Birth of a Band.....

Skip and JuneBack around 2001, JD Snyder was performing around the various clubs on Long Island Sound as a solo acoustic guitarist when his buddy Kingsley McAlpine decided to renew his lost interest in playing the bass guitar. After several successful gigs as a duo, Wayne Nelson approached them with an interest in joining on as a drummer. After their first gig at Skip's Harbor Hut on Aug 31, their friend George Dulin provided the now legendary band name: The Penfield Reefers.
 
Hey, we figured since Jimmy Buffett had the Coral Reefers and that we were all boaters, who had polished our propellers on Penfield Reef once or twice, that the name would be quite appropriate.
 
Well, a lot of guys have come and gone within the band lineup since that night at Skip's. Wayne hooked up with a woman and thus lost all interest in music (yoko?). That opened the floodgate as we've had over a dozen different drummers over the years.
 
Skip's Harbor Hut circa 1998The band added a substitute bass player who evolved into our keyboardist a few years back. Shortly thereafter, the keyboard position was upgraded with the addition of Dan, who stayed on with the band until 2010.
 
The Reefers are currently operating as a twin guitar, bass and drums configuration with the addition of our substitute player, Eddie Chervansky as a premanent Reefer. We occasionally perform as a 5-piece with the addition of
T-Bone Stone on keyboards.
 
Pictured right:Skip and June of the Harbor Hut on top, and King and JD at the Hut back in 1999 or so on the bottom

The Band


BAND MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES - Find out who these clowns are by clicking here

PENFIELD REEFERS ALUMNI - See the gallery of past members and subs here

TOP 10 REASONS THAT SHOULD GET YOU FIRED FROM THE REEFERS Click

TOP FIVE GOOFIEST MOMENTS IN PENFIELD REEFER HISTORY - More often times than not, it's the audience that provides the most memorable moments on any given night during a Reefer's show. Here are a few of those stories.
TALES FROM THE ROAD: You can view even more of these types of stories at JD's solo site by clicking here.