Mike Huckabee - Bass;
Aaron Black - Vocals;
Marynell Branch - Keys;
Gordon Caffey - Lead Guitar, Vocals;
Rick Calhoun - Guitar, Vocals;
Teri Cox - Vocals;
Chris Pyle - Drums;
Steve Pyle - Vocals;
Shortly after becoming Governor of Arkansas in 1996, Gov. Mike Huckabee and staff members DeWayne Hayes and Chris Pyle were discussing their love of music and, specifically, classic rock-n-roll. After learning that they each played different musical instruments, they decided to get together for a jam session in the basement of the Governor’s Mansion.
With Huckabee on the bass guitar, Hayes on lead and Pyle on drums, the trio recruited Rick Calhoun, an investment banker from Little Rock, to play rhythm guitar, and fellow staffer Mike Perkins to sing, and Capitol Offense was born.
The band’s name reflected the fact that most members were governor’s staffers who worked in the State Capitol and, as Huckabee often says, “before the end of the night, we will have offended just about everybody.”
The basement of the Governor’s Mansion was converted into a makeshift studio where the band would play, often times late into the night – that is until First Lady, Janet Huckabee, decided she wanted her house back.
The band’s first gig was for a staff Christmas party on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. Staff members gave endorsements such as, “Wow, you guys aren’t as bad as we thought you would be.”
From those humble beginnings, Capitol Offense went on to be invited to open for such acts as Grand Funk Railroad, The Charlie Daniels Band, Willie Nelson, Percy Sledge and .38 Special and have played at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, CO, the House of Blues in New Orleans, the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR, and Delta Fest in Ferriday, LA.
Today, the band is made up of original members Mike Huckabee (bass), Chris Pyle (drums), Rick Calhoun (rhythm guitar), as well as Gordon Caffey (lead guitar), Marynell Branch (keyboard), Teri Cox (vocals), Steve Pyle (vocals) and Aaron Black (vocals).
The band’s set list contains songs such as Born to Be Wild, Fortunate Son, Jailhouse Rock, Freebird, Twist and Shout, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Dock of the Bay, Brown Eyed Girl, Taking Care of Business, Beautiful Tonight, Honky Tonk Woman, Joy to the World, Roll Over Beethoven, House of the Rising Sun, and many others.
It's an honor to be apart of this entourage on myspace! Mike Huckabee should be President and we would all be invited to play at Huckfest!! Oh well It's a thought. peace, Jerad
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