bios
Todd Vehring, Drums & Band Leader. 2023
Todd founded Southbound Crows during the summer of 2023. The band's presence in the Nashville market grew much faster than everyone’s expectations. His background in leadership positions in science and engineering firms provided the experience to generate great success in a short period of time. Todd grew up on Long Island and has always had a spirit for adventure. He competed in sailing and in a variety of sports, several outdoor intensive activities, as well as playing in bands from a young age.
Todd studied geology at Tennessee Tech and went to grad school at Eastern Kentucky University. His career as a geologist centered on the assessment and remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted aquifers. After hanging up his rock hammer, he leveraged his love of dogs and is now a popular dog behaviorist. He is a “go-to” resource for shelters and rescues for the most difficult cases.
Todd’s enjoyment of classic rock music, playing drums and a love of the camaraderie within the band brings enjoyment to his daily life. Southbound Crows is co-managed by Todd and his wife, Kathy, whose contribution to the band is immeasurable.
Dick Kimzey, Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals & Music Director. 2023.
Dick is originally from Kansas and grew up in Ohio. He began his music career at a young age, playing saxophone and classical piano. A friend who owed him money gave Dick a guitar as payment. Shortly thereafter, Dick heard a recording of "Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen, which inspired him to start playing the guitar. His first performance took place in a dark high school auditorium with a spotlight focused solely on him. Dick describes it as "exhilarating and exciting". Eddie Van Halen had the most significant influence on Dick's musical style.
Dick attended Washburn University in Kansas, majoring in Computer Science & Mathematics with an Actuarial Emphasis. During this time, he honed his guitar skills and began writing and recording original music. His musical style could be described as a combination of Rush and Metallica, considered progressive at that time.
In Ohio, Dick worked as a lighting designer for acts such as The Black Crowes, Pantera, and Skid Row, among others. Dick moved to Tennessee and began playing in the popular band “The boodogs” And continued writing and recording original music. Life circumstances led him to put his guitar aside for a while. Several years later, he formed his own band called "The Entertainment Band," which specializes in live band karaoke shows and is still performing to this day.
Fun Facts about Dick: He never performs the same guitar solo twice aND IN 2001, Dick was hired by Zippo Lighters and toured the world showcasing Zippo lighter tricks. His hobbies include rebuilding old amps, guitars, and cars.
Jackie Saturday, Lead Vocals, acoustic Guitar. 2024.
Jackie's professional singing career spans over a decade, but his deep passion for music extends much further. With a vocal range that effortlessly spans from baritone to high soprano, he has the remarkable ability to emulate the vocal styles of artists such as The Police, Journey, Boston, and Queen in his cover performances. There's a profound personal connection to his music that infuses his voice with something truly unique, setting his performances apart from his contemporaries. On and off the stage, his vibrant and slightly sarcastic personality shines through, bringing an unparalleled authenticity to his art. Notably, Jackie's upbringing in a military family and his experience of living in multiple places have shaped his love for adventure, which he fulfills through activities like rollerblading and road trips.
Laurin Floyd, Lead Vocals. 2024.
Laurin Floyd, a talented and experienced individual in the music industry. With a background as a singer and dancer, she has performed alongside renowned artists such as Brenda Lee, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr, Debbie Gibson, and Louise Mandrell. Laurin has graced stages of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Super Bowl XXXVIII, the NFL Thanksgiving Half-Time Show, The Grand Ole Opry, The CMA Awards, and the American Music Awards. She continues to release her own music, with two albums available on all music platforms.
Laurin holds a BFA degree in dance and is also involved in roles such as Choreographer, Director, Casting Director, and Creative Producer for Matt Davenport Productions. She has contributed original choreography to various national tours, music videos, corporate industrials, cruise ships, pagents, and theme parks, including Busch Gardens, Hershey Park, Sea World, Holiday World, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Theater Shows, Country Tonight, and the General Jackson Showboat in Nashville, TN.
Laurin experienced the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2016. She is currently writing a book about finding good in grief and has recently found love again, celebrating a Christmas Wedding in 2023.
Outside of her career, Laurin has a love of nature, flowers, and animals. She shares her life with her husband, Craig, and a dog named Cowboy.
Trip Brown, Bass. 2024.
Trip was born in Detroit and raised in the suburbs of Royal Oak and Birmingham. He embarked on his musical journey with piano lessons and an early introduction to The Beatles before picking up his first bass and joining a neighborhood garage band. Displaying remarkable musical versatility, Trip later transitioned to electric guitar and then back to bass.
His first gig as a guitarist was with The Dark Knights, performing at school dances and local parties. In high school, he became part of Maelstrom Descent, a band that exclusively played original rock music at Detroit area clubs and ballrooms.
After high school, Trip attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, the birthplace of Gibson guitars. He proved his musical prowess by playing with bands like Zeus and Lakota, touring the cover band circuit across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.
In the late 80s, Trip relocated to Los Angeles and returned to playing bass due to a shortage of skilled bassists in Southern California. During his time in California, he lent his bass skills to bands such as the Gartland/Brown Band, The California Shakers, The Jokers, Sonic Stew, and Darryl Morris & Other Shady Characters.
In 2017, Trip made his way to Nashville, where he played bass with a range of artists including Luther, Marshall Mayer, Tim Turner Band, and Marcus Brown & The Sound. Additionally, he served as a substitute bassist for various Nashville acts. Following a series of substitute appearances with Southbound Crows, he officially became a member of the band in the summer of 2024.
We cannot tell you what Trip does for a living but rest assured, it's something incredibly exciting within the music industry!!
Mark Farris, Keyboard. Vocals Coach, Background Vocals. 2024
Introducing Mark Farris, a remarkably talented musician whose journey into the world of live performances began at a young age. Growing up in Indiana, Mark's early passion for the piano blossomed into a vibrant musical odyssey encompassing rock, classic rock, country, contemporary jazz, blues, and R&B.
Following high school, Mark joined the Air Force and embarked on a tour with Tops In Blue, a renowned Air Force entertainment band, alongside comedian Sinbad as Master of Ceremonies.
Settling in Colorado, Mark shared the stage with esteemed artists such as Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, and many more. He has performed at prestigious venues in Denver, including the iconic open-air amphitheater, Red Rocks. Mark also took his talent overseas, performing on a European Caribbean cruise ship as well as captivating audiences across Europe with a popular blues band from New Orleans.
Additionally, Mark performed with Swerve, a band consistently voted as one of Denver's top 5 cover bands for 5 consecutive years by Westword Magazine, a prominent local entertainment publication.
Mark moved to Tennessee in 2023 and joined Southbound Crows in the summer of 2024.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Mark shares a deeply fulfilling life with his beloved spouse and finds joy in his passion for motorcycles, infusing an adventurous spirit into his already captivating journey.