Rocky Creek Band has been anchored by Jeff McLeod and Danny Howard since 1973

Drum sticks maestro Mike Sheppard, frontman Jeff McLeod, harmony singer-guitar slinger Danny Howard, and bassist Shane Preston of Rocky Creek Band say cheese on May 6, 2023, at the Chester Lions Club’s 50th annual Battle of Guitars held at the Chester Gym in Chester, Georgia. Image courtesy of Rocky Creek Band

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, a four-piece country rock outfit based in Dublin, Georgia, have been in existence since 1973 and frequently reach the finals at the in modern times.

Founding lead vocalist-songwriter-guitarist Jeff McLeod thoughtfully examined multiple questions thrown in his direction over a Facebook chat. “I took up guitar as a 15-year-old teenager in Laurens County,” says McLeod. “I had taken piano lessons but never seriously.

“Guitar always seemed cooler to me so I talked my dad into buying me a cheap Audition brand acoustic guitar for my 15th birthday. I taught myself a few chords and then kept going. I parted ways with that Audition many years ago.

“My partner in Rocky Creek, Danny Howard, owns a cherry red hollow body Gibson ES-345. We’ve been playing together since 1973 and have never stopped. We swap off lead and rhythm guitar parts and also do some harmony lead parts. I sing most of the lead vocals and Danny does harmony, kinda like Buck Owens and Don Rich. Our pal Mike Sheppard also joined the band on drums in 1973 but hasn’t played with us continuously.