About Us

 Lead Vocals / Acoustic Guitar 

Paul started the Five Shades of Gray Band in 2016. He grew up in Arlington VA were he picked up the guitar around 10. He moved to Atlanta in 1984 to pursue what is now a Electronics Engineering Degree. He lived, worked, and played in a number of Bands in Atlanta for 12 years during the 80's and 90's until moving to Roanoke VA. After meeting Roanoke musicians, whether  thru places of work or bands that included Over The Influence and Trouser Billy, Paul gathered musicians to form the now Five Shades of Gray Band. 

Paul started theatre in Jr High at Arlington Children's Theatre where he held many roles including two lead roles, one being a musical. He also was in  grade school theatre , choir, and mixed chorus classes. Paul loves sharing his music with others and it shows with every show he performs! Paul has called Roanoke VA home for over 30 years now.

 Lead/Rhythm Guitar & Backup Vocals

Originally from Ohio, Ed Wells plays rhythm guitar and also helps out with background vocals. He originally became interested in music and guitar specifically upon seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. (This dates him a bit, which is fine)    Ed started playing in Dayton Ohio bands at the age of 13 and travelled extensively throughout the Midwest playing music upon High School graduation. A Navy veteran, he played and performed music in the Minneapolis MN area from 1971-1982 with bands that opened up for The Mamas & Papas, The McCoys, The Archies, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, David Ruffin, Herman’s Hermits, The Originals, and Tommy James and the Shondells, until he elected to join the U S Navy in 1984.    He served in the military 20 years until his retirement from military service in 2004.    Ed has also played in many local bands with fellow band mates for the last 20 years including local Roanoke bands,  East 24, On Tap, Over The Influence and Five Shades of Gray.

Lead Guitar and back-up Vocals

 I'm from Roanoke and lived around the area my whole life. Just like every kid I wanted to be a rockstar when I grew up. I tinkered around on an old Teesco Del-Ray picking up what I could from records. Still wish I had that guitar but anyway as I got older I found out about girls and dating- got married and the guitar went way side in my 20's for personal reasons. 

That all changed when I met Dana. We had shared many stories about our life  ( oh BTW it's 20 years later ) things we had done and my love for the guitar was one of them. 

Long story short- She told me to pick out a guitar standing in the showroom of Kelly's Music- That was the day i came back to life, and yes, i still have THAT guitar.

My Greatest influences - My Teachers-  The world is full of great guitar players, Jimmie, Jeff, Jimmie, Eddie , Ted, Billy, Gary, Peter and so on, all of them great influences and generations of music to enjoy and learn from. but my teachers, everyone of them always said " learn to have your own voice"

 Craig Samms- traditional classical and flamenco- Craig taught me to hear the beauty in music- 

 Greg Albert-    Classic rock and blues- Greg helped understand blues and its true meaning

 Kenny Seay-  Music theory modes and scales- Kenny taught me to play with heart- He was an example to me and I paid attention.

Two things i recommend to any guitar player  Find a GOOD TEACHER    Find a honest source for instruments

Since I've only been playing a short while, I've only been in four bands, Complicated- played out 3 times-  Over The Influence- with them for 4 years, Trouser Billy's for about a year and then started a little garage band that fizzled and Paul pulled me into Five Shades Of Gray, been here 8 years now. I can't say how much fun it's been with these guys, they are all great musicians and it's an honor to play with them.  

Thanks to everyone who had a hand in helping me fulfil a dream- THANKS SO MUCH !!! 

PS Dana and I are still together- I dedicate every song to her- just not over the mic.   Thanks Hun

Bass Guitar and Back-up Vocals

Hailing from Long Island, NY, Louis began playing an instrument joining high school friends playing in garage bands-filling the void by playing electric bass guitar.  He fully embraced the bass, realizing it is the “motor” that drives rock music forward.  Quickly learning the instrument, he was invited to join the school jazz and symphonic bands, exposing him to a multitude of musical styles where he learned theory and the technical aspects of music.

Heavily influenced by The Beatles, progressive and British rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and the Who, and classic American R&B and Soul music, Louis always was in groups that played a variety of musical styles.  He participated in several bands while attending college in upstate NY, including Electric Blue, The Susquehanna Crosstown Boogie & Blues Review, and most notably, the Jury.  Playing in bars in Oneonta, NY, his outfits recorded several original songs and won multiple battles of the bands.

Louis returned to Long Island to get a “real job,” get married and start a family--taking a brief 30-year hiatus from being a musician.  Relocating to Roanoke over 20 years ago (the LI accent is barely detectable now) he raised his children and married his permanent wife who shares his love for live music.  They would often be seen out enjoying local bands including Five Shades of Gray.  Becoming empty nesters, he decided to dust off the bass guitar and try to get in with a local band.  Being a fan of the band, he would stand in on occasion with Five Shades when their bass player was unavailable, and in 2024 joined as a permanent member.

 Keyboards / Bass / Back Up Vocals  

Karl was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA and took up the guitar following in the footsteps of his older brother Bob playing his Harmony Rocket guitar.  He’s been playing guitar for over 50 and bass for over 20 years.  While residing in Pittsburgh he studied under the direction of legendary Victor Lawrence.  Vic is credited with training, among a huge list of world class guitarists, Pittsburgh’s guitar virtuoso Joe Negri (Mister Rogers Neighborhood).

Karl’s roots lay in the late 60s and early 70s classic rock.  Some of his primary influences have been the likes of Tom Johnston  (The Doobie Brothers), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Ronnie Montrose, Dickie Betts (Allman Brothers Band), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Robin Trower, and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath).   He’s been in rock and praise and worship bands since his high school days in the early 70s, continuing through college and beyond starting in his hometown Pittsburgh and throughout the USA including Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Portland OR, Austin TX, and now resides in Roanoke VA.  Besides playing the guitar and bass Karl plays the harmonica and sings lead and backup vocals.  More recently, he’s also taken up keyboards expanding his musical abilities.

With electronics and acoustics as hobbies, you’ll always find Karl tinkering with gear, building something, or taking something apart.  Karl has experience as a recording sound engineer and has recorded, mixed, and produced various compositions for his bands and other musicians.

 Drummer

From Roanoke Va. As far back as Walter can remember, drums were his passion, listening to the 60’s hits on the radio, and using any combination of boxes and pots, so he could play along with the records.  He was hooked. 

He started playing at age 10, first band at age 14, and his first professional set of drums at age 16. Played all through high school and college, doing various weekend gigs and studio stuff. His first professional band was Dazzle in 1976, playing all the local clubs around VA and the Carolinas. Places like the Kings Inn, Jay’s Junction Stanton, Festival in the Park Roanoke… 

In 1977 Walter left Dazzle to help form “Micky Finn” Band.  The band played all up and down the east coast and were picked up by East Coast Entertainment, handling most of their bookings. After breaking up in late 1980, Walter got the drummer spot in the East Coast Entertainment band “Killer” and played over the country until 1983 when he retired off the road to settle down getting married, use his degree, and help raise his family. He always continued to play drums. Fast forward to now, Walter is now settled in as the drummer for Five Shades.

Most Memorable moments- Playing and sharing a stage in Raleigh NC with Mike Pinero, guitarist for The Image in 1976 while in the Dazzle Band.  whose resume includes Blues Image and Iron Butterfly, where he wrote Butterfly Blue and Ride Caption Ride       Artimus Pyle, drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, playing on stage at the end of the night with Mickey Finn Band on my kit in 1978 in Spartanburg SC where he was from.

Favorite clubs were Flaming Sally’s Club in Macon GA, where entertainers such as Donna Summer, Bee Gees, Kool & the Gang, and the famous Players on the Beach Club in Panama City Florida.

Sound Engineer

Bill has worked for multiple bands in town doing lighting and sound. He helps and is in charge of all set up and stage management.