Southern Rock’s Finest features former members of Pure Prairie League, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Gregg Allman Band, Blackfoot, Artimus Pyle Band, Les Dudek Group, and Ghostriders.
In 2014, Phill Stokes, a founding member of Pure Prairie League, visioned and brought to life this gathering of legendary musicians to celebrate and showcase the best of Southern Rock.
Southern Rock’s Finest plays the radio hits from the bands they founded and played in.
Southern Rock’s Finest is an all star Southern Rock review featuring former members of Pure Prairie League, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Gregg Allman Band, Blackfoot, Artimus Pyle Band, and Ghostriders.
Southern Rock’s Finest includes:
PHILL STOKES formerly of Pure Prairie League, Bob Burns Project, and Ghostriders
MIKE ESTES formerly of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot
SCOTT CRAIG formerly of Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet
STEVE MCCOSKEY formerly of Les Dudek Group, Bounty Hunter Band and Big Dick and the Extenders
CHAZ TRIPPY formerly of Gregg Allman Band
JAMES CHAPLIN formerly of TNB (Allman Brothers tribute show) JIMMY ELKINS formerly of Molly Hatchet and Bounty Hunter
Band Members
Phill Stokes is a musician, bass player, guitarist, vocalist, band leader, and producer. An original and founding member of Pure Prairie League, his vision for Southern Rock’s Finest is the driving force bringing these legendary musicians together on one stage. Phill has played with Pure Prairie League, Bob Burns Project, Ghostriders, Bo Didley, J.D.Blackfoot, Dennis Yost and the Classics Four, Eric Moore of The Godz, Sleepy LaBeef, and has done session work with Craig Fuller of Little Feat.
Mike Estes is considered by those-that-know to be one of the best southern rock singer/guitarists performing today. From his days playing guitar with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot to fronting Skinny Molly, Estes has established himself as the common link between the past and the future of Southern Rock. As formidable as his singing and guitar playing is, Estes is also a prolific songwriter, penning a diverse set of fan favorites as “Devil in the Bottle” “Better Than I Should” to “For Y’all” and “Give You All Night” from Skinny Molly‘s latest CD, “Here For A Good Time”. A self-described workaholic, he recently began work on new solo CD which showcases his latest tunes and some previously unrecorded songs written when he was in Skynyrd.
Scott Craig has worked with just about everyone in Nashville, most notably touring with Trace Adkins, Legends of Country Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, and more recently drumming with the number one Eagles tribute band The Long Run. He is formerly of Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet.
Chaz Trippy started playing Congas in 1977 and was fortunate to study for 3 years under the late Ramon Lopez. He played with the Gregg Allman Band from 1981-89. He’s been playing with Gumbo Boogie in Sarasota for 23 years and sits in on all kinds of bands around the Suncoast, most importantly, of course, with Southern Rock’s Finest.
Steve “Mac” McCoskey played with Les Dudek Group, Bounty Hunter, Southern Stars, and Big Dick and the Extenders of Key West where Steve Mac’s hot guitar playing was once so hot his amp literally caught on fire. Steve is also an accomplished studio session musician on guitar, slide, bass, vocals, and pedal steel.
James Chaplin played with Trouble No More, one of the best Allman Brothers tribute shows. He also was an original musician with Florida bands Local Traffic and The South Street Band. Jim is an outstanding vocalist, songwriter, and accomplished slide guitarist.
Jimmy Elkins, former lead vocalist of Molly Hatchet, Bounty Hunter, Southern Stars, and Big Dick and the Extenders of Key West, is one of the best southern rock singers of all time with his soulful hard rocking vocals.
Southern Rock's Finest 