Let's meet the band...

Frank Valenti - Bass Guitar / Vocals

- Founding Member / Band Leader -

Frank has been performing live and in the studio for over 30 years.
His influences include Rocco Prestia (Tower Of Power), James Jamerson,
The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Garth Brooks.
Frank plays a Musicman Stingray 5 and a 68 Fender Jazz Bass.
He also uses SWR Studio 220 amp with Ampeg 4x10 cabinet,
Shure PSM 600 In ear monitoring system with Livewire custom molded ear buds.
When not performing Frank enjoys trout fishing and spending time with his family.

Ed Legenbauer - Lead Guitar / Vocals- Founding Member -

Eddie has been performing live for over 30 years - performing with bands such as Cimmeron and Mirinda James.
His influences include, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Crane, Dickie Betts, and Willie Nelson.
His Favorite Country Artists are Dwight Yokum and Tanya Tucker.
Ed uses Paul Reed Smith Guitars, and Vintage Custom Fender Deluxe Reverb Amps.
Ed is considered by many as one of the top lead guitarists in the Northeast!!
When not performing, Ed enjoys watching Pro Football. His favorite team is the Kansas City Chiefs.

Scott Lawrence - Lead Vocals

Scott has been singing most of his life, and was brought up in a musical family.
Scott’s rich tone, and powerful vocals have proved to be a welcomed addition to The Back40 Band
Some of Scott’s influences would include George Strait, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Dwight Yokum.
 

Steve Wayne - Fiddle

Steve Wayne grew up in Fitchburg Mass which was a hot bed of bluegrass and country music.
Steve’s grandfather and two uncles played the violin, his uncle Luke played French Canadian style violin
and you can hear a decidedly Cajun influence in Steve’s playing.
Steve was influenced by three New England champion fiddle players from Fitchburg,
also another early influence was George Bullfrog Bourque from Fitchburg who moved to Santa Fe New Mexico
and founded the Last Mile Ramblers which produced the great guitar player Junior Brown
and toured with Asleep at the Wheel throughout the southwest. 

Steve mentored with Tim Farrell from Maine who played with many of the greats in country music
such as Buddy Spicher, Hank Snow, Dick Curless and many others.
Steve has performed with many country and bluegrass bands across the United States
including New York bands Swing 24 playing gypsy jazz and Dyer Switch which is a regional bluegrass band.
Steve also did a stint in Maine with The Misty Mountaineers.
Steve’s favorite fiddlers include Johnny Gimble, Stewart Duncan,
Tim Farrell and Larry Franklin along with Stephane Grappelli.

Steve plays a handmade Harry Richter violin with an L.R. Baggs pickup
and a Baggs para D.I. preamp with custom molded ear buds for a Shure PSM 600 in ear monitor system.

Steve’s favorite things to do when not concentrating on music is learning about Gods word from the bible
and encouraging people to be the best they can be.
Steve enjoys road bicycling and hiking, also making hand forged knives..

 

Michael Carlito - Drums

Michael has been drumming his whole life.
In his playing you can hear influences of Soul, Motown, R & B and Rock n Roll.
His playing brings something new and exciting to the Back 40 Band.
Like a Zen Master, he answers the question: "What is the sound of one drumstick striking?" (hint: it's not fast or loud) Michael’s interests are spending time with his family, shooting skeet and trap, keeping in contact with friends.

“We have a duty towards music, namely, to invent it.”
—Igor Stravinsky, Poetics of Music, p. 53