Prime Time with Jerry McKee - Guest Gene Actmann

Gene plays keyboards in the band and also plays bass guitar and guitar and has been playing professionally since 1977. His major influences include Rick Nelson, Don Henley, Johnny Rivers, Paul McCartney, Johnnie Johnson, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, and Billy Peek.

Prior to putting Butch Wax together in 1986, Gene played in the bands “Ruckus”, “Windfall”, and “Route 66” and in Billy Peek’s band. His professional highlights include getting to meet and perform with many of the musicians that inspired and influenced him. Gene recalls, “I remember getting a phone call to audition with a band that Billy Peek was putting together. Billy had been lead guitarist with Rod Stewart for several years in the 70’s and had played with Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson before that. It was 1981 and Billy had just left Rod’s band. Billy’s new band would lean heavily on Chuck Berry Music and the Blues. I loved that style of music and Billy played it with so much passion and energy. I was thrilled to get the gig! Billy introduced me to Chuck Berry, Johnnie Johnson, and Carmine Appice and I got to play with all of them. Chuck and Johnnie would periodically stop into clubs that we were playing and sit in with us. Johnnie and I became good friends and he recorded with Butch Wax on all of our CD’s and sports songs.