Who’s Drivin’ Band Returns to Lovefest
By Sarah Naron
Messenger Reporter
LOVELADY – Entertainment during the 36th annual Lovefest dance, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9 from 7 p.m. to midnight, will be provided by the Who’s Drivin’ band, a musical ensemble composed of four members, three of which hail from Lovelady.
The band consists of Buford Snowden of Apple Springs, bass guitarist Stacy Murray, Johnny Ramirez of Lovelady and rhythm guitarist Jeffery Bankston of Lovelady.
“Me and Buford do almost all the singing, so we pretty much have two lead singers,” explained Bankston in a phone interview Monday. “We just switch back and forth. He likes to say I’m the lead singer, and I like to point my finger toward him also.”
According to Bankston, the band primarily covers country music from the 90s, as well as newer Texas country.
“We do a little bit of rock, just depending on what the crowd gets into,” he said.
Bankston explained that the band, which has been together in its present form for “a couple years,” has a long history.
“Stacy and Buford and Johnny – they go on back 25 years or so, but had split up; quit playing for some time,” he said. “We regrouped a few years ago and played in a different band, and then, we regrouped again to what we call Who’s Drivin’.”
Bankston said Snowden is the one who suggested the group’s newest moniker.
“There was another group that was called that back in the day,” he said. “Stacy knew the people, and he called and got an okay if we could take the name over, and they were glad to give it up. They hadn’t played together in years.”
Bankston said the group is “very excited” to perform during the dance, an event for which he has provided entertainment for with other bands in addition to Who’s Drivin’.
“We had a group called Loose Gravel, and we started off playing it and did it three or four years,” he explained. “Then, I was in a group called Firecrackers, and we played it.”
Bankston said this will be the second year to appear at the dance.
Sarah Naron may be reached via email at [email protected].
