"Classic Rock & Original Music"
Copperopolis California's Homegrown Band of Talent.
Wayne Newnam, Piano,Organ & vocals
Norm Walton, Bass guitar & vocals
Ed Pendergrass, Drums & vocals
Wayne Newnam is a true “Okie”. Born in Modesto, raised in the small town of Sasakwa, Oklahoma. I started playing music at the age of 15, playing the Drums, Organ, Bass, and Acoustic Guitar. I was inspired by all of my Uncles whom were accomplished musicians. I was exposed to Blue grass, Hokum, and real “Country” music. We started a family band in the 70’s called Sasakwa Oklahoma Show Band. My father Paul and my mother Betty gave us our start, I thank them for whom I am today. My parents managed us for several years. I played piano, organ and sang lead vocals with my talented sister Amber, they say she was “Tanya Tucker II”. My other sisters, Kelly played drums, Crystal played bass and my younger brother Shawn sang back-up vocals. We have performed for and with a number of Country Artists e.g. Ronnie Milsap, Loretta Lynn, Boxcar Willie, Freddy Fender, Alabama, to name a few. In my high school days we listened to a lot of rock music. Boston, Eagles, Bad Company, Stevie Ray Vaughn, were some of my favorites, but we were a true country band. Our career lasted into the late 80’s when I retired and married my wife Suzanne, and raised our 2 boys Michael and Brandon. Now it is 2010! I’ve been playing off and on with my friends for several years, keeping up the voice and chops on the piano. One day a few months ago my friend Danny Burton mentioned he needed a piano man for some of his original tunes. We talked about our love for the Classic Rock Era….Thats when things started to click...Wow! What a dream, I get to play rock music from the 70’s and 80’s! I am in HOG heaven. I’ve know Danny since the 80’s but we never got to play in the same band. Hey, we’ve got some good original songs and did I say we play “Classic Rock”!! Who knows where it will go from here. All the guys in the band are great, and well accomplished musicians. Talk to you soon or See you at one of our concerts.
Danny Burton
Dan has been involved in music since he was 8; from playing in marching bands to
acting in musicals, to playing and fronting different musical acts. Dan has played in a
few different bands in the 70's - 90's. "Wild Turkey, Mean Streak, Just In Case, and
Unbridled" to name a few. The current band "Copper Holdings Company" was
Started by Dan a few years ago and has evolved into a four piece Classic Rock, R&B
band. Dan has recorded two CD's, "Profound" in 2008, and "Restitution Ridge"
in 2009. All of the music from the CD's were written, recorded and produced by
Dan Burton. You should see his living room, recorders, keyboards, amps and
alot of guitars. I swear he is obsessed with his collection of them, quite nice.
Dans favorite instrument is the guitar. He has worked long and hard to be the
player he is now. Hey who is writing this column! The songs that we play are
so much fun, I like that we all agree on what we play and the way the band is
sounding. Dan has accomplished other musical instruments, like the Piano,
Organ, Bass, Banjo, and Trumpet. (Haven't seen the Trumpet yet) Are you
Curious yet? Come out to one of our concerts, check out our Original songs
and Classic Rock!
Eddy Pedergrass is a pure drummer. Born in Burbank, California. His first conscience of music was listening to Swing and Big Band Jazz. At the age of four he heard his mother listening to her childhood idol Elvis Presley and was instantly hooked on the melodic, percussive and musical sounds a singing voice and drums could make. Ed began taking drum lessons at the age of six from a great jazz drummer Haskell "Hack" O'Brien, the father of the Mickey Mouse Club's Cubby O'Brien. Ed played in the Sequoia Jr. High and Simi Valley High School marching bands, orchestras, pep and jazz bands. Ed played in numerous country, jazz, gospel, rock and hardcore bands; The Kim Paul Band, Adam Drasin Band, Dripping Egg Yolks, to name a few. Eds influences range from Buddy Rich, Gene Crupa, Louie Belson and Ed Shawnessy, to Ronnie Tutt, Dennis St. John, Carl Palmer, Nigel Olsen, Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Keith Moone, Danny Seraphine, Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart and Mike Portney, the list goes on. Eds favorite singers include Elvis, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Sammy Davis Jr and several blues rock & roll and heavy metal artists. Ed has truly soaked up most everything he has heard and combined them into his own vocals and drumming style. Ed currently plays Tama drums with Zildjian and Sabian cymbals. Look for him on the back center stage hidden behind the cymbals and red drums!! Looking forward to seeing you at one of our events or concerts.
Norm Walton grew up in the San Francisco Bay area at a time that Rock music
was exploding. He has always had music in his blood.
old when
he got the music bug from listening to Santana’s performance at
Woodstock, and
he was hooked for life. That’s when he started playing the
drums and soon after
learned Guitar, Banjo and Bass. He spent much of the 70’s,
80’s and 90’s,
playing Drums, guitar and Bass in different bands playing Blues,
Southern Rock
and Rock music . Back in 2005 he was
approached by Dan
Burton after a jam session in a local watering hole, about
being involved in a new
Blues/Classic Rock band project called the Copper
Holdings Company in which
Norm would be second guitar. Norm accepted and played
guitar for the next 2 ½
years before switching to bass guitar. Norm is still
rockin it hard on Bass guitar
today, and loving every minute of it. Some of his
musical influences have been;
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana,
Gary Moore, Tommy
Shannon, John Enthwistle, Geddy Lee just to name a few. Norms not bad at the
barbeque either! Come Rock with us at a concert.
