ORIGINS - Back in 2005, three of us (Eggs, Bobbo, and Big Daddy K) sang together in the symphony and opera choruses, and during our traditional post-concert drink at a local pub, we conceived the idea of a doowop a cappella group. After an extensive search for a first tenor who can both sing and swing, we found T-Bird and off we went. You've heard of the Nylons, the Orlons....well, due to a totally non-serious remark by the medical member of the group which was taken seriously by the other members, the Nefrons were born.
T-BIRD (tenor 1) - T-Bird was born and raised in New Mexico, went to undergrad at UC Santa Barbara (which helps with the Beach Boys tunes), is a former educator and administrator at Fresno State (go Bulldogs!), and is now Director of Staff Development and Training for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. T-Bird's interest in a cappella singing was ignited by his youngest son's experience singing with the UW Mad Hatters. He carries the title of "master roadie" for our sound equipment. T-Bird rebuilds classic cars on the side (we knew he was gonna do well in this group.....).
BOBBO (baritone) - Dispatched from Lake Wobegon to Madison by Garrison Keillor in 1995 to civilize the Badgers, Bobbo has a music degree from St. John's U. and and MBA from St. Cloud State. His real job involves educating highly educated people about higher education. His primary Nefron responsibility is emailing new songlists to the rest of us within 5 minutes of finishing a rehearsal, along with finding replacement sunglasses for Eggs before every gig. Other music biz includes singing in the symphony and opera choruses, and explaining to small children that our sunglasses do NOT mean we are blind.
BIG DADDY K (bass) - Born and raised in California, Big Daddy K went to UCSB a few years after T-Bird so they never met, but he knows how to bodysurf and knows the bass lines to the Beach Boys tunes. After med school at the University of Spoiled Children (USC) and training at U. Michigan and U. Colorado, he has no idea who to root for in the bowl games. A kidney and hypertension specialist, BDK is active in community musical theater, symphony and opera choruses. He is the unofficial Nefron music librarian, shares PR responsibilities with Bobbo, and spends most rehearsals setting the beat fast enough so the others can't get the lyrics out in time. His favorite doowop lyric thus far is do-bahp, and chose the bass part so he wouldn't have to memorize too many real words.
EGGS (tenor 2) - A Wisconsin native, Eggs has been singing since childhood, influenced by his mother who taught music and had a short stint with the Chicago Opera Company. After studying music at Wartburg College, he taught and conducted choral music in high school for 13 years, followed by numerous business ventures. For 22 years, he directed, composed and arranged for his gospel group, the Hill Prairie Singers. After meeting Bobbo and Big Daddy K in the symphony and opera choruses, he frequently arranges for the Nefrons and says "man is it fun to do a cappella again". When not singing, he is frequently emailing the whole world some joke that he alone finds funny, and enjoys his frequent battles with Big Daddy K over trivial issues that entertain both immensely.