Home

Schedule

Band Bios

Pics & Video

Song List & Samples

Contact Us

Table Songs

Jack Kuhn

Drums, Vocals, Cow bell

Jack was born not far from the "Motor City", Detroit Michigan, the home of Motown, (which might explain his love of music) and moved to NJ with his family when he was five.   When Jack was in fourth grade he decided he wanted to play trumpet.  The band teacher was so disappointed with his dedication or lack of, to the instrument that he actually told Jack's parents, “Your child has absolutely no musical ability at all”.  If that teacher could see him now!  Truth be told, Jack spent more time making duck calls with his trumpet mouthpiece chasing his dog around the house than he did practicing for real.  This wasn't the time for his musical side to show itself.

The age of 12 is where his musical inspiration began when he stopped by a friend's house.  Down in the basement was a drum kit.  He took a seat, started to play, and from that day forward he never stopped.  Jack was intrigued by the music of his friend's older brothers, so he borrowed the albums (yes those big black round plastic things) and started to listen.  They were artists like, Eric Clapton, Cream, Santana, Led Zeppelin, and The Who. Classic rock! Who knew?!  

As Jack's passion of music continued to grow, he spent several years  taking lessons and studying with various local drum instructors and world renowned player and teacher Sonny Igoe.  Sonny’s influence on Jack was huge, and he credits Mr. Igoe for his level of ability and musicianship today.

In his late teens and early twenties he was primarily playing and co-writing music in original bands like Tight Squeeze and Overture.  They worked the local original music bar circuit in NJ.  The Overture Band had a record deal that was funded in full and was released in Tower Records, Sam Goody etc.  At that time “grunge” was just starting to peak and sadly Overture's progressive hard rock style was about as contemporary as the Model T Ford.  As you can imagine Overture's success lasted... ohhhh at least five minutes. 

Shortly after, Jack did a musical 180-degree turn and acquired the drum chair in the Al Lani Orchestra, which was a big band, swing orchestra.  For quite a few years he enjoyed the challenge of reading charts and playing that style of music.  For a short time they were the house band for the old (former) WNEW AM radio station.  Yes boys and girls, believe it or not, they actually played music on AM radio!
 

Over the years, Jack has been fortunate enough to have shared the stage or recorded with such notables as Elliot Easton of the Cars, Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge, Jason Newstead of Metallica, blues sax man A C Reed and Lou Paolo of the Les Paul Trio.

Jack and Capt. Mike met through a mutual musician friend in early nineties when Jack was asked to sub in Mike’s wedding band the Vanguards.  At that time Jack was playing wherever and whenever he could working in 3 different bands.  Mike’s drummer decided to leave the band and Jack was asked to become a permanent member.  Jack and Mike spent the next few years playing literally hundreds and hundreds of weddings.  Eventually, the Vanguards took some needed time off and Jack went back to his Motown roots to form a 7-piece R&B band known as “The Jack Kuhn Band”.  After some changes with band members (like 100 bass players) Jack persuaded Mike to join the band.  This collaboration eventually led to formation of “Captain Mike and the Flamethrowers”.

It has been 30 years since that time in his friend’s basement and Jack has enjoyed every musical experience and has come full circle back to his classic rock roots.

In August of 2007, Jack entered and won the NYC radio giant Q104.3's contest, "Live The Dream" and was rewarded with entry in the "Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp"!  A short, 13 second video clip of Jack playing with the Flamethrowers Blues Band won him the dream of his lifetime... to share a stage with, and mingle with some of the biggest names in music history.  Way to go Jack!!!