Players

Joe LaSorte
Joe LaSorte (guitar) is one of the premier blues guitarists in the mid-Atlantic region. He picked up his first guitar at age 11, and quickly progressed to playing with various east coast cover bands and blues outfits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. For most of the 1990s Joe lived in Chicago, where he was the lead guitar player for Chicago blues phenomonen Sam Cockrell, and played onstage with such blues heavyweights as Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, and Big Time Sarah. Moving back to Delaware in 1999, Joe played with Dr. Harmonica and Rockett 88 and Lonnie Shields before becoming a founding member of the Roger Girke Band. He co-produced and wrote several songs for Girke’s award winning CD “My Baby Loves That Stuff.” Joe’s tasteful and unique guitar style blends the blues with elements of soul and jazz, and is heavily influenced by such masters as Albert King, BB King, Jeff Beck, Robben Ford, and Larry Carlton.

Lin Doughten

Lin Doughten (guitar and vocals) comes from a family of musicians that span five generations. The jazz, blues, soul and rock that he grew up on strongly influence his fluid guitar style. His “less is more” approach is out of respect for the blues guitar masters he admires. Lin has been a staple on the Delaware/Maryland club circuit for over twenty-five years as a member of bands such as Freedom, Alibi, Backstage Pass, Nozmo King, Fatback Blues and the Shakers. He has backed up and opened shows for international blues and soul recording artists Johnny Rawls and Sidney “Guitar Crusher” Selby.

Johnny Hedges

Johnny Hedges (bass and vocals) lays down the bottom line for the Teletones groove and adds soulful tenor vocals to the top. Johnny has played many styles of music but he started with the blues and returned to his roots in the Teletones. He has worked the Mid-Atlantic region with many bands over several decades, including One Way Express, Angelfood, Jack of Diamonds, Harry Hess & the Hurricanes, Larry Tucker and the Dominoes, The Crawdads, Leroy Hawkes & the Hipnotics, and Grammy-nominated vocal duo Peaches and Herb. Simply solid and tasty with a full punchy sound is the way he likes to play bass, citing James Jamerson as one of his main influences. His favorite singers include Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, B. B. King and many more from the same mold.

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Michael “SPIKE” Bryant began drumming at the age of 6. Like many others he started out on the “Pots and Pans” and later moved on to the traditional drum set. He is a self taught drummer who learned to read music at age 12. Throughout his entire school education he played in several music ensembles from Concert and Jazz band to Wind Ensemble and Orchestras. He is also a classically trained Percussionist with a Bachelors of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches Texas. After coming to Delaware in the summer of 1994 he continued playing with many different musical groups, eventually meeting current band mate Lin Doughten. Over the years in Delaware Michael held the drum throne for the Fazes, JT JAGG, Smooth Play, Trailer Park Casanovas, Whoozerdaddy, Mari Hill Band, Dr Harmonica/Rockett 88, and Bad JUJU. With over 25 years of teaching experience, he is also the Percussion/drums instructor at Earle Teat Music in Dover, Delaware. Michael joined the Teletones in January of 2018.