Band of Oz

Carolina Beach Music Band

Raleigh, NC, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info
Entertainment, Music
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Band of Oz Biography

Band of Oz are one of the longest-running bands on the East Coast beach music scene, with four decades under their belt and counting in the late 2000s. One of the secrets to their longevity is the constant influx of new members who have kept their sound fresh across the decades -- and the presence of members whose writing abilities have allowed Band of Oz to significantly augment the covers that fill much of the repertoire of beach music. The group was formed as the Avengers in Grifton, NC, in 1967 by a bunch of friends in elementary and junior high school. With Johnny Byrd (bass), Buddy Johnson (vocals), and Keith Houston (guitar) at its core, the group was oriented toward R&B and proved popular among local school-age audiences. They got the occasional club date as well, and did well enough to add Freddy Tripp -- later of The Embers -- and Jimmy Smith on horns, greatly extending their range and repertoire. By 1970, they'd dropped the Avengers name in favor of Band of Oz, around the same time that Chuck French joined on trumpet.

By then, beach music was starting to get noticed nationally -- one rival band, Bill Deal & the Rhondells, had even managed to chart a brace of singles -- and Band of Oz, working the Southeast from the Carolinas to Florida, were part of that same wave. They were still a semi-professional outfit, working part-time, but in 1976 the band -- by this time including Billy Bazemore (vocals), Chuck French (trumpet, vocals), Tripp, Bob Lynch (sax), Ronnie Forbes (keyboards), Shep Fields (bass), Houston, and David Hicks (drums) -- turned into a full-time professional band. Their first single, "Shaggin'," written by Bazemore and Houston, was released in 1978, and got them extensive local airplay. French wrote their second single, "Star of My Life," the following year.

Bassist/vocalist John Thompson and sax player Butch Barnes joined in 1980. Two years later, the group's fourth single, "Ocean Boulevard" -- co-written and produced by no less a figure than General Johnson-- got them new exposure on the beach music scene, and led to the recording of the group's first album. Keep Keepin' It Up (Surfside). More personnel shifts followed, with David Franks coming in on keyboards. Barnes and Bazemore departed in the mid-'80s, before the band cut its second album, One More Step, but Barnes was back in 1991. A third album, Let It Roll, containing the song "Shama Lama Ding Dong," came out in 1995 -- that single became the People's Choice Song of the Year at the Cammy Awards.

In the years that followed, John Thompson ceased playing with the group in concert and was replaced, initially by Jerry West (who later switched to guitar) and then Rick Strickland, who lasted long enough to contribute to a new album, Dancing in the Streets. David Franks returned on keyboards, and another album, Over the Rainbow, followed in 2003. That same year, Band of Oz put together their first compilation, Early Years, featuring 13 songs dating from their late-'70s and early-'80s history, remastered and remixed. Barnes' exit in 2005 precipitated more changes, with Scott Fine (trombone, vocals), Tim Morris (trumpet, vocals), and Daniel Morris (saxophone, vocals) joining. Co-founder Houston and longtime drummer Hicks were still leading the band, which was still working over 200 days a year as of 2009.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Band of Oz and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Band of Oz

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/14/2025.
See All Videos »

  • How do I book Band of Oz to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Band of Oz for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Band of Oz, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Band of Oz or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Band of Oz

    Speaking fees for Band of Oz, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Band of Oz are under $10,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Band of Oz, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Band of Oz speak about?

    Band of Oz is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainment, Music

  • Where does Band of Oz travel from?

    Band of Oz generally travels from Raleigh, NC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Band of Oz’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Band of Oz for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Band of Oz for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Band of Oz or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Band of Oz is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Band of Oz for your event is available upon request. Band of Oz generally travels from Raleigh, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Laundry Day, Spazmatics, The Georgia Satellites, EagleMania and Tom Rush. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Band of Oz for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Band of Oz

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Band of Oz or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP