Bebop Beatniks is a jazz trio from Jonesboro, Arkansas. We play standards and originals and also put on shows as Bebop Beatniks and Friends with guest musicians and spoken word over jazz.
Kevin Tinker - trumpet
Kevin became serious about music while attending high school in Dallas, where he played in the Texas All State Bands. Buddy Deshler, his first trumpet teacher and his mentor, pushed Kevin to take part in auditions including College Honor Bands.
Kevin is currently pursuing a degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro where he studies jazz with Dr. Ken Carroll. He has been a member of the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra. Kevin will graduate with a BME in 2017.
He is influenced by the work of James Morrison, Australian trumpet player, multi instrumentalist, and composer. Other influences are Arturo Sandoval, Miles Davis, and John Mayer.
One of the things he will never forget is playing with Big Sam’s Funky Nation as an opening act for REO Speedwagon.
Kevin is currently performing with Bebop Beatniks and Don Bowyer's Little Latin Jazz Band.
His dark tone and amazing technique make him someone to watch in the jazz trumpet world. Most importantly he's got the groove, he doesn't just deliver the music, he dishes it out on a platter!
Paul Nunis - bass
Paul is a 4th generation musician from Memphis. He plays a variety of stringed instruments, and enjoys all styles of music.
As a solo artist, he performed from Virginia to Florida at festivals and other venues for over 20 years.
While living in the Hampton Roads area, Paul played bass for local favorites The Boardwalk Crew, featuring a blend of soul and danceable pop music that accompanies what is known as ‘shag dancing’ in the Mid-Atlantic region.
While in Norfolk, he worked at the folk mecca, Ramblin’ Conrads, getting to meet and play with well known acoustic artists including Roy Book Binder, Andy Cohen, and Dan Crary as they visited the shop. He was fortunate enough to have learned from Victor Wooten, Jae Sinnet, John D’Earth and other talented jazz musicians from Virginia, at workshops and jam sessions.
Moving back to Memphis in 2002, Paul opened and managed Fiddler’s Green music store, another acoustic center where great players Eric Lewis and Randal Morton were on staff as instructors.
A Jonesboro resident for several years, Paul has played regularly at local venues, and is currently dividing his time between the acoustic duo, Delta Blues Aces, on guitar and vocals, and the jazz trio, Bebop Beatniks, on bass.
Paul plays bass lines that add a melodic bottom end to the band's performances. His ability to bring the pulse of the song to the forefront has made him an excellent soloist while his keen ear lets him blend seamlessly into the music.
Hairy Larry - piano
Hairy Larry is a musician, songwriter, producer, and promoter. He has been playing music in Northeast Arkansas for over 30 years. He is currently playing piano in a jazz trio, Bebop Beatniks.
He is the host of Something Blue on KASU, an NPR affiliate. Many Something Blue shows can be heard as podcasts at sbblues.com. Something Blue is broadcast on the internet at kasu.org Saturday nights at 10:00 PM CST.
Larry is a retired computer consultant and is back in school studying music composition at Arkansas State University. He has written hundreds of songs including the early internet hit, "Love Stuff" and a YouTube favorite, "Won't Be Down Always".
Hairy Larry has promoted area musicians by putting on festivals and other live music events including Blues Fest, Sunday In The Park, Bebopalooza!, and Jazz Thursday. He owns HairyLarryLand, a recording studio and indie label. HairyLarryLand CDs can be heard at hairylarryland.com. Larry is an active concert taper and has posted many recordings to the Live Music Archive at archive.org.
He is webmaster at Delta Boogie and the Delta Boogie Network at deltaboogie.com and deltaboogie.net. You can also find him on Facebook or email him at hairylarry@deltaboogie.com.
