Lars Espensen

Lars started  playing flute at age 11, and picked up the saxophone at 13.   He was kicked out of a band when he was 17 because he had joined the USMC. After the Marine Corps. he played with the Red Roosters, in his home town of Lancaster, PA.   In 1988 he joined the A-Bones, based in NYC. While in NYC, he played with the Churchkeys.  Members of the Churchkeys and the A-Bones formed the Gowanus Canal Boys who were known as the Ramones of country music.  Lars has recorded or appeared on stage with: Hasil Adkins, Ray Sharpe, The Swingin' Neckbreakers, Johnny Powers, Ronnie Dawson, the Undead, Jackie and the Cedrics, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, and many others.

After moving to Tuscaloosa in 2007, Lars has played sax with Wiley and the Checkmates, The Haunted Hearts, and The Supreme Gents and recorded with Dan Sartain. In 2009 he and bassist Jeff Waites formed the surf/rock and roll band, The Original Shake Charmers.

Video:

The Original Shake Charmers

The Original Shake Charmers

A-Bones & Flamin' Groovies

A-Bones

Gowanus Canal Boys

Churchkeys

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/theoriginalshakecharmers