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Cowboy Chris
DeClerk
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| Howdy! I’m Chris
DeClerk. I play lead and rhythm guitars for SoulBall. I am also responsible for the loud wailing, whining, and sleezy vocal work for the band. SoulBall first began as an acoustic trio, made up of now percussionist, Mike
Byrum, lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Lynch, and myself. We carried the same spirit and love for improvisational music that we do today, but felt like in order to fully reach the core of what SoulBall had to offer; we had to go fully electric. |
So, by throwing down our acoustics and gathering distortion, we formed the now electric band, SoulBall with our brothers Zac Wellman on electric bass, and Alex Lynch on the drum kit. With new energy and high hopes, we began banging heads together, creatively trying to write, develop, and morph new songs that would send our fans into ecstasy. I believe supplying our fans with original material that moves their souls is why SoulBall was formed. Whether it be that person in the back of the room nodding their head to the beat or a beautiful Blue Moon Dancer spinning in the crowd, I think SoulBall has a little to offer for everyone.
I began listening to music at the age of three or four years old and have been hooked ever since. My father first introduced me to piano when I was eight and started teaching me scales as I sat next to him. My father Bill was the real inspiration behind my musical upbringing. I can remember him playing in a local band with some buddies of his when I was young, so I was always around musical instruments as a child. I always had access whenever I wanted to his acoustic Yamaha guitar so I could practice chords, and from there I fell in love with the guitar. He bought me a small crate amp and a red and white Series 10 electric at the age of twelve and the loud music never stopped. Driving my family crazy I began crunching out old Randy Rhodes licks always trying to find more distortion. As my chops began to thicken, so did the inspiration. I then began to write music and create my own style of playing.
Chilly, (Chris Lynch), was really the person who taught me how to play. By watching what he could do with the six string, I realized that this is the guy who will creatively inspire me the most. Jamming together and most of all developing a friendship that can never be surpassed has held Chilly and I together all these years. I am very proud to be the guitarist who backs up that cat crying on the Les Paul now and consider myself very lucky to be playing beside one of the best guitarists I personally know.
All in all, we all contribute the same amount. SoulBall is a group where everybody can experiment openly with no strings attached. The music is what drives each of us to perform better and our souls are what keeps the ball a rollin. With that in mind, what better band could you ax fo.
Big Wooly
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| Mike
Byrum |
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| Mike Byrum was born September 23, 1974 in Norfolk, VA. Mike began playing piano and drums in the sixth grade. Mike performed in Elementary and High School orchestras and marching band until ninth grade when he decided to take a trip down a different road. After abandoning formal music instruction, Mike spent his time banging out rhythms in various local bands and improvisational weekend jams with friends and family. |
Mikes college years provided a much-needed break from the daily grind where there was plenty of time for music, parties and experimenting with different musical genres. It was in Mike's journey through college where he met guitar guru Chris Lynch. After several jams with Lynch and bass master Brooks Walthall, Marbles acoustic formed in Conway, AR with the addition of Chris Rose. Mike bought a conga drum on the way to his first Marbles gig and beat the hell out it after only expecting to play harmonica and percussion at a concert in Batesville, AR. Marbles ended after an interesting and blurry 18 months of good music and great times.
The music reunited when rumors of the arrival of Chris DeClerk materialized and bass player Zac Wellman was abducted from a separate project. Soul Ball was born and developed through the bloodshot eyes of Lynch and DeClerk at a favorite Little Rock club. Mike, Lynch and DeClerk played a few informal gigs and the band officially hit the road after incorporating Alex Lynch behind the set and Zac Wellman throwing down some bass lines. |
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Chris "Chilly Bones" Lynch
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| Chilly and Alex lived their formative years in the community know as
Harmony, in Randolph County Arkansas. Harmony is a real place, with a
spiritually musical atmoshpere, and it all began there. |
Chilly cut his guitar teeth on the music of the guitar masters. Sitting in
his room night and day, communicating only with his guitar, he learned that
songs are born not of hard work or money, but of inspiration. Grandbob is
the major influence in all of Chilly's and Alex's music. Not only did he
teach them to play their instruments, he fostered the type of home
environment that led to musical freedom and experimentation. A massively
talented songwriter, Grandbob took Chilly and Alex on their first musical
adventures as the band Harmony Road, and later Rude Mood.
Coming down from the hills, guitar in hand, woman in tow, and a ass pocket
of whisky, Chilly arrived in Central AR in 1994. Upon arrival, he searched
for musicians of kindred spirit, until he came across the man from Virginia,
Mike Byrum. These two went on to form Marbles with another friend and super
bassist, Brooks Walthall of Lo-Fi studios. Summoning the screaming banshee
from Pocahontas, Kris Rose, Marbles was born and the Arkansas River Valley
was never to be the same. Alas, all good things must someday end, and
Marbles was amicably disbanded. The music sat idle for a while, until Chris
Declerk, the Wooly Mammoth, rolled into town, proclaiming that the music
would be revived. Chilly and Declerk sat at the bar and demanded the public
be allowed to hear the music that was trapped in their heads. They needed a
name. Declerk's sharp eye's landed on a bottle of liquor behind the bar,and he shouted, "Soul Ball". (later it was investigated and found that the
bottle acutally said "Sour Ball" but by then it was too late.) Chilly and
Declerk grabbed Byrum, called up Chilly's maniac drummer brother Alex and
the President of Low-End, Zac. Thus Soul Ball was born. |
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| Alex
Lynch |
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Origins: unknown
Whereabouts: unknown
Conditions: frentic, rhythmical fever.
This guy is dangerous, wielding two double-bladed
drumsticks of fury. He is designed to permanently disrupt all lazy
or dorment grooves. Slice and Dice!!!!!!!!!
Recent Quotes: "Shama-shama-heeeedodododoo-shackylaka." |
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Zac
Wellman
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Having grown up in northeast Arkansas, on the edge of the delta, where
the good times come and go just like the weather, there always seem to be
some kind of little music scene. Whether it be a couple guys just playing
acoustics for a few people or a local band playing at Pocahontas' very own
BRTC. Don't think you couldn't find this old dog snooping around the scene
trying to stir up some of them sweet funky tunes. |
Heavily influenced by blues and good old rock and roll, Zac grabbed his father's old dusty guitar when he was a teenager and the rest was
history.
He started out playing music with a few high school friends. One who turned out to be Alex Lynch. The four piece band didn't last long. Zac
continued to play music with people here and there in little acoustic gigs. It is about this time when he started jamming with Chris
DeClerk. As 1997 ended, Zac was central Arkansas bound. He moved to Conway and
into a house with four other people who were already in a band. That band
just so happen to be Marbles. While working as soundman for the band, he
met a few people and got to know some local musicians. He later played in
another band for a short time by the name of Thomas H. Collins. Not being
able to find his groove or that creative flow that he was looking for, Zac
had to seek elsewhere for his musical fulfillment.
While all this was happening, Marbles had dismembered and Alex and Chris DeClerk had made their way into the area. It was all just a matter
of time before these excellent musicians all got together and started
making some of the finest music in Arkansas.
After all, when gets down to it, its all just about jamming.
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