn't pass up on his undeniable talent.

After a few years of polishing up his chops it's time to share the love. What does "Bundy" have to do with his name? It's simple. "He'll be Killing you Softly with his song."

NIEL “CAESAR” SOLLOD / Local Sales Manager, WRAZ-TV / Lead Guitar

[To the tune of “The Beverly Hillbillies”]

Listen to a story about a man named Niel.
He likes Zeppelin and Stones, but doesn't like Seal. One day he was he was pickin' his Strat, and out of the Amp came a sound that was Phat.

Black Soul, North Carolina Sweet Tea.

Well, the first thing you know, Niel is out on DVD, so he packed up his Strat and moved to CBC.

Capitol Broadcasting that is…HD TV's, Skating with Celebrities….

Well now it's time to hear Niel and his guitar. And he would like to thank you for kindly setting your DVR. You're all invited to come and hear this New Celeb, or I'm sure one day you can Google him on the Web.

Transmit This, that is….Set a spell, get that IPOD out yer ear.
Y'all come back now, y' hear?

DEBBIE “DOWNRIGHT” STRANGE / Associate Producer, WRAL-TV / Vocals

She broke onto the music scene at an astonishingly early age, wowing the First Baptist Church Young-At-Heart Club with a stirring rendition of Jesus Loves Me. “Downright” went on to become a regular in Christmas Cantatas, Valentine's banquets, and church luaus. After beginning formal vocal training at the age of 12, she moved up to bigger venues, including festivals, parades, school events and competitions. As a member of an all girls patriotic singing group, “Downright” performed at the National Daughters of the American Revolution Convention in Washington , DC , on the steps of the Capitol, and at Arlington Cemetery . Her biggest audience to date was as a performer in the Liberty Bowl half-time show in Memphis . She's looking forward to adding the Triangle Corporate Battle of the Bands to her long and impressive musical resume.

GREG ”BOOGER” WEAVER / Account Manager, Microspace Communications / Bass Guitar

Booger was born in the hills of Missouri to a performing bluegrass family called “The Big Butte Pickers”.

This family has had tremendous success in the back hollers of mid-America. You may have seen some of his family members in a variety of movies over the years. Most notable was Booger's Brother/Cousin-Eddie Ray playing the Banjo on the bridge in the movie “Deliverance”. Others had a variety of cameos throughout the movie as well. It was soon discovered that Booger lacked the coordination skills to play any instrument that would contribute to the family band. However, a kindly old Veterinarian working at the Ozark Mountains Medical Research/ Feed and Grain Company discovered a way to partially implant enough of the family dog's brain into Booger to allow him a minimum amount of coordination to at least play Bass. Over the past 30 years, Booger has continued to expand his playing ability, which now includes 6 notes. He enjoys playing at all types of venues. However, due to car chasing occurrences in the past, we try to limit his outdoor events.

ED “WARPED” WILLIAMS / Corporate Communications Specialist, CBC, Inc. / Rhythm Guitar

In the year 3611, on a molecular transport expedition from his home planet of Rickenbacker to FortunateSun in a quest for solar energy, Ed was sucked into a time warp and whisked down to planet Earth. His molecular structure traveled through a black hole into California and passed through Neil Young, John Fogerty and Roger McGuinn who were performing a benefit concert for whale rights. The time warp journey concluded in the studios of WRAL-TV, where Ed found himself planted in the middle of Transmit This! band auditions. Faced with the prospect of having to choose between auditioning or returning to his home planet empty handed, Ed, armed with DNA from the professional musicians he had passed through, opted to perform and was selected for the band. Like so many other aliens who call the Triangle home, he plans to leave his molecular structure intact here for the time being, warped as they are

Warped was added to the Gretsch Guitar web site shown playing his White Falcon - Transmit This done gone nationwide!