Area 51 Band

Band Members:
DON RAY WORNSTAFF started playing drums with his Dad's five piece band when he was just 13 years old. Due to his age, special permission had to be granted for him to play in some clubs. Just a short year later Frank and Don Ray helped form the original band Witz End. About four years later Doug, Frank and "Don Ray" were playing gigs all around the region as the popular "Staff and Management", with front man "Ricky T". Fans remember dancing the night away, at The Captain's Chair in Chesapeake, VA, many times with Bill Deal and The Rhondels. "Don Ray" also played with George and the Diminished 5th with Buzz Bessett on keyboards and guitar. Before the end of the Disco era, Frank and "Don Ray" played with an accomplished and extremely talented front man Bernie Jacobs, Jr. in the band First Class of Virginia. After 21 years on the Outer Banks, over 15 of those years in broadcasting, he moved back to Virginia to help form the AREA 51 BAND® DOUG MILLIGAN had a love for music that began soon after serving in the U.S. Army. Doug met long time friend and drummer, "Don Ray" in 1969. Within about a week, Frank Nichols, a school pal of "Don Ray" joined the band and the Staff and Management was born. Doug's powerful voice stands out on every song he performs on and his phat sounding 5 string bass is just what Frank and "Don Ray" love to jam with. While performing in a Show Band the experience "showed" him that the magic he had known with Frank and "Don Ray" was only going to be with them. Doug has played with a long list of great musicians all over the country, but he says those bands never sounded as good as the ones with Frank and "Don Ray". FRANK NICHOLS picked up an acoustic guitar when other kids were riding "banana bikes" in the neighborhood. Frank was only 11 years old when he met "Don Ray". After playing "live" on the playground at school, they decided rock and roll was what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. The original Witz End was their first band, The Directions, First Class and Staff and Management with Doug, "Don Ray" and front man "Ricky T" were just a few bands that Frank toured with all over the country. Frank was fortunate enough to play with great musicians such as Bill Deal and The Rhondels, later many of those band members became The Heroes. Frank Zappa, Billy Cobham, and the Average White Band also enjoyed jammin' with him. After 24 years in the Richmond, Virginia area, the original trio finally got back together and over a year of rehearsals later the AREA 51 BAND® is ready to rock! Check us out at www.area51band.us

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