Hi folks, Joe here. This is a post I do not look forward to posting. I hope I do it justice. First of all I should say that I did not book any shows past October on purpose and we are going to play all the shows we booked, but after that it hurts me to say that after Gene (Gene and I have played music together for 22+ years) and I had a conversation and we decided it is time for JUST US to put the brakes on. I was asked to join a band called NIGHT LIFE about 42+ years ago. That band morphed into JUST US about a year later. I was a kid in my twenties and If you had told me I would be in this band this long I would have said no way... but here I am ... the last member of the original JUST US. This band has had so much fun over the years. I will never take for granted the fabulous musicians I have had the honor to make music with (and I will list them all at the end) and the family and friends along with the wonderful people we have met through the years who have supported us. I also appreciate every single person who hired our band through the years. My wife Linda has been at practically every show and has helped with everything from pictures and videos to setting things up to taking calls for people who want to hire the band. There are so many memories ... weddings, family gatherings, graduations, private parties, holidays, benefits and so many bars in so many towns and soooo much more. On July 25th Keith Bushey (Keith has played in the band for 13+ years) told me it was time to take a break from playing drums. Keith Bushey suffered a stroke over a year ago and miraculously was able to keep playing drums and he did just that. Folks remember Keith Collins passed in Sept 2020. I played next to Keith Collins for 38 yrs..... we were married on the weekends ... lol. Our bass player Rick Smith is fighting Cancer right now with chemo and pills. Rick has been with the band 3.5 years. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease so you will see me sitting the next few shows till October is over. I wish I could thank everybody personally for the support over the years. It has been one heck of a ride ... we really appreciate you all and who knows we may get together sometimes just for fun ... thank you for everything. I promise you a list of members of our band over the years... so here it goes...
Orville (Snooky) Brown "sax" (original member ... before me)
Bob Elmore "keyboard" (original member ... before me)
"Bass Players"...
Willie Carnes (original member ... before me)
Keith Collins (for 38 years ... Keith sadly passed in 2020)
Rick Smith(currently Bass guitar ... coming up on 4 years now)
Logan... has learned the majority of our music and is helping is make it through October.
"Drummers"...
Bob Shambo (original member... before me)
Nick Bola
Anthony "Jay" Rivers
Danny Provost
Ray Ruffin
Keith Bushey(currently lights and drums ... 13+ years)
Rob Parent ... has learned the majority of our music and is helping is make it through October.
"Guitar Players"...
Joe LaBombard (original member ... before me)
Joe Holland(currently vocals and rythem guitar ... about 42 years)
Gene Palmer(currently sound and lead guitar and vocals ... about 22+ years)
Rick Strack
Trevor Gillespie
Aaron Martin
Gene Gilbert
Every time I wrote original member .... they are the ones who invited me to join the band.