Seven women with one passion.
Four years ago, the stars aligned to bring seven women together. Friendships grew during their jam sessions and soon enough the band Gearl Jam band was born. The ladies enjoy playing ’60s music, soft rock and fun sing-along songs that get the crowd moving.
“We like to empower women our age,” said Gearl Jam singer Karen Miller, a bookkeeper at Marathon High School. “I can safely say that we are all over the age of 50 and we do it because we just love to play.”
The bandmates are: Elaine Edwards, a retired teacher from Stanley Switlik Elementary who plays the bass guitar; Marathon High School bookkeeper Karen Miller who sings and plays the ukulele, harmonica, and other percussion instruments; Roxanne Skaggs, a teacher at Marathon Middle School, who sings, plays drums and can shake a mean conga; Ellen Sculley, who is a singer, violist and percussionist; Barbara Hutchinson, a guitarists and vocalist; Molly McAteer, who works for Wesley House Family Services in Key West, and provides vocals and guitar; and Christine Wissmann, the office manager for Pribramsky and Company, CPA in Key West, who signs, washboards, tambourines and plays percussion instruments.
The band will be together this weekend at Coconuts Bar in Big Pine Key playing on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. They will also be joining forces with Terry Cassidy and Friends for a fun night at Boondocks in Ramrod Key in March. On top of paid gigs at the Pier House in Key West and performances here and there, the ladies enjoy singing at benefits from Marathon to Key West.
“Our friendships have become equally as important as the music, plus we are keeping dangerous grandmas off the streets,” Miller added jokingly.
Gearl Jam features the musical stylings of Elaine Edwards, left, Karen Miller, Roxanne Skaggs, Ellen Sculley, Barbara Hutchinson, Molly McAteer and Christine Wissmann.
