Tammy "TJ" Easterday -  Lead Vocals, Keyboards

 Tammy "TJ" Easterday was born into the musical family of the Iverson/Easterday clan. As a youngster, she was raised on greats such as Patsy Cline, the Grand Old Opry's Minnie Pearl, Little Jimmie Dikens, and George Jones. But that was only half the story. When no one was looking, she enjoyed the upbeat and powerful sounds of popular artists like Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone, Billy Preston, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles. For a few years she even rebelled with some Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd. With so many backgrounds, she had time to experiment with and experience all kinds of music. Being well versed in so many different styles of music gives Tammy the diverse sound she is known for today. Tammy is even a champion bassoonist, but she “just couldn't get her groove on playing what looked like a bedpost with a straw.”

Tammy has been singing since the age of three, performing at her Mom and Dad's little eatery in Paoli IN. She particularly enjoyed entertaining the customers with “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (“no, not the Fergie version“ she points out). She started performing with her dad at the age of 10, and at 16 she joined her father, Bob Easterday, on larger stages. Known as one of the finest Elvis impersonators around, she has had the honor of performing with his band on and off for 20 years. She has also had the pleasure of opening for Jim Ed Brown, T. Graham Brown, and Sawyer Brown.

Tammy created her own band, and for 12 years played with TJ and the Medicine Men. She joined several other bands after that, which eventually resulted in her involvement in her current band, Compass Rose. “I have performed with many bands in my life, and I have never had the pleasure of being a part of such a great group of people. We have accomplished so much since our formation in 2009, and never thought I would have been a part of recording on Music Row at one of the finest studios in Nashville, Tennessee called Vibe.  It's all pretty magical.”

She respects and admires her bandmates, believing that “we are all but blood relatives.” Being in such a close-knit, talented bunch of musicians makes her very happy. “I am so very proud to be a member of the best band I have had the pleasure of being a part of."

Since the formation of the “motley crew” of Compass Rose, Tammy and the band have performed on some pretty impressive stages, some in the heart of downtown Nashville.  In amazing places such as Tootsies’ Orchid Lounge, Rippy's, and The Cadillac Ranch, they have become regular performers. "We owe a lot to our engineer, Scott Velazco, who was just fabulous. [He] made us sound like total rock stars.”

Tammy "TJ" Easterday: keyboardist, female lead vocals, backup vocalist, and the occasional kazooist. Someone needs a vacation.

Curtis Harding - Bass Guitar

 Raised on the outskirts of Bloomington, Indiana, music has been a part of Curtis’ life from the beginning. From cranking the radio in the country, going to see the Rolling Stones at the age of eight, and hanging with his musically-inclined friends, the art of song has been a huge inspiration no matter what form it takes.

Even with all the music surrounding him, it wasn’t until some friends were practicing without a bass player that he had realized he wanted to play the instrument that he’s known for today. What started as a random interest quickly turned into an all-out passion.

Curtis received his first bass guitar only one month before his 19^th birthday. Taking inspiration from musicians as John Paul Jones, John Entwhistle, Les Claypool, Mike Gordon, and Phil Lesh, Curtis began his journey into learning the bass in a very active way.  After a few quick tutorials from friends, music books, and a little thing called the internet, his first band was formed.

This band, Johnny Redbone, began playing at house parties and local bars as often as possible. Now with a new calling to play live shows, music began to course through Curtis’ blood. Practicing two to three days a week and playing shows almost every weekend, performing became his life. The band played a large range of songs from groups such as Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, and Beastie Boys, but they also threw in a mix of originals for good measure. Johnny Redbone fashioned a respectable following, but the band members went their separate ways after only a short time together. A few years after starting the band, a fellow band member decided to pursue different goals in life, but that didn’t stop Curtis and the rest of his bandmates from following their dreams.

Random Eyez was formed soon after Johnny Redbone parted ways. Now with a different musical taste, other muses began to take their place in Curtis’ style.  Minus a guitar and plus a saxophone, Random Eyez began where his first band had left off. With more experience and a whole new flavor, Curtis began to put a new groove into his music. Using new inspiration from artists like Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke, he began creating a jazz fusion, jam-band based band. Coincidentally, while performing with Random Eyez at a local venue one evening, two musicians approached Curtis about an opportunity to record with some fresh talent.

After a few practices, a little studio time, and a beer or two, the journey of Compass Rose began. Since starting in 2009, the band has reached many creative heights. From recording in Nashville, Tennessee to selling out the Buskirk Chumley Theater in Curtis' hometown of Bloomington, the band has paved the way for dreams never imagined by the bassist. With their first album in the books, continue to look for Curtis to pursue his love in playing music, performing live, and writing new original music with Compass Rose.

Tim Roberts  -  Drums

 Tim has always had a strong love for playing drums. After receiving a snare drum for his 11th birthday and full drumset on his 12th, he was hooked.

 With an interest in various styles of Rock and Roll and Blues, Tim has a broad love of music that is evident when he discusses his influences.  "I'm a huge fan of all kinds of music, some of my favorite artist and groups are The Black Keys, Led Zepplin, Aerosmith, John Mellencamp, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mumford and Sons, Civil Wars, AC/DC, Zac Brown Band, Brooks and Dunn, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, and Buddy Guy."  Some of the drummers that have been influential to his playing are Steve Gadd, Dane Clark, Tim Brookshire, Kenny Aronoff, Richie Hayward, and Steve Jordan.

Music runs in his family. "My dad works in an arena that has hosted concerts for over 30 years.  Because of his job, I have had the opportunity to see some amazing concerts up close and behind the scenes. That has been a huge source of inspiration for me." Tim's experience at concerts with his father was just one motivating factor to make him want to perform.  He had some great instruction along the way from award-winning music programs at his middle and high schools in Bloomington, Indiana.  Tim also took private lessons from the time he got his first drum until he graduated high school.  "I'm very fortunate to have had the education along with [the opportunity of] watching professional musicians on a regular basis.  Learning the fundamentals of playing, seeing the level of professionalism it takes to be a pro, and getting a good understanding of the music business has been invaluable."

Tim has played with bands, artists, and in recording sessions over the last 15 years, all of which have given him great experiences.  However, playing with Compass Rose is one of Tim’s greatest involvements. "Being a member of Compass Rose has been the best musical experience I've had.  This band has been able to accomplish so much in a short amount of time, and things seem to keep going well for us.  I'm really proud to be a part of this band.” He goes on to say, "my proudest musical accomplishment thus far was the opportunity Compass Rose had to record and play in Nashville, Tennessee.  Recording in the best studios and playing on famous stages is a dream come true for me."

In his spare time, Tim also gives private drum lessons in his personal practice studio and enjoys playing golf a few times a year when he's not busy.  Tim was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana where he continues to live with his wife Ryann and two children, Abby and Sam.

Jeff Schwegman  -  Lead Guitar

 Raised in Monrovia, Indiana, Jeff began playing guitar around the age of 13. Like many young musicians, he was drawn into music by watching other performers at work. His personal inspiration came after witnessing a band of high school teenagers playing a small festival in the area.  The particular music wasn’t anything spectacular, but what attracted him was how much the girls in the crowd admired the band and watched them intensely.  One look at that, and his teenage mind was convinced.

Jeff had connections to the guitarists in the band and he resolved to learn the crowd-pleasing instrument through whatever means necessary. After convincing his parents to buy him a guitar, he set out with a beat-up acoustic to learn from whomever he could. His first lessons were “from some old fossil my Dad knew. “  After getting ahold of an old Les Paul knock-off and a cheap amp, he started strumming away on his own.   “At the time I wasn’t interested in playing lead as I thought I could be a singer (wow, was I wrong), so I learned all of my rock and roll chords and went looking for a band.”   

His first band was called The 3 Dead Guys, and they “weren’t very good, but as expected, the students in the school loved us.”  They played a couple of concerts in the gym and packed the place, and for an 18-year-old kid, “it was killer.”  The band was short lived, and like many aspiring teenage musicians, Jeff left for college and began playing music on his own terms. While his time was full with other responsibilities, Jeff still made time to play his guitar.

“The only thing I did do was start to teach myself to play lead guitar between studying sessions,” Jeff explains.  After finishing college and getting a job, he met a couple of musicians. Together they formed Crusty and the Bearded Clams, which started as a three piece acoustic act.  The band ended up accumulating a great following, and they remained the house band at the old Junction Bar in Bloomington for over a year. “Those were some fun, wild days.  We played together off and on for over ten years.”

But about eight years ago, Jeff started playing with a band called Red Eye Max.  This band recorded an album of its own original music, which began getting some radio play. “We started playing bigger and better bars ... and we were first runner up for a contest put on by Kenny Chesney, which allowed us to make a connection with Kenny’s promoter, and he loved us.”

During his time with Red Eye Max, Jeff met his current bandmates, Tim and Tammy of Compass Rose.  As his old band grew, “so did one of the band member’s ego, and it got to the point where it was comical.”  After finally deciding to leave the band, Jeff focused on getting some of his own work recorded.  He also discussed studio work with Tim and Tammy outside of Red Eye Max, and those new songs convinced Jeff to continue playing with the two. Not surprisingly, they quit the band as well, and as a trio they decided to form Compass Rose. 

After some local scouting, the three found Curt and Jeremy playing out in the Bloomington area.  After a few failed ideas and a fiddle player that didn’t work, Compass Rose solidified the current lineup.  “We’ve really kicked ass since forming,” Jeff boasts. Compass Rose recorded its first album in Nashville, Tennessee and continues to play there regularly. With a new album on the horizon, Jeff continues to hope for growing fame with Compass Rose.

“Look out world, here we come!”

Jeremy Sublette  -  Lead Vocals, Backup Guitar

 Jeremy Sublette grew to performing music in a different way than most. Coming from a family not particularly musical, he picked up the interest on his own. Taking an early curiosity in music led him down his individual path into gospel music and high school bands, known more for group dynamics than personal attention. But no matter how much he may protest, Jeremy was made for the spotlight.

Born in Gosport, Indiana, Jeremy began playing music with his school band. In sixth grade, he learned the trumpet and continued with the instrument through his entire school career. As a high school student, Jeremy was a part of a Marching Band that took home state and national titles, and he also played lead trumpet in the Jazz Band. He enjoyed the discipline of the groups, especially enjoying the dynamic nature of the bands.

Even though he had never considered starting a stage band until much later in life, Jeremy began singing at 19 and learning the guitar at 20. His first collaborative band was with his Church Praise Team and Gospel Bluegrass, where he played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and he also held the position of lead vocals with the group. Not stopping there, he also picked up some keyboard over the years.

Jeremy has a very managerial attitude about the band, and he insists that he dislikes the spotlight. “If I could play behind a speaker, I would,” he says. However, as soon as he steps on stage, his musical talent shines and he seems right at home. His interesting and broad musical style gives him the ability to sing in very different ways. While performing with Compass Rose, Jeremy can be seen covering songs on lead vocals from the Johnny Cash to Michael Jackson, and he occasionally takes the stage for acoustic songs with a bluesy flair. His guitar abilities are broad too, often adding a layer of acoustic guitar alongside bandmate and lead guitarist Jeff Schwegman.

Being a part of Compass Rose is a good experience for Jeremy, and he likes the pleasant attitudes of his bandmates. “They’re like family without fighting,” he claims. Jeremy joined the group when Tammy, Tim, and Jeff were looking for a good male vocalist to record with.  After recruiting Jeremy and Bass player Curtis, Compass Rose was ready to go.

If you’re ever looking for Jeremy, odds are if you don’t find him in the middle of the stage belting out powerful songs and strumming his acoustic, you’ll find him behind the table during sound check. His dedication to creating a unified and good-sounding performance turns a good band into a great show. Catch Jeremy and Compass Rose playing Indiana venues in between shows on the strip in Nashville.