Bassist Joe Church started playing guitar the age of 16 and by the age of 18 had switched over to bass, playing for a few years in a band that never was given a name.
Taking up residence in Hawaii allowed him to hone various other musical skills, including lap steel, flute/sax, ukulele, fretless electric bass, as well as sharpening his acoustic guitar abilities. A summer in Montana allowed him to explore his talents on mandolin and banjo.
After moving back to the Pacific Northwest he began playing with several bands, covering whatever instruments were needed, all the while keeping the bass as his primary focus.
Because of his advanced improvisational skills, he soon found himself in the role of a highly sought-after session player bands would call when they needed someone to fill in with limited rehearsals.