Uncle Bethel - are they really the guys in the picture?

by Doug Budzak
(Huntsville, AL (USA))

UNCLE BETHEL is a singer-songwriter team featuring Lisa Carr on vocals and Doug Budzak on vocals and all instruments. They also operate a small demo production studio in Huntsville, AL.

The pair had been called VOODOO CHILI for the past 3 years, but when they began writing songs for the Nashville market, it was time for a change. The name "Strong & Beautiful" was considered for a time, but when the question, "Which of us is going to be Beautiful?" couldn't be settled they decided on UNCLE BETHEL, after a favorite uncle of Lisa's from Silver Point TN, because (a) they thought it sounded cool & (b) it wasn't already taken.

Lisa grew up singing in church, choruses, theater, and sitting in with the occasional band. She once performed in Luckenbach, TX, accompanied by a cadre of old-time players who likened her to Janis Joplin, probably due as much to her wild hair & tie dye clothing as her actual voice. Her most recent experience has been performing with choral ensembles, so UB represents quite a departure for her. She has written poetry for most of her life, and has been obsessively outlining her blockbuster novel for the past several years. She moonlights as a rocket scientist.

Doug is the resident musical genius of UB, with 40+ years' experience performing everything from funk to reggae to rock to country to jazz. Doug has shared the stage with many nationally-known artists, including:

Billy Preston, Phil Lesh (The Dead), Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic), Jerry Jeff Walker, Burning Spear, Mark Karan (Ratdog), the David Nelson Band, Martin Fierro (Zero), Robert Randolph, Barry Sless (Moonalice), Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship), Little Feat, David Jenkins (Pablo Cruise), Merl Saunders, the Neville Brothers, New Monsoon, Key & The Players, Chris Rowan (Rowan Brothers), Barney Doyle (Mickey Hart Band), The Mermen, Tough Mama, It's A Beautiful Day, Joy Of Cooking, The Sons Of Champlin, David Gans, Gail Muldrow (Prince), Taos Hum and many others.

Doug has also been a member of some outstanding regional bands such as:

Tree, Pyramid, Step By Step, The Ravens, The G-Men, NottaDread, DemBoyz, Gasoline Cowboys, Patch of Blues, The Bluescasters, The Crow Canyon Band, Buffalo Roam, Intervention, Funky Little Shack & JC Flyer.

Lisa and Doug write their own songs and have also collaborated with other writers. They are members of Nashville Songwriters Association International. They have started to receive offers for live gigs but would rather concentrate on writing - for the time being anyway! Through their music they hope to get noticed as songwriters, make an obscene amount of money, and retire to the lake.

Uncle Bethel would want it that way...