Shoals Chamber Presents the Midnighters

Shoals Chamber Presents the Midnighters 

The Midnighters band is a six-piece Soul, R & B, Blues, and Rock band from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  The band formed after a show as part of the backing group for the artist Bobby Lewis (“Tossin’ and Turnin’”) in Sheffield, Alabama in 1986.
 Vocalist Earnest Davis, guitarist Wayne Counts, and drummer James Counts organized the group along with Stan Munsey on keyboards and Randy Weeks on bass. Keyboardist Libby Counts joined the band in the late 1980’s after Munsey eventually left to tour with Wendy Waldman and Shenandoah. Terry Richardson took over the bass duties early on, and played for 15 plus years with the band, eventually handing the lownote job over to studio bassist Bob Wray for close to 15 years, who also retired around 2014. Young bassist Marcus Burke has assumed bass duties since Wray’s retirement. Oliver James Roy joined the band on saxophone and vocals in the early 1990’s having been preceded by Muscle Shoals Horns members Ronnie Eades and Harvey Thompson, Sr. Grammy award winning guitarist Barry Billings took Wayne Counts’ place after his retirement in 2014.
The group has played shows throughout the Southeast for the past 34 years. They have shared the bill with numerous artists. Among them: The Temptations, Shirley Brown, Howard Hewitt, Larry Mitchell, Latimore, Delbert McClinton, Travis Wammack, John Anderson, Percy Sledge, Darryl Worley, and many more.
In addition to performing live, the band has several prolific writers. Barry Billings received a Grammy for his song “Brother John” that was recorded by the group The Steel Drivers. Earnest Davis penned the song “L.O.V.E.” which was recorded by Johnnie Taylor. Earnest also recorded a solo record in Nashville called, “Real Soul”.

The group is still actively playing clubs, private events, and concerts throughout the Southeast.