Biography
Richard Gramm: Richard has been playing and singing most of his life. He first picked up the guitar at age 12 and three years later added the bass. He has performed and recorded mainly in upstate New York, but has been fortunate enough to play shows across the U.S., Europe, South America and more. The common thread throughout all of these shows, is his desire to play and be part of a band. Currently Richard has been using his bass skills in both a band and duo but had a strong desire to bring guitar back into his life. Richard joins Free Agent in addition to his other groups as a lead guitarist and is anxious to introduce his friends that have watched him play before to this new group, he's also hoping to meet and play for some new friends.
Scott Hayes: Noted for having a musical interest in nearly every music genre, Scott has a diverse musical history playing with such local bands as the hard and progressive rock band "Euphoria" in the 80's. Later he moved to the sounds of Neil Young and Crazy Horse along with Santana in the late 80's with the band "Dark Light". Scott's favorite drummers include Peter Criss of KIss, and the legendary Neil Peart of Rush. In the 2008 Scott rekindled his drumming after General Motors closed his work place. During a time of economic difficulty, drums became a huge outlet to the frustrations of a changing world. Joining up with Fairport, New York band Skyway, the next five years were busy with several local shows. Reaching for more modern and current music, Scott left Skyway and joined the rocket ship band "Red Sky". With a grueling show schedule, the band was musically challenging. Tragically, the band dissolved in 2014. Now drumming for newly formed "Free Agent", He is ready for the show.
Karl Joslin:Self-taught, Karl cut his teeth as a bassist in South Florida at the age of 13. Prior to bass (his instrument of choice), he played French horn for a few years. His main influences at the time were Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, John Deacon and Jaco Pastorius. By the time he was 16, he was writing, collaborating and performing with an all original band called “The Astronomical Artouche”. He played around with several bands in the Treasure Coast area until the late 80’s. Then life took ahold in the form of a career, wife and kids and everything else that life can throw at you and he didn’t have the time to dedicate to being in a band, however, he continued to play, practice, write and grow as a musician.
Fast forward to 2014…..Karl moves to the Rochester area, kids older and not needing Daddy as much, he joins and plays out with several bands including Wayward Wynd, Killing Time and 5 Hole. In the process, he rediscovered his love of performing and can’t wait to hit the stage with the awesome musicians in his new band Free Agent.
Ian Kerr): People always told him he had an ear for music. As a kid he used to mimic what he heard on the radio and play it on the piano while tossing in a harmony that wasn't included originally. Growing up, he listened to oldies with his dad and they would sing along with them together. His father was one of the many people who has inspired him and got him started. While he started on keyboards as a child he then learned sax in High School but didn't begin playing the bass guitar until 2007. Until recently the bass was his primary rock band experiences. It took off when he played with Pink Cadillac for a 3 year tenure, and explored/experimented while in Country Magic. With that background he took a leap and joined Black Ice and really enjoyed working with personality chemistry. It was a new experience to work with people whose personalities clicked. With Curveball he had the chance to become a primary singer in a group. When that folded he continued that role with a country band Shifting Gears. At the same time he began developing his guitar skills, playing in a duo with Kim Kotel. He is the primary musical force behind Tuned InK and his guitar skills have grown exponentially. While Tuned InK has been successful he felt the band experience was missing. When things folded with Shifting Gears there were thoughts of another band. He hopes Free Agents will be exactly what he was looking for and will give him a chance to use all of his musical talents as a guitarist, keyboardist, bassist and vocalist. He doesn't see himself as a great musician, nor really a master. He continues to learn, evolve, and explore.
Kim Kotel: Kim has been singing since she was a young child but until 2010 it was only for her own enjoyment, in a choral setting or out at a Karaoke night. That all changed when she joined a band called 7 Green. Although that band only lasted about 4 months after she joined her whistle was whetted and soon she was lucky enough to be part of Black Ice. Black Ice saw her through her first full gigs and taught her the ropes of band life and all the other things that go along with it. ( see: Gear, set up, break down, PR, booking, and performing) When that folded she and the Bassist ( ian Kerr) began their own band which lasted a few months. For the next year she looked, found and then lost or left a number of bands. Each one taught her new things and added to her singing repertoire. She also teamed up with Mr. Kerr to form a successful duo ( Tuned InK) which continues to perform today. Kim is very excited to be part of the formation of Free Agent. They are going to ROCK!