THE COMINGS AND GOINGS
JOHN MAYEUX (guitarist-vocalist) has been performing locally in the Tampa Bay area for more than 25 years. Primarily a solo act these days, he holds the guitar chair in several bands including Allon Sams & Friends, Double Vision, and the Ever Afters.
Kokomos, the pool resturaunt and bar at the Marriott Suites Resort on Sand Key has been home for almost 10 years. Here, John sings a variety of music for people from around the world. The setting is picture-postcard perfect.
In September of 2005 John began performing at Pelagia Trattoria in the Rennaissance Tampa Hotel, International Plaza. Chef Fabrizio Schenardi's critically acclaimed cuisine is served in a Meditterainian style atmosphere. Smooth Jazz is served up Thursday and Friday nights - six to ten.
Allon Sams & Friends is Tampa Bays' premier Smooth Jazz band. For nearly ten years John has proudly been a member and friend. In 2004 they opened the 25th Annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday.
Originally from Oklahoma, John got his start playing the great rock and soul music of the late 1960's in high school bands that included his older brother, Ed. Managed by thier father, Ed, Sr. they had a steady circuit of teen clubs at four area military bases. Eventually graduating to NCO and Airmen's clubs, they made thier way up to the Officer's Clubs.
Along the way, John played in Medicine Park featuring Phil Sampson and Fat Chance which included Oklahoma City's legendary saxman, Larry Hollis. After graduating from the University of Okalhoma in 1979 - where he'd been turned on to Miles Davis and his alumni - he made his move to the Sunshine State.
His first band in Florida was Sideshow. By 1985, John formed a band with the Chase Brothers, Jerry and Mark from Memphis, Tenn. Mayeux & Chase left thier mark before disbanding in 1990. In the early nineties John began a duo called Topspin with good friend, Michael Schomers.
Over the years, John has performed with opening groups for George Benson,The Average White Band, Rick Braun, Peter White, Gatemouth Brown, Regina Belle, The Four Tops, Tommy James and the Shondells, Kansas and Jerry Lee Lewis.
These days, he plays live and studio dates and is currently working on his first CD for Sound Town Records. It will be a collection of original instrumentals. 'Sandance', the song that appears here, is slated as Song One.