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"Smokin' Joe" Thunder aka Joe Norman, was born in Beaumont Texas, the land of the legendary Johnny and Edgar Winters.



Joe grew up in Lufkin and Nacogdoches, two towns in East Texas that are separated by the Angelina River, where he would go to hear Johnny play, "across the river".



The guitar licks he heard burned in his soul, laying the foundation and influencing the musical direction he would go.


Anyone who knows Joe, will agree that what you see is what you get.



He rarely meets a person he doesn't like and while he appreciates the many genres of music, his own music expresses the influences that the classic rock and southern blues music he listened to growing up in East Texas, had on him.



His voice has a resonance and power that is as strong as Joe's love of life and whether he is singing, speaking or laughing, once you hear his voice, you always know it. To sum it up: BIG voice, BIG heart, BIG sound, BIG talent!



Joe paints a lyrical masterpiece in every song he writes and composes and arranges his own music.



He is a perfectionist when it comes to his music with meticulous detail concerning every word in the lyrics, every note, every sound or effect that goes into every song he records.



He will put more hours into recording one song than a lot of bands put into recording a whole cd..... it takes him many hours to get one song exactly the way he "hears" it.



Although FIRE 'N ICE and BORN IN THE COUNTRY are included for play, they have not had a final mix yet, so please keep that in mind if you give them a listen. His 10 song BANG BANG project is in the process of being recorded and there are 10 more songs already written for a follow up CD some of which are as comedic as they are smokin'.



The current title cut, BANG BANG addresses Joe's particularly "southern man" view of the threat of the loss of our rights as Americans, to own land, to bear arms, and to fly the historical stars n' bars that many of our southern forefathers and brothers died under.



Joe's arrangements are geared toward showcasing the talented guitarists that are among his band of talented 'no good frens'.



As musicians these no good frens are anything BUT 'no good'. The result is original badass southern rock that appeals to lovers of Texas rock and blues.



Dearl Guest, Josh Pinkham, Richard Redfearn and Bum White are some of the hottest players in the northeast corner of Texas. We are primarily and foremost a guitar show band featuring the deadly duo, the guitar maniacs, Dearl Guest and Josh Pinkham.



Josh is a true prodigy and a natural performer. Words cannot describe the power and creativity by which he plays.



Dearl Guest is a master of his craft and an accomplished guitar instructor. Having dedicated his life to guitar, he plays with great passion and fire, that can only be understood when you hear him.



Both Dearl Guest and Josh Pinkham were born to play guitar and will put on a guitar show that will "rock the freckles off a red headed kid"!



*Bum White of Atlanta Texas, is a powerhouse metal drummer, yet can adapt to any style that it takes to get the job done and is a double kick drum monster. His roots have run deep through solid rock and grabbed metal. He is an absolute powerhouse.



*Richard Redfern of Texarkana Texas, a drivin' jammin' madman on bass who incorporates melodies and harmonies as he is actually a rock guitarist and an "in the pocket gonna crack your skull open" bassist.



To quote Joe, "I do the writing, arranging, vocals and play the acoustic electric guitar. My name is Joe and I’m an East Texas Country Boy...... But you can call me Mr. Thunder".