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Ron & The Rumpshakers (Loud Rockin' Rhythm & Blues)

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Together for 11 years with the same crew, Ron and the RumpShakers are made up of six local, accomplished musicians, each having over 40 years of experience in the Pittsburgh and tri-state area. Our band performs an upbeat mix of high energy Blues, R&B and Funk. We get crowds on their feet to dance, party, and enjoy your place of business.

In December of 2011, we released our first original CD, Heart & Soul. All songs were written and arranged by Ron Vis and recorded at Dave’s World Studio in Ambridge, PA and engineered by Mr. David Granati. Our CD is currently available on www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com . Songs from Heart & Soul have received airplay on The WYEP Blues Show Saturday evening.

We were honored to have track number one from our Heart & Soul CD, “Shake it Up”, selected to be on the Blues From The Burgh III CD in 2012. Blues From The Burgh III features the top 12 blues bands from the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania. The CD can be purchased on line at the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania’s web site www.bswpa.org.

In December 2013, we released our second CD Loud Rockin' Rhythm & Blues. Again, all songs were written and arranged by Ron Vis and recorded at Dave's World Studio in Ambridge, PA and engineered by our good friend David Granati. This release is another great collection of RumpShaker originals, featuring unparalleled guitar work, a smoking hot horn section, (a.k.a"The Weapons of Brass Destruction") and a rock solid rhythm section. Get your very own copy for your listening pleasure, available at www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com .

In January of 2014, we were proud and honored to be selected to represent the State of West Virginia at the International Blues Competition held in Memphis, Tennessee. We were one of approximately 200 bands across the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom, competing to be the champion of the blues.

In April of 2019, we competed in the Western Pennsylvania Blues Society's Blues Challenge for the rights to compete in Memphis once again, in January of 2020

Our third CD is still a work in progress with hopes of having it completed soon.

Most recently in May of 2021, we had the opportunity to be the opening act for Three Time BB King Blues Entertainer of the year, blues legend, Tommy Castro. We also had the opportunity to perform some of his songs WITH him.

Ron Vis -- Guitar/Vocals

As a young boy about five years old, Ron used to sit around and listen to his Dad's folk band, The Cellar Dwellers in the 60s. He became turned on to the power of live music.

Ron started playing as a teenager, getting into Rock and Roll and the roots of the Blues. He took lessons for about one year and got the basics down. He played in a couple of local bands until the age of 23. Then getting disgruntled in music, he made the mistake of stopping for five years. With the urging of some friends, Ron got back into playing and jamming. He played in various bands on and off over the years.

Twelve years ago, Ron started the Ron and The RumpShakers band. The guys have been bringing good time blues to fans ever since.

Ron has been become one of the top players in the city, having had the pleasure of opening for Mark Farner of Grand Funk, as well as, Robbie Krieger of The Doors fame. Also among Ron's top shows, he played the main stage at the Three Rivers Regatta and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. In May of 2021, he had the opportunity to play along side blues legend, Tommy Castro

Years played: 45 Years

Musical influences: Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and most importantly his Dad!

Prior band Projects: Bobby Hawkins and the Blues Train Band, Jambone, Nasty Habits Band, Mister Scary, Roadwork, Barrel House Blues Band, The Blue Czar Band and doing his own thing with some solo acoustic shows.

Greg Eggert: Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Cornet and vocals

Greg started playing the trumpet at the age of 11. Like most young musicians, he advanced in the high school band, taking private lessons regularly. His freshmen year, he had the opportunity to march with the Royal Crusaders Junior Drum and Bugle Corps from Finleyville, PA. During his five years with the corps, he had the opportunity for excellent instruction from many different music educators around the country. They traveled across the country every summer from June through August, having the best finish of 9th place at the international finals during his tenure with the corps. Drum corps is where he really learned to play and where he developed his "chops".

After high school (1978 graduate), Greg attended Duquesne University as a music education major. He studied trumpet under Eddie Schiener, Matty Schiener and Patsy Oliver, three of the best brass instructors ever! During his years in college, he taught private lessons to beginners and intermediate players and began playing (and getting paid!) in his first band.

In the early 80's, Greg had the opportunity to go on the road with a local band, made up of childhood friends, drum corp buddies, and a few acquaintances. As a band made up of seven musicians and a lead singer, they played everything from show tunes, jazz, oldies and top 40 high energy dance music. The SKAMM Band had the opportunity to travel Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

After playing on the road for a year and a half, they decided to come home, make personnel changes and begin playing the local circuit in Pittsburgh PA. They ended up playing locally until the early 90's.

After a few years of not playing, Greg had the opportunity to pick up the horn again. A friend had said that he was putting a band together and was looking for a trumpet player with vocal capabilities. He accepted the position with The Accelerators and has been playing ever since.

Fast forward to 2010, he saw this band called "The RumpShakers" one evening. It turned out to be a long time family friend, Ron Vis. After a brief conversation with Ron, he told Greg to bring his horn some night to sit in with the band. He took him up on his offer one night and the rest is history. Now with the RumpShakers for 11 years, he says that he hasn't had this much fun playing in years. One of Greg's favorite tasks with the RumpShakers was having the opportunity to compose and arrange all of the horn parts on both RumpShakers original CD's with fellow band mate and ace saxophonist, Joe Romeo. Greg calls The RumpShakers "his brothers in music". Greg also says that "we share a common goal of excellence in musical quality, entertainment, professionalism and have great fun every time we are together".

One of Greg's most recent memorable music moments was in May of 2021. He and the RumpShakers had the opportunity to play along side blues legend, Tommy Castro.

Years played: 50 Years

Musical influences: Tower of Power, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Miles Davis, Bill Chase, Tommy Castro Band, CoCo Montoya, Joe Bonamassa, Bill Carmichael, Doc Severinsen & Wynton Marsalis just to name a few!

Prior band Projects: On Broadway, From the Hip, SKAMM Band, City Limit, The Accelerators, Community Band South, Dead End Streets

Joseph Romeo: Saxophone

Joe started playing after being released from The United States Marine Corp in 1962. He bought a saxophone, practiced for a year then started sitting in with various groups at jam sessions. That led to getting jobs with various Blues, Pop Rock, and Jazz groups. After several years of performing around Pittsburgh with an assortment of groups, the Jazz Quartet that he was performing with in the winter of 1968 took a break. The Piano player and Joe hitch-hiked to Boston. He walked into Berklee School of Music and got applications. They hitch-hiked back to Pittsburgh, Joe filled out the application and made an audition tape with the Jazz Quartet. The application and tape were mailed in and the following spring of 1969, Joe was accepted. He was there from 1969 to 1971. He came back home for three years and went back to Berklee in the spring of 1975 for two more years. When Joe came back home he continued to play around Pittsburgh with various groups. During the same time, Joe joined the University of Pitt Jazz Band under the direction of Nathen Davis. They played concerts around Pittsburgh. The one notable concert was at The Carnegie Lecture Hall with special guest artist, Jazz saxophonist James Moody. Joe said that he has had many notable performances with Ron and The RumpShakers, and he is proud to be a member .He said all of the other members of the band are very talented and great guys. Joe turned 81 this year (2022) and doesn't miss a trick!

Years played: 60 Years

Musical influences: B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Robert Johnson, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, Michael Breaker James Moody, Clifford Brown, and many more.

Prior band Projects: Elliot Ness Band, Bobby Hawkins and the Blues Train Band, Jimmy Jardine Jazz Quartet, Hyde Brothers Jazz Quartet, University of Pitt 18 piece Jazz Band, and many more.

Keith Gamble - Bass

Greg Stewart -- Drums

Greg been playing drums for over 40 years dating back to Junior High School, playing in concert band, marching band and jazz ensemble throughout high school. He was a very strong force on the Geneva College Marching Band in his years there. Since, Greg has played with a well known southern gospel band The Steel City Quartet traveling throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and Virginia, prior to taking a hiatus to raise his family. Now back on the scene for 15 years, he has played many different styles of music. From classic rock to blues to reggae to oldies to doo wop to country to funk, nothing is beyond his reach. Over the years he has played with most of Pittsburgh's top talent. Among some highlight shows include playing on WPIT TV 40 for several telethon shows, playing the David Lawrence Convention Center for an international broadcast for Home Interiors, hosting a radio show on WARO 540am, and also backing up nationally acclaimed doo wop band The Dubs.

Also involved in seven recording projects, several of which have received airplay

Years played: 40 Years

Musical influences: Jon Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Phil Earhart (Kansas) and Keith Moon (The Who).

Prior band Projects: Bobby Hawkins and the Blues Train Band, Angry Johnny Stangry and the CRS Band, The Unexpected, The Holidays, Jigsaw, Warren King and The Lost Dogs, Villain as well as filling in with numerous other bands as a hired gun on drums.

Jake Werkmeister - Tenor and Baritone Sax

Members of Ron & The RumpShakers

Ron Vis: Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals

“Smokin" Joe” Romeo: Tenor Saxophone

Greg Eggert: Trumpet, Flugel Horn and Vocals

Jake Werkmeister: Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax

Keith Gamble: Bass Guitar

Greg Stewart: Drums