BIO
Tobacco Rd Band was formed by Eric Durrance, CMT artist and co-writer of Jake Owens top 10 single “Eight Second Ride”. The four piece Florida hard rocking country band hit the ground running with their first single “Stiff Drink”. It received lots of airplay on country radio stations and soon the band was packing bars and clubs around the South East. The band has opened shows for Josh Turner, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Brantley Gilbert and many many more. The band also teamed up with Colt Ford in the studio to record their smash hit “Thats Country”. In 2020 the band recorded and released their new independent album "Worth Fighting For" and is rocking their way into 2022 with shows booked including shows as supporting act for Koe Wetzel and LOCASH among other awesome artist, headlining festivals as well as playing a honky tonk or two along the way the Honky Tonk Train is headed your way.
Tobacco Rd Band is...
ERIC DURRANCE
Eric Durrance, lead singer and Gibson acoustic guitar player, has local roots but big city dreams. While living his younger years in Wakulla, Tallahassee and Havana, he took notes from idols like Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, The Eagles and Hank Williams, Jr. Here is where he learned how to focus his abilities on what he loved the most. Within his 16 years of music experience, he started displaying his talents in the bands High Speed Rodeo (with drummer, Joe Markham), Fuse and Big Dismal, which had chart topping singles on the Christian Rock charts. Most recently he toured with Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum, went on a CMT tour of his own and co- wrote Jake Owen’s Top 10 single 8 Second Ride. He also plays piano and records and produces bands in his studio. Eric is excited to embark on this new path that life is taking him down.
JOE MARKHAM
Joe Markham, drummer, born in Marianna, FL. Joe began drumming from the moment he was born. Having never taken a lesson, he started playing drums at his father's church at age 12 and got his very first drum kit when he was 15. He played in several local (Tallahassee, FL.) bands throughout high school and college and in the spring of 2010, cofounded the Tobacco Rd Band with lead singer Eric Durrance.
Joe uses Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drum Heads, & Vic Firth Drum Sticks.
BENJAMIN CASTRO
Born and raised in Northwest Florida on Lake Seminole, Benjamin started playing guitar at 8 years old and soon to go down a long road of a music career. Benjamin started playing in praise and worship bands in the local churches, and when he was just 14 years old he started playing in local country and rock bands around the North Florida area. Benjamin's Dad took him to a country music joint in Panama City called Tootsies, a live country music venue that started originally in Nashville Tennessee, known as the #1 Honky Tonk in the world. Benjamin became friends with the band leader and manager Archie Vann and was brought on stage to play a few songs and was quickly hired on as a fill in guitar player for many honky tonk bands. After moving to Panama City full time he started playing with multiple acts such as Natalie Brady, Barbed Wire Creek, Dru Blake, Cadillac Rebel and Matthew York as well as working at Tootsies. Years later he moved to Nashville Tennessee playing at all the broadway honky tonks and getting his name around. Benjamin also started doing studio work in small studios around Music Row. He got on tours with country artist and has shared the stage with Chris Cagle, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindle, and many others.
In 2015, he got homesick and moved back to Panama City to help with Tootsies part time and also play with the band Cadillac Rebel which was a three piece power house with him and members from "Shane Owens and 231 South" rhythm and bass section Clint Carroll and Don Davis. Benjamin was having fun but wanted to start writing and get into a original band. Enter Tobacco Rd Band, Benjamin had been a fan and even played a festival where he discovered the band in 2010, his old singer Natalie Brady(featured on the voice Season 15) called him and said Eric Durrance is looking for a guitar player. In December 2015, Benjamin debuted with the band and is now the band leader and is getting more attention with his hybrid chicken pickin rock guitar sound which is influenced from Brent Mason to Mark Tremonti.
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Benjamin proudly uses Gibson guitars, Fender guitars, Bogner amps, Line 6 products, Boss pedals, Dunlop products, Wampler Pedals, Red Monkey Leather, Wornstar Clothing, Levi Straps, Preston Leather Works straps, Elixir Strings, and Mogami cables.
