Sandra Wright began singing at age four and continued through school and church, eventually training to be an Opera singer at Tennessee State University. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Sandra remembers the blues and barbeque of Beale Street; her first cousin was Blues legend Memphis Slim. While attending TSU, Sandra was encouraged to enter a talent contest by fellow student "Sweet" Charles Sherrelle (James Brown's Bandleader) and won singing Rhythm and Blues. After college Sandra hit the road with the Canned Souls and in 1974, Sandra recorded an album for Stax / Truth records, Wounded Woman. After Stax was lost to the IRS, Sandra sang at the New Modern Era club in Nashville for 17 years. It is there that B-3 master Moe Denham found her and she joined him and future SWB drummer Lloyd Herrman in a local band called Bordello. Sandra next joined Moe and Lloyd in Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's band touring the US and Canada. In late 1989, she returned to Nashville and with Moe, John, Lloyd and guitarist Pete Marriott, started the Sandra Wright Band. Sandra and the band moved to Vermont in 1992.
Bassist and SWB founding member John Harris is a native of New Mexico. He grew up in the town of Clovis, and was playing the bass and gigging in local clubs by the age of fourteen. Early in his music career, John played trumpet on Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireball's record, "Bottle of Wine." Soon he headed to Albuquerque and joined the Planets, a regional rock and roll band. After touring the Southwest, John returned to the Albuquerque / Sante Fe area, playing the regional club scene. John moved east to Nashville, TN, and soon he was playing on recording sessions and touring with Jerry Reed, Daniel Alexander, and Johnny Russell, even appearing on the Grand Ole Opry. After a tour of Europe with Delbert McClinton, John returned to Norway and was on the road with Artie Benoni when he received the call on the tour bus to come back and play with Sandra. For more information about John you can check out his Hexbass page.
Guitar player and vocalist Dave Nerbak was playing part time with the SWB in the last century, and became a full time member as the clock rolled into the year 2000. Originally from Hackettstown, NJ, Dave also started playing at a young age. By his high school years, Dave was playing in bands, sometimes with brother Matt on the drums, and occasionally his father Ken on bass. He received a degree in music from the Berklee School of Music, graduating in 1983. In 1985 Dave Moved to Vermont, and began performing with local favorites, the Sportin' Johnsons. Before joining the SWB, Dave played with local soul singer, Tammy Fletcher, opening shows for Taj Mahal, Leon Russell, and Buddy Guy. For the past five years, Dave has hosted a regular Blues Jam in Burlington, VT, sharing the stage with Emilou Harris, the Charlie Daniels Band and the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Like brother Dave, drummer and vocalist Matthew Nerbak is originally from the state of New Jersey, and has been playing the drums for over 25 years. During those years he played in the junior high and high school bands as well as being a member of a few garage bands. After high school he attended Berklee School of Music from 1982 till 1985. Since then he has been playing the drums professionally, playing or sharing the stage with the likes of Greg Howe, Jimmy Brown, Bloozotomy, Joe Banhamassa, NRBQ and his own band the Nerbak Brothers. Currently he is enjoying the SWB's soulful approach to R & B.
Keyboardist/Composer Michael Sucher hails from the Washington, D.C. area, and has worked extensively the along the East Coast, playing jazz, R&B and pop for over twenty years. His experience includes nightclub, concert and television appearances as well as session work. Michael worked frequently with saxophonist Tim Eyermann and guitarist Tom Principato, and has appeared with many D.C. area notables including the late great guitarist Danny Gatton. He appears on the recently released Blazing Telecasters DVD, featuring Principato and Gatton. Michael began working with the SWB after moving to Vermont in the fall of 1996. For more about Michael, please visit his website.
Sandra Wright
began singing at age four and continued through school
and church, eventually training to be an Opera singer at Tennessee
State University. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Sandra
remembers the blues and barbeque of Beale Street; her first cousin was
Blues legend Memphis Slim. While attending TSU, Sandra was
encouraged to enter a talent contest by fellow student
"Sweet" Charles Sherrelle (James Brown's Bandleader) and won
singing Rhythm and Blues. After college Sandra hit the road with
the Canned Souls and in 1974, Sandra recorded an album for Stax / Truth
records, 
Bassist and SWB founding member
John Harris is
a native of New Mexico. He grew up in the town of Clovis,
and was playing the bass and gigging in local clubs by the age of
fourteen. Early in his music career, John played trumpet on
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireball's record, "Bottle of
Wine." Soon he headed to Albuquerque and joined the
Planets, a regional rock and roll band. After touring the
Southwest, John returned to the Albuquerque / Sante Fe area, playing
the regional club scene. John moved east to Nashville, TN,
and soon he was playing on recording sessions and touring with Jerry
Reed, Daniel Alexander, and Johnny Russell, even appearing on the
Grand Ole Opry. After a tour of Europe with Delbert McClinton,
John returned to Norway and was on the road with Artie Benoni when he
received the call on the tour bus to come back and play with
Sandra. For more information about John you can check out his
Guitar player and vocalist
Dave Nerbak
was playing part time with the SWB in the last century, and became a
full time member as the clock rolled into the year 2000.
Originally from Hackettstown, NJ, Dave also started playing at a young
age. By his high school years, Dave was playing in bands,
sometimes with brother Matt on the drums, and occasionally his father
Ken on bass. He received a degree in music from the
Berklee School of Music, graduating in 1983. In 1985 Dave Moved
to Vermont, and began performing with local favorites, the Sportin'
Johnsons. Before joining the SWB, Dave played with local soul
singer, Tammy Fletcher, opening shows for Taj Mahal, Leon Russell, and
Buddy Guy. For the past five years, Dave has hosted a regular
Blues Jam in Burlington, VT, sharing the stage with Emilou Harris, the
Charlie Daniels Band and the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Like brother Dave, drummer and vocalist
Matthew Nerbak is originally
from the state of New Jersey, and has been playing the drums for over
25 years. During those years he played in the junior high and high
school bands as well as being a member of a few garage bands. After high
school he attended Berklee School of Music from 1982 till 1985. Since
then he has been playing the drums professionally, playing or sharing
the stage with the likes of Greg Howe, Jimmy Brown, Bloozotomy, Joe
Banhamassa, NRBQ and his own band the Nerbak Brothers. Currently he
is enjoying the SWB's soulful approach to R & B.
Keyboardist/Composer
Michael Sucher hails from the Washington,
D.C. area, and has worked extensively the along the East Coast,
playing jazz, R&B and pop for over twenty years. His experience
includes nightclub, concert and television appearances as well as
session work. Michael worked frequently with saxophonist Tim
Eyermann and guitarist Tom Principato, and has appeared with many
D.C. area notables including the late great guitarist Danny Gatton. He
appears on the recently released Blazing Telecasters DVD, featuring
Principato and Gatton. Michael began working with the SWB after
moving to Vermont in the fall of 1996. For more about Michael,
please visit his