Bobby Ruppe - Keyboards & Vocals
Bobby is a lifelong resident of Spartanburg and the senior member of the band. Bobby played in various bands through high school, many of which with Johnny Gooch. After finishing his hitch in the military in 1973 he started playing again. Along with Johnny Gooch he was a founding member of The Breakers in 1984. Although many years have passed he still plays a "mean" keyboard and has a "killer" upper register as heard on Ooo Baby Baby.
Johnny Gooch - Drums & Vocals
Johnny is a native of Spartanburg and began playing drums at age 14. Johnny first met Bobby Ruppe (keyboards) in his sophomore year of high school. They played together in several bands until being drafted by the military. After being discharged in 1974 they began playing again. In 1984 they left the band East Coast to form The Dynamic Breakers and remained together until New Years Eve 2000. Johnny put together a reunion gig for The Breakers in October 2005. Over the last 3 years Johnny has spoken to many fans that wish the band was still together. 2009 is the 'comeback' year for The Breakers. Johnny says the band is rejuvenated and Better Than Ever!!! Johnny plays a Palmetto custom made 4 piece drum set.
Palmetto Drum Company
Toby Morgan - Bass Guitar and Vocals
Toby was born in Spartanburg and grew up listening to his Dad play and sing on the front porch, where he developed a love for music and a desire to play bass guitar and sing. Thanks to a local guitar instructor, he soon got his wish. While in high school the band "Fresh" was born. After winning a local talent contest, the band earned the right to compete nationally but unfortunately the band broke up. After many years and several bands later he still has the same love for live music as when he heard his first "Train Song."
Toby Plays Ernie Ball Stingray 5 Bass Guitars
Toby also plays a Fender Precision Bass
Johnny Lathan - Lead Guitar
Johnny is another of the original members and returned to the band "for good" in January 2012. The guitar leads as heard on Let's Go Round Again, Take Out Some Insurance and other Breaker hits were played by Johnny. We are all excited to have Johnny back.
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Grier Franklin - Vocals
Grier is a native Morganton, NC and has been singing and performing professionally since the 1960's. Grier has performed with or had bands which have backed up many of the top names in R&B as well as Beach Music. From the early 90's till 2002 he was the lead singer with The Connection Band, a regionally successful Beach Band based out of Greensboro, NC. He joined Russ Gaffney who was a founding member of The Connection Band after leaving The Breakers in 1987. Grier is excited to be in The Breakers and back with Russ.
Russ Gaffney - Trumpet
Russ is a native of Spartanburg, but has lived in Greensboro, NC since 1985. He received a Bachelors in Music Education from Winthrop University in 1984 at which time he was asked to be a founding member of the Breakers. Russ moved to Greensboro in the summer of 1985 to pursue a Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance from UNCG. He played with the Breakers until 1987. In 1989 he formed The Connection Band with local keyboardist Tim Blair and were together till 2002. Since that time he has remained very active playing with several other Beach Bands including Big John Thompson & The Rhythm Brothers. Big John was former lead singer with both The Embers and The Band of Oz. Russ can be heard on numerous recordings and has either recorded with or backed up many artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Percy Sledge, Roy Roberts, Billy Scott, Craig Woolard, The Temptations and others.
Russ plays both a Holton ST302 MF horn with a .468 bore and a Mt. Vernon Bach Strad with a .462 bore. Russ uses both Schilke & Monnette mouthpieces.
Steve Cron - Tenor & Alto Sax
Steve is a native of Los Angeles, CA and today resides in Simpsonville, SC. His musical training has been mostly along jazz lines and he brings those inclinations to The Breakers. Steve's earliest idols were Paul Desmond and David Sanborn. He is also a big fan of Jazz heavyweights Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Wayne Shorter, Kenny Rollins and Miles Davis. In addition to playing with The Dynamic Breakers, Steve is also active with the Dale Burke quartet.
Steve plays on a Yamaha 875 Custom Tenor Sax with Peter Ponzol M2 Mouthpiece, .110 tip opening and Vandoren V16 reeds.
Brad Jepson- Trombone
A native of Kansas City, Brad has been playing since age 11 and is best known musically in both Jazz and Funk.Brad earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies as well as a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Brad moved to Greenville, SC in 2007 and has quickly made a name for himself in his own group The Brad Jepson Quintet and The Craig Sorrells Project. While the genre of Carolina Beach Music is relatively new, his combined knowledge of harmony, rhythm, jazz and funk make his sound perfect for The Breakers horn section.
