SHEM CREEK BOOGIE BAND BIO
The Shem Creek Boogie Band began playing weekly Thursday night gigs in 1991 at the legendary Trawler Restaurant, situated along Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. Thus the name.
The band is comprised of John Vislocky on lead vocals, percussion and trumpet, Herb Stokes on guitar and backing vocals, John Sullivan on bass and vocals, Bruce Szego on drums and vocals and Allan Friedberg on keyboard and backing vocals.
Sullivan and Stokes are longtime veterans of the Lowcountry music scene. They’ve recorded, performed, and composed music together on various bands over the years, including Second Wind and Barnacle Bob. Their broad repertoire of classic rock, blues, soul, country, and pop standards reflects their vast experience as pro musicians. Sullivan acts as the Shem Creek band’s booking manager as well.
Frontman John Vislocky knows how to light up the crowd. Based in John’s Island, he is a fairly recent Charleston transplant, with most of his playing time centered around Northern New Jersey playing at weddings and corporate functions. John’s amazing tenor voice was also featured as lead vocalist in Jersey Transit Authority, a great Chicago tribute band.
John Sullivan
In recent years, the SCBB lineup has featured vocalist extraordinaire Jennifer Proveaux, drummer Frank Cothran, guitarist/saxophonist Christopher Cisneros, keyboardist Larry “Sugarbritches” Williams, and Ballard Lessman on drums among other special guests.
Herb Stokes
Bruce Szego is a longtime musician in the Lowcountry band scene (with Cruis-o-matic and other acts), Szego can handle the drum kit, a battery of hand percussion instruments, piano, and keys — and he sings very well, too!
Allan Friedberg, another Northeast transplant, plays keyboards. He has had extensive experience playing the Metropolitan NYC area “club date scene” with thousands of weddings and corporate events under his belt. In the last 5 years since coming to Charleston, he’s played with many great local bands. He is mostly self taught, but was trained in orchestration and music performance at the prestigious Aaron Copeland School of Music in New York City.
Theses days, as a tight-knit quintet, the Shem Creek band provides a full entertainment experience at shows and events.
When the band takes a break, we can offer pre-recorded music, or stream whatever style fits your party best!
We can also offer music for cocktail hours, ceremonies or somber occasions.
Just let us know your preferences and we’ll make sure your party is everything you always dreamed of.
