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band bios |
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Adam is a Decatur native and a recent graduate from MacArthur High School. He is currently a student at Millikin University and is majoring in Commercial Music. Adam is in many different groups at Millikin including Millikin Jazz Band 1 and the Millikin Wind Ensemble. He currently studies saxophone with Dr. Perry Rask. Outside of school and Soul Purpose, Adam plays with the Decatur Municipal Band as well as Higher Standards, a jazz combo that plays in and around the Decatur area. Adam has also played at many different churches in the area. He is glad to be able to play sax with Soul Purpose!
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Bill Cunningham is a Danville, Illinois native and an Illinois State University graduate with a music degree. He has been in bands since he was 14 years old. The first bands he was in were Shades Of Blue and The Villagers. He and his wife traveled the hotel circuit for many years as Sassy, also doing a long stint at the Decatur Holiday Inn. He has owned Soundcheck Music at Fairview Plaza since 1988. Besides being in Soul Purpose, Bill plays at the Moose every Thursday night with Urban Legend and is very active on the praise team at First Christian Church in Decatur. Bill is a true multi-tasker, providing Soul Purpose with all the bass, keyboard and organ parts, playing the bass parts with his left hand and the keys and organ parts with his right. He also adds vocal parts. He has been with the band since 2007. |
trumpet • Michael McDonald |
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Mike is a musical product of the Decatur Public Schools. He was in the Concert and Stage Bands at MacArthur High School. Mike played with the Springfield Muni Band from 1972 to 1976 and after moving back to Decatur in 1977 joined the Decatur Municipal Band in which he is still a member and often a featured soloist each summer. He has performed at several area churches and community functions and as a member of pit orchestras in numerous community musical theater productions. Now he can also be seen playing trumpet with his new rock'n'roll buddies in Soul Purpose. |
 drums
• Lavell Peete |
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Lavell Peete was born and raised in Decatur, graduating from MacArthur High School, where he learned the fine art of drumming under the guidance of Steve Schepper and Jim Culbertson in his Jazz Lab Band program. Lavell has more than 30 years experience as a professional musician. He worked cruise ships for Norwegian, Princess and Holland Cruise Lines from 1989-1995 performing on three world cruises, South Pacific and Oriental cruises, Alaska cruises and cruises to all the Caribbean Islands. Locally, he has played with many groups, including the Decatur Big Band that performs periodically at Lock Stock and Barrel. He has also been a church musician for The Church of The Living God in Decatur and has performed with the Kenneth Knox Ensemble. Lavell brings great experience and ability to Soul Purpose as well as a strong work ethic and a great sense of humor. His soulful beat provides the basis for the band’s great dance beat. He also operates the website: www.lavelltravel.com
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Kurt picked up his first acoustic guitar over 40 years ago. However, even after taking lessons, it didn't hold his interest. Several years later, he bought an electric guitar and things began to click. Foregoing the lessons, he and a group of friends formed their first rock band, playng Hendrix, KISS, Judas Priest and REO - all the staples of Midwest rock - n- roll. Through the years, Kurt has played lead and rhythm guitar with many local hard rock bands. He also has acted as a stage manager for many national touring rock bands, has his own recording studio and does sound and lighting for other bands as well. Using his degree in electronics, he also does musical instrument/equipment repair, designs and builds PA cabinets, and does video and sound installations, all while holding down a full time job as area service manager for the local Sharp dealership. He plays Paul Reed Smith, Gibson, Hamer and Steinberger guitars, and uses Marshall and Vox amps. Kurt is also active in the Ansar Shrine and has been president of the Ansar Shrine Dune Buggies for many years.
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  vocals & saxophone • Randy Van Alstine |
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Randy is the leader of Soul Purpose and
handles the booking of all gigs.
Randy is the old man of the group and has played with rock bands for 47 years. His first group was as a high school sophomore with a group called Chuck Givens and the Quintones. The group played early rock and rhythm and blues from 1958-1963 throughout Central Illinois. He played with The Scarletts from Philadelphia, PA., traveling throughout the eastern half of the United States 1963-1964. This group performed early rock covers complete with choreography and a nightly floor show. They once backed Little Anthony and the Imperials at the Hampton Manor in Hampton, New York. After being drafted into the Army in 1968, Randy formed a group in Korea called The FourMost, playing 50s and 60s at the Officer’s and NCO Clubs throughout the country. During the years that he was completing college and dental school, he took a break from music because of a demanding study schedule, but when he returned to Decatur to start his dental practice, he played with Greater Decatur Rhythm & Blues Band from 1981-1985. Music took a back seat to his dental practice again until 1995, when he organized a reunion of his 1958 group, Chuck Givens and the Quintones for the Flashback concert at the Lincoln Theater. The group was a big hit and was immediately hired to do Decatur Celebration in 1996. He was bitten by the bug again, so Randy helped form Rock of Ages, a very popular Decatur 50s and 60s band. He played with ROA from 1998-2003. In January 2004, he organized Soul Purpose with the help of his friend and playing partner from Rock of Ages, Rick Smith. Randy also has a band in Florida where he now lives, SoundCheck. Among his musical credits is the distinction of playing the Decatur Celebration more times with different bands over the last 20 years than any other Decatur musician. (Maybe he just can’t get along with anyone for very long!) 1989: Greater Decatur Rhythm and
Blues
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Rick
Smith • |
keyboards and vocals |
Dick
Borders • |
bass and vocals |
Steve
Jobe • |
guitar and vocals |
Jerry Brinegar • |
guitar |
Steve Schepper• |
drum |
Jerry Johnson • |
vocals |
keyboards
and vocals • Bill Cunningham
guitar
and vocals • Kurt Terry
