Formed in 2006, three well established musicians from the Tampa Bay music scene came together to form Fat Tractor. The idea was to produce a sound that pushes the boundary of the typical trio. Jamin grooves, vocal harmony, tight riffs, and a set list that is familiar, original, and full of surprise!
Jimmy
On acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals is Jim Brandenburg. As a performer, Jim has been down many diverse roads such as jazz, blues, funk, country, and alternative rock. He puts life and experience into a sound that is uniquely his own through all the music he has written and the sounds he creates. Jim takes no offence to being called a “redneck southern boy”; he’s playing from the heart and damn proud of it!
Charlie
On bass guitar, lead and back up vocal’s is, Charlie Billings. Another home grown Florida boy Charlie grew up in Rocky Creek listening to the music of country legends like Merle Haggard, George Jones and Jonny Cash, but as he learned to play bass it was the southern rock bands such as, The Outlaws, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Grinderswitch that caught his ear. From there Charlie spent years listening and learning to play classic rock, blues and R&B. Charlie has many years of stage, road and studio experience and is happy to be plowin down the low end bass for Fat Tractor.
Jere
On drums, lead and backup vocals, spoons, knives, forks, walls or anything nearby is Jere Watkins. Raised in the south, his style and taste in music is a perfect fit with the Tractor boys. From the start of his career in music Jere’s versatile path includes, Pop, Funk, Rock, Country, Classical and R&B. Traveling, performing and recording extensively throughout the 80’s and 90’s and has been teaching drums for over 15 years, Jere now calls Tampa Bay home.
Constantly growing and changing, these guys refuse to cave in to the same old thing. Fat Tractor has acoustically, and without the crutches of pre-programmed tracks, created a sound that is full and rich, Truly a performance to remember!