John Paul "J.P." Coley

J.P. began playing music at age 12, starting with piano lessons. He switched to the bass to begin playing professionally. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, J.P. returned to Sarasota and resumed his music career by forming the Hurricanes, an R&B outfit. He has played the blues with Rock Bottom, Dan Electro, Roy Book Binder, and Diamond Teeth Mary; jazz with Mike Markaverich, Leon Meriam, and the West Coast Big Band; reggae with the Instigators and the Strangeways; just about all of the above with Jennifer and the Venturas.

Recording credits include Harmaniac and Tone with Rock Bottom and the Cutaways, Polk City Ramble with Roy Book Binder. With Dan Electro and the Silvertones, J.P. played on and produced two records, Mr. Smooth and Reason To Lie. Following that, with Jennifer and the Venturas, he played on and produced Cover Play, and was a staple in the live club recordings on You Really Got Me.

His influences have included Ray Brown, Walter Page, Jimmy Miller, Larry Taylor, Max Bennett, and Berry Oakley. J.P. plays a 3/4 upright base, a Music Man Stingray electric bass, and a Fender electric bass.