Meet The Monarchs



David Owen
David is the newest Monarch joining the group in 2009. Besides playing keyboards and trombone, he is one of the featured vocalists adding high harmonies or taking the stage front and center for a solo. His “rock ‘n’ roll” career began early with a band called Rasberry Cream that included the Monarchs’ current drummer, Jeff McAllister.  Dave also played with The Leaves, Inc., Shag, the Wulfe Bros. (for a year) and finally The Fanatics for more than 30 years. David has performed with Bo Diddley, Three Dog Night, and Peter Noone. His musical influences come from all types of music including Rock, R&B, and Southern Gospel.



Paul Turner
Paul joined The Monarchs in 2008 and plays lead guitar and is a vocalists. He also plays drums, piano, bass, banjo, hand percussion and ukulele. Paul grew up in Sacramento, CA and has played regionally with the band Woodwork. He was with the traveling show group Free Fare in the late '70s. Paul has opened for Brewer and Shipley, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Les Paul, Survivor, Pat Travers and The Sons of Champlin.

Paul joined Selah, one of the first Christian rock bands, opening for Petra, and toured across the region. In 1992 Paul played guitar and drums for major Christian artist Ray Boltz on his Season’s Change tour. That same year Paul founded Heads Up Resource Alliance, now Encourage Music, to help others with their musical interests. Paul’s latest CD entitled “Love Outside the Lines” is available at Ear X tacy and Christian book stores and coffee shops around Louisville, as well as through www.encouragemusic.com. Using his own original material, Paul brings a virtual who’s who of Kentuckiana’s Christian and gospel music together, involving over 50 singers and musicians on this substantial project. Recently Turner has found a new musical niche writing and producing songs and jingles for various organizations.



Jeff Jarboe
Jeff joined The Monarchs in 2022 on drums. Before The Monarchs Jeff spent 42 years as drummer and percussionist for The Wulfe Bros. He is not only one of the area's premier drummers, he is a singing drummer! He sings lead and background harmonies for the group. Jeff's youthful personality makes him an audience favorite.


Chris Hansel
Chris joined The Monarchs in 2023 on keyboards and vocals. Chris Hansel has played keyboards and provided background vocals while touring with Ron Peake & Open Country, Wild Horses with Hank Rose and Olivia Henken following her appearance on The Voice.



Alan Watson
Alan joined The Monarchs in 2023 as a vocalist and front man. Alan Watson has been a longtime favorite in bands like Metro, The Doo Wop Allstars and most recently The Times Band. 



Leon Middleton
Leon is the business manager and sax player for The Monarchs.  Leon begin performing with The Monarchs in 1962 and has appeared with The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, The Righteous Bros. and many more. With The Monarchs, he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra and for President George W. Bush. 

His professional musical career began with playing clarinet at the VFW on Longfield Ave. in a band he started,The Squires.  They played on Sunday afternoons and would pass the hat.  He purchased an alto sax and at age 15 filled in with various bar bands around the Louisville area where he honed his rock ‘n’ roll skills.  He moved on to play with Jimmy Orten and the Emeralds and The Aztecs in 1961.

As a studio musician, Leon developed a talent for record production.  As President of SaxKing Records, he has produced projects for rock, blues, jazz and Christian acts.  In 2008 he released a CD “Leon Middleton — Solo” that contains many of his favorite instrumentals.  He also produced the CD “The Monarchs Appearing Here Tonight” and co-wrote one of the cuts. 

Louis "Dusty" Miller
Dusty is one of the co-founders of The Monarchs. He started out playing rhythm guitar with the group and in 1962 he switched to bass guitar.

The History

'The Monarchs: The Great American Rock 'n' Roll Dream'

By Billy Reed
Butler Books
128 pp. plus bonus DVD
$34.95

 

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