Johnny G Lyon & JGLB (aka the Johnny G Lyon Band, or just JGLB) is inarguably one of the most durable bands in Tampa history. Almost any venue in the bay area that has featured live music within the last 3 decades has hosted the JGLB (or its' antecedents) at one time or another. JGLB has performed at Raymond James Stadium, Tropicana Field, Tampa Stadium, The Times Forum, The Bayfront Center, The Sun Dome, Al Lang Field, Al Lopez Field, Tampa Theater, the State Theater, Lowry Park, Vinoy Park, Curtis Hixon Park, and countless other concert venues. JGLB has opened concerts for B. B. King, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, The Outlaws, Marshall Crenshaw, Marshall Tucker, Three Dog Night, Los Lobos, The Monkees, BTO, Gregg Allman, The Rubber City Rebels, James Harman Blues Band, and many more. JGLB has been named "Best Local Band" by the Tampa Tribune reader's poll three times. JGLB produced the soundtrack for a series of promotional videos for Tampa's WFTS Channel 28. They have also been the subject of feature stories on Newschannel 8 and on Channel 13. JGLB is led by 56 year old Johnny G. Lyon, a lifelong professional musician. Although Johnny was raised in "Country Music Mecca" Nashville, he grew up loving rock and roll. Johnny learned guitar from a Nashville Blues Legend he remembers only as "P.I." Johnny began performing at schools and community centers at age 10. 46 years later, Johnny G. Lyon has done a little bit of everything in the music business. In the late 70's and early 80's, Johnny's band gained notoriety in Tampa, being named "Best Local Band" by the Tampa Tribune for the first time. In 1981, Johnny moved to L.A. California. Since then, his music has appeared on major motion picture soundtracks, including the Columbia Pictures hit, "Just One Of The Guys," which featured Johnny's composition "Comb My Hair." Describing a California gig, the L. A. Weekly said Johnny "ignites the room with tough rhythm and rock sounds." In 1984, Johnny returned to Tampa. A short time later, he changed his stage name to "Johnny G Lyon" and began calling his band JGLB. JGLB almost immediately became hugely popular, playing all over the Tampa Bay Area, getting overwhelmingly postive reaction from large crowds in diverse venues. From biker bars to beach bars to upscale venues throughout the region, JGLB was a big hit. In 1990, JGLB released the eight-song LP, "Good Cheap Rock-N-Roll." A single, ''Call Me Lover Boy," received solid local airplay. In August 1995, JGLB released a nine-song CD, "Give The Kid A Chance." Reviews include Focus Magazine's assertion that "Kid" is "one of the most commercially accessible discs to be released locally in some time." In the surrounding hoopla, Johnny was asked to sing the National Anthem at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.  Johnny is one of the most outstanding vocalists and virtuoso guitarists ever to emerge from the Tampa Bay music scene. As such, he has performed and recorded with blues legends like the late Sonny Terry, Blind Willie James, and the late Rock Bottom, punk rock icons like the Rubber City Rebels, the quirky Billy C. Wirtz, and Americana hero Ronny Elliott. But Johnny is also an explosive high-energy performer onstage, and he is considered to be one of Tampa's greatest entertainers. It is frequently said, "No one walks away from a JGLB show dissatisfied." 26 years after its' inception, and 37 years after Johnny first appeared on the Tampa Bay music scene, JGLB is still going strong. JGLB still can be seen playing somewhere, usually around Tampa, most weekends. A search of "JGLB" on youtube returns over 200 results. Drummer Ray Blade played JGLB's first gig in 1985, and still plays in the JGLB. A USF graduate, Blade has also performed with Sam and Dave, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. His brother is another widely known Florida rocker, Bobby Friss. Bassist Benny "Ben Jammin" Sudano first joined JGLB in 1992. Originally from New York, He is on his third stint in the band. A widely respected bass player, Benny has performed the Toler Brothers, James & Lucky Peterson, Les Dudek, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge among others. Benny is an excellent vocalist as well. Vocalist Tommy Duncan helps Johnny front the band. In addition to having a powerful voice whose work compliments Johnny's own singing, Tommy (AKA Gregg Burrage) is a media personality in his own right. He is currently the website director for WFTS TV. Vocalist Freight Train Annie is the most recent addition to the band, continuing a tradition of females who have been featured in JGLB. Annie has performed with legends like Buddy Miles and Big Bill Morganfield, as well as local favorites The Marys, The Fire Ants, Greenflash, and the eponymously named Freight Train Annie Band. PICTURED BELOW: Freight Train Annie and Johnny G Lyon. Click on the pic to hear Annie sing!