ABOUT US

  Bass Guitar and Vocals

I was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. My Dad at the time was a guitar player in ironically a country band playing all the popular clubs in the state of New Jersey. From the earliest days I can remember I always sang along with the music. I can remember at an early age knowing the songs and the artists. At about 10 years old I remember hearing my first Eagles song. I instantly remember liking the music and mainly the harmony parts.  My parents gave me my first bass guitar when I was 12.  Being the parents of a bass player whose room was above the living room was brutal and to this day I never once remember them asking me to stop.   

I’ve been in many bands since then. Founding member of After The Reign which I left in 2018 and started my own project in 2020. I’ve had the honor of participating in the Hard Rock Cafe's Hard Rock Rising competition, which was a worldwide battle of the bands that started with over 12.000 bands around the world, winning the New York City market and ranking in top 20 of the 12,000 bands. I’ve performed shows with: Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, James Wesley, Montgomery Gentry, Josh Thompson, Kix Brooks, Craig Morgan, Steel Magnolias, Steve Azar, Love and Theft, Trent Tomlinson, Daryl Worley and Bruce Springsteen to name a few.

This Guitar, that Guitar and Vocals 

Born in the mountains of North Jersey raised in the Country Capital of the Jersey Shore He started playing guitar around a campfire (or at least that's what he told his Mom, let's just say there was a lot of smoke involved) at the age of 15. Playing in backyard, keg party bands for years, some you may have heard of, he was a founding member of Beaver Street, Thunder Mountain, and The Swingin' Johnsons to mention a few. Played the local bar scene, Mr. Blu's, Tudor Square, Mrs. Jays, The Porthole, The Brighton, The Fast Lane. Eventually, that lifestyle caught up to him and a hiatus was in order. 17 years later he was asked to join One Eyed Jack by Patty and Donny. After a few years and a major bump in the road Thunder Mountain reformed. That bump, the passing of his bride, was the impetus for a songwriting career. Jo's Song was born, followed by Fire in the Firehouse and many more crowd favorites. He spent a good 10 years writing originals before attempting to assemble an ensemble to play a benefit for St Judes. Johnny Ray and the Mayweathers never quite got off the ground but the result was an inseparable bond with an old friend and current bass player/ chief cook and bottle washer, Dave Burlett. The remaining pieces quickly fell in place and Runaway Train was formed. John can be found grinning from ear to ear at any given moment on any given stage as he has finally begun to hit his stride a half century later. He's hoping to actually be good someday. 

Vocals, guitar, aka "Wade"

Born in Lincroft, NJ, and a life long resident of the Jersey Shore, Gene discovered his passion for music at an early age. His talent as a singer/ songwriter led him to become a main contributor to the original band "Wesley Project". As a key member of the band, he played a significant role in shaping its unique sound and creative direction.

Deeply influenced by country music Gene continues to evolve as an artist and is thrilled to be part of "Runaway Train".

  Drums, percussion, and anything else that deserves to be hit with a stick.

I was born and raised in Toms River, NJ. I became a United States Marine when I graduated from high school. I served for 10 years and am a veteran of desert shield and desert storm. I am a self-taught drummer and have been playing since I was 10 years old. Though I am self-taught, when I was 12 my mentor (and 2nd Dad) Cliff who was a rudimental drummer in the Marine Corps band started training me. I have played many genres including marching band, mummers and drum corp. I marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in NYC and many others throughout the tri-state area. I also played in a 20's swing band primarily in senior communities. In my youth I played in a punk band that made the stage at CBGB's, City Gardens, Fast Lane and Stone Pony to name a few. I started playing with the Ocean County String Band when I was 12 as a junior member and many years later was nominated as the musical director and both performed and directed the Mummers for more years then I can remember. We did shows for presidents Reagan, George H and George W Busch as well as governors Kean, Whittman and Christie. Throughout the years I have added playing with pit orchestras for musicals and have performed throughout NJ, Philadelphia and Orlando Fl for multiple different companies. I have been in rock bands since I was 12 and played most clubs on the jersey shore. As for country, it is a bit newer to me, but man am I loving it! It is seriously an adventure, and it is keeping my chops motivated! You just never know what these guys are going to pull out of their magic hat!

  Guitar and Vocals

Identified as a musical prodigy from an early age, Mark was best described by his academy professor as “A young Mozart, had Mozart been denied oxygen in the womb.” A former U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Mark is best known for having co-produced “Heartbeat”, a death-metal rock-opera based on the lives of Tony DeFranco and the DeFranco Family. Inventor of asparagus-flavored chewing gum, he has since made a fortune investing in foreclosed orphanages, and generic breakfast cereal. 

Pedal steel guitar, mandolin, acoustic & electric bass, dobro, guitar and vocals

Dave is a multi-instrumentalist who has been performing for over 50 years. A vocalist with exceptional range, he plays country, bluegrass, classic rock, rockabilly and blues and Americana. From a musical family, his grandfather was a concert pianist, his Mom played keys as well and his Dad fronted a Dixieland Band in his youth that sported his name.

Dave has recorded in NYC, Miami, and New Jersey, auditioned for the Ed Sullivan Show as the leader of his own rock & roll band while still in High School, and toured with a Peter Paul & Mary Tribute band on acoustic upright bass opening for The

Four Seasons. He plays guitar, mandolin, acoustic & electric bass, dobro and pedal steel guitar and has performed with many prominent artists. He holds an airline transport pilot rating and is a flight instructor and has balanced both careers with distinction, as well as flying aerial banner planes for 40 seasons on the NJ shore.

He has been a member of The Cunning-Hams and BlueCypress Bluegrass for over 18 years and plays festivals and shows as well as serving as an EmCee. He enjoys theatre work as a pit musician from Maine to Florida.

Keyboard

"Born and raised in former Yugoslavia plays 

piano, organ, synths, accordion, rhythm and bass guitar.

First HS band at 17 and then during University.

Classically trained composer, player and 

performer on TV, radio, and stage.

After moving to US featured in KEYBOARD magazine's DISCOVERIES

played with Del Shannon, Little Anthony,

Jersey’s own Joe Bonanno and 

with New York-New York show band from Staten Island.

Has a CD of original stage music, 

published a book in hungarian in 2015, 

has his youtube channel with over 60 videos

And this is just the extra curricular - musical stuff.”