Medicine Ball Band

Who is in Medicine Ball Band???

David Sturdevant

Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Chromatic Harmonica, Mandola
Hometown: New York

Led by guitarist, vocalist, and harmonica player David Sturdevant, who moved to California from upstate New York in the 70's, the San Francisco Medicine Ball Band is an impressive collection of musicians from near and far. While David's main instruments are guitar and chromatic harmonica, he can also be found playing keyboard and belting out a variety of favorites from New Orleans R&B to Jazz standrads, Dixieland and all ports in between. He performs regularly in the house band of San Francisco's famous Caffe Trieste and serves as the music director for Oakland's Plymouth Church of Jazz & Justice - not to mention other musical and performing groups around the Bay area.

Charlie Hickox
Vocals, Keyboard, Left-hand bass, Melodica
Hometown: Fairfax, CA

Charlie Hickox reigns from Cleveland Ohio and joined the group in 1980 when David and the band were performing regularly at Clancy’s Irish Pub in San Francisco. It was during this time that the principle repertoire of what would become the cherished sound of The Medicine Ball would be developed between Sturdevant and Hickox. Charlie performs regularly in a variety of Bay area clubs and often in his home town of Fairfax where is a welcome regular at the Sleeping Lady. Once or twice a month during weekend evenings you'll find him with the band at the Taste of Rom in Sausalito, first Sundays of most months with Big Money in Gumbo at the No-Name in Sausalito with Mal Sharpe on Jokes and Trombone.

Ylonda Nickell
Alto Saxophone
Hometown: St. Helena, CA

Ylonda Nickell has shared the stage with many jazz and contemporary heavyweights, including: Sonny Stitt, Freddie Hubbard, Mose Allison, Robert Cray, Boots Randolph, Manhattan Transfer, Willie Nelson, Richie Cole, and many others. Ylonda has appeared at The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Russian River Jazz Festival, The Cotati Jazz Festival, Concerts-By-The-Sea (Redondo Beach), The Great American Music Hall, Yoshi's, and many other venues. Her numerous recording credits include two solo albums, ALTO LADY and MINNESOTA SAX, as well as other projects. Born in St. Helena and educated at CSU, Chico, on a jazz scholarship, Ylonda has been playing the saxophone since she was a child. She has been a jazz educator for many years, teaching privately, and in public schools. She has helped develop the talents of countless young musicians, including Eric Crystal. The late Martha Young was Ylonda's mentor, shaping her technique, understanding, and appreciation of jazz at an early age. It was Martha who taught her how to swing. Ylonda lives in the Bay Area, where she performs on a regular basis.

John Hunt
Vocals, Trombone
Hometown: Texas

John Hunt has been a professional musician since 1967. While attending Tulane University he discovered the trombone and began playing in various Dixieland Jazz clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. He was a charter member of the New Orleans Saints band until a two year hitch in the U.S. Navy in 1969 put his music career on hold.
Following his release from active duty in 1971, John returned to his home near Houston, Texas and studied music, first at Lee College then at the University Of Houston. From 1971 through 1981 he made his living playing music in a wide variety of styles and venues before relocating to California in 1982 where he found David and the Medicine Ball on the streets of San Francisco. From then until the present he has worked throughout Northern California as well as steady engagements with the San Francisco 49ers Band, 13 years at the Gold Dust Lounge, and 2 1/2 years at the New Orleans Room of the Fairmont Hotel with Don Neely’s Royal Society Six. In 1998 he formed the John Hunt Jazz Band , a group dedicated to the great American Jazz and Swing tradition.

Crystal Monee Hall
Vocals
Hometown:Grand Island, Ne/Austin, Tx

A self proclaimed “church girl” when it comes to her ealriest musical influences, Crystal grew up singing in the church choir and watching her mother sing on Sundays. This influenced her to become involved in music in school, chorus and show choir as well as starring roles in musical theatre in high school to directing the gospel choir in college, where she first started playing the piano and writing music. A year ago she started playing the guitar and began to explore her burgeoning and unique voice as a singer/songwriter.

Larry Vann
Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Hometown: Oakland, CA

Larry Vann has made an impressive mark on the Bay Area music scene over the years with his authentic, piercing, all-encompassing musical technique. One listen to his compelling, penetrating and intoxicating grooves clearly demonstrates why he has been in such huge demand for sessions and tours with the likes of Elvin Bishop and Merl Saunders. His top-notch drumming and percussion has garnered him popular and critical succe