KD Groove Alliance

Groove - noun - /ɡruːv/
The sense of propulsive rhythmic "feel" or sense of "swing" created by the interaction of the music played by a band's rhythm section.

Alliance - noun - /əˈlaɪ.əns/
A close relationship among people who have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common objective.

KD Groove Alliance is a 7-piece soulful, bluesy rock band from Asheville, NC. The band was formed in 2022 by Kevin Dolan with a desire to create great original music.  The band members have known each other for years through various musical projects in the Western NC area.

Their unique brand of music fuses groove and musicianship with heartfelt, and sometimes humorous lyrics, to create a sound that will make you want to tap your feet.

Kevin Dolan
Lead Vocals,
Keyboards,
Guitar

Kevin is a singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Having celebrated several years as a touring professional musician and session work, he moved into directing other musical groups as well as releasing his own original music.

Today you will find Kevin busy recording, engineering and producing at Shake Rag Recording for musicians of all genres.

Dave Eske
Lead Guitar,
Vocals

A recent transplant to WNC, Dave has performed in numerous bands from California, Delaware, and Maryland, playing keyboards and guitar in Child, Avalanche, Slicknickle, Shaker, Risqué, and Terra Fermata.

In addition to songwriting, Dave has worked as a theatre technical director, lighting and set designer, sound engineer, and fine woodworking craftsman. He is pleased to be creating new music with the fine musicians in the KD Groove Alliance.

Dan Charlson
Bass Guitar,
Vocals

Dan learned how to play the bass as part of a trio accompanying his high school’s choral jazz group in northern Minnesota. He dabbled with the school’s 4-track recording deck at the time, but fortunately those tapes are lost to the ages.

When not working or playing music, Dan spends time fixing broken classic BMWs.

Sam Vulopas
Drums,
Vocals

Sam has had a love of music since his childhood, growing up in a household where the stereo or radio was always playing. He started playing drums in 1968 on a Sears Blue Sparkle drum set, and has never stopped. Thankfully, his drum equipment has gotten better. He grew up in the most fertile, innovative and creative era in rock history, and has played everything from progressive rock to classic rock to blues, constantly striving to improve.

After living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Oregon and Eastern North Carolina, Sam and his wife El found a new life in Asheville, moving to the area in 2017.

The Slappy Hines Horns
Slappy Hines (aka Sloan Hill) (Center)
Trumpet

Slappy Hines is a resident of Kingsport, Tennessee.  After attending college at Tennessee Tech University, Hill joined the US Air Force as a trumpeter.  He served nine years in that capacity, being stationed at Robbins Air Base, Georgia, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany. After having his fill of life on the road, Hill took a position as Staff Arranger back at Robbins Air Base.

Now retired after a career in the IT industry, Sloan spends his days writing, recording, and arranging under his stage name Slappy Hines. He has also transcribed and arranged the music for the Jonesboro Repertory Theater's annual USO Radio Show for the past ten years, preserving over 150 WWII era recordings in written form, many long out of publication.  His  works, both originals and arrangements, are published at JW Pepper, Sheet Music Plus, and Sheet Music Direct.

Hill also plays in numerous ensembles throughout the Tri-Cities, including The Diamonds and the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra.  Look for Hill's music on Spotify, YouTube, and numerous other streaming services under the name Slappy Hines!

Stacia Howard (Left)
Saxophone

Stacia has been playing the saxophone since she was 10 years old and has accumulated a collection of over 20 saxophones, including a bass and multiple saxophones keyed in F and C. She is a retired music educator who also has a great affection for dachshunds. She’s grateful to play with the Slappy Hines Horn Section.

Logan Childress (Right)
Saxophone

Born and raised in Bristol, VA, Logan is a former music educator now working in IT for public education. He is an avid performer, adjudicator, clinician, and producer for groups around the Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee region. If you can't easily spot him, just look for the guy in the cat shirt.