Meet the Musicians
John Wayne Wilkinson
Lead Vocals/Frontman: John was born in Galveston, Texas on February 8, 1977. He started singing at the early age of twelve. His favorite groups were Sha Na Na, Dr. hook and Elvis Presley. As time went on, Garth Brooks and George Straight became his inspiration. John Wayne has opened for Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Joe Diffie, Andy Griggs, Confederate Railroad, and Collin Raye and Leroy Parnell.
Ron Boudreau
Drummer/Leader & Founding Member: Born in Baton Rouge, Luisiana, Ron started playing drums when he was 14 years old. Hailing from the French quarter, he played with Cajun bands including the famous Doug Kershaw, and later played 50's and 60's rock & roll with bands such as Myron and the Deltrons. Later in his career, he played with various country artists throughout Canada, and toured with the famous Mickey Gilley Band. Ron founded the Dixie Highway Show in 2004.
Keith Johnson
Lead Guitar/Vocals: Keith has been in show bands, blues, rock and country all his life. In Alaska, his band was the opening band for Three Dog Night. He's played with the Platters, Sherrels, Coasters whenever they needed a guitar player. He was with Tessie Blue, the female Elvis Impersonator. He's helped put on shows at Ruth Eckerd Hall and St. Pete with his brother, Tommy. He was considered one of the best lead guitar players in Alaska.
John King
Pedal Steel Guitar: John started playing guitar at age 12 and migrated to pedal steel at age 30. He's played with many country artists and toured all throughout the northeastern United States. Artists he's played with include: Jean Stewart, George Hamilton IV, and Tommy Cash (brother to the legendary Johnny Cash). He currently plays with two bands in the Tampa Bay area and with the Dixie Highway Show.
Alan Thomas
Bassist: Alan Thomas has been actively engaged in forming, managing, and playing in musical ensembles since the age of 15. He majored in Applied Music at the University of South Florida. Alan's musical achievements include a far east tour of "The Sound of Music" to Hong Kong and Taiwan, Peter Pan in New York and many Broadway musicals at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Alan has served as a musical contractor for Spanish Lyric Theater and supplied full symphony orchestras for Ray Charles on three occasions. After contracting and playing all of the ensembles from symphony orchestra, champer groups, big band and numerous combinations, Alan has settled on traditional country music with the Dixie Highway Show as his next challenging and musically rewarding venture.
Richard "Dickey" Jones
Violinist: Dickey started playing violin and viola at age 9 in Karslruhe, Germany under his grandfather's tutelage. At age 11, he played in the Pinellas Youth Symphony and at age 13, he began playing with The Florida Orchestra for 7 years. He studied music at USF, Cincinnatti Conservatory of Music, and Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He's played with many bands through the years and started improvisation lead playing in San Diego with Kenny Loggins in 1970. He's played at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, starting in 1979, and was a studio musician there for 2 years. He toured with Brenda Lee, and has played in several bands that toured with major name acts including Spyder's Gang, out of Connecticut, that opened for Bad Company on their first US tour. Now retired, he plays with the Dixie Highway Show and, exclusively, uses Rivera amp, old German violins and John Jordan custom made electric 5 and 7 string violins and violas. He still works as a studio musician, church musician, and hired gig player for other local bands and has lived in the Pinellas county area off and on since 1961.
Dave Hewitt
Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar: Dave started taking piano lessons at the age of 8 and guitar lessons at the age of 9, stuying classical on piano and flamenco on guitar. He started forming bands when he was 11, playing guitar and vocals and playing private parties at school. Dave began taking jazz lessons when he was 17. He joined a touring country rock band, Saltwater Cowboys, who were the opening act for Jimmy Buffet, Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Allman Brothers, Jerry Reid among others. With this band, Dave toured Europe and the Southeast US opening for Hank Williams Jr., Juice Newton and Don Williams. After leaving Saltwater Cowboys, he worked with a successful Top 40 band on the west coast of Florida. Galeforce opening for Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Foghat, Foreigner among many others. Dave finds it interesting that he's played Jerry Lee Lewis' Steinway, Greg Allman and Billy Preston's Hammond Organs while opening for them. They are three of his many influences.