Terry Keel began his career playing lead guitar for Up With People during his high school years in the late sixties. He played in various jazz-rock groups while attending Arizona State University and spent years on the road playing lead guitar for a variety of artists including The Platters, The Drifters, Donnie Brooks, The Ohio Express, the 1910 Fruitgum Co., Lip Service, and others. The 80s and 90s found him back in his hometown, recording, producing, and playing country-rock with Buddy Alan Owens, Johnny Western, The Country Green Band, and the infamous City Limits Band. He started The Swamp Coolers in 2005.
Mike Parrott began his musical career in Tucson Arizona at the age of 8 with piano lessons, got his first snare drum kit at age 10, and was soon playing with the Tucson Youth Symphony. During and after his high school years, Michael played with several top Arizona rock bands including the early Swamp Coolers Band (then known as “Lip Service”). During the 1970’s and 1980’s Michael was an active member in the percussion section of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Gregory Millar. He took a few years off to study music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston on a two-year performance diploma program. After Berklee Michael began touring and recording nationally. He lived and worked for a few years in Los Angeles and played, toured and recorded with famous recording band “Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds” – “The Spiral Starecase” – and many other 70’s style music groups. He finally settled in Las Vegas where he performed at all the major casinos and night clubs for over thirty years. Michael now shares residence between Las Vegas and Oceanside CA with frequent trips to his “homeland”, Arizona.
Mike Kunes - former super sleuth, lawyer, college professor and surf bum, has surfaced in the desert as part of The Swamp Coolers. Having been a founding member of the Deadly Nightshades, he became part of the Village Ratz, the Ball Brothers, the Erector Set, Lip Service, City Kids, Bing of America, the Charlie Foege experience, Kelly's Heroes and Nighthawks at the Diner, as well as touring with such notables as the 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express and Iron Butterfly. He has performed on countless recordings and still plays the bass because "I only have to count to four."
Tom Foster grew up in California and Arizona. His interests in music were sparked by exposure to country & western, blues, rock, jazz, classical and everything in-between. He managed and played in bands throughout high school and beyond and is still having fun playing live and recording. He has an extensive vinyl record collection and considers The Who and The Beach Boys as huge influences on his love for live performance and superior recording. Tom also plays bass guitar, keys, and sings with The Painkillers.
