Twelve South, a band based in Middle Tennessee, is comprised of six guys who love music and love God. Yet, they consider themselves a different kind of Christian band – one that isn’t afraid of dirty hands and digging in to do the work involved in God’s kingdom.
The members write songs about real-life situations and their pasts. They view themselves as a group of normal guys with God-given talents they are using together, reaching out to people through their lyrics. Their lyrics don’t have to be an obvious cry out to the lost, but the message is in all of their songs. They hope through the venues where they choose to perform and through their secular rock, pop and acoustic sound that they will begin to reach out to the world. They are simply Christians in a band with a mission to use their talent and music to help their fans dig deeper and uncover their hearts.
Twelve South began as a one-time gig. Alex was asked by a friend to perform for a church youth lock-in. Alex agreed on the condition he could find a band. He recruited from among fellow church members on praise teams, friends, and friends of friends. Out of this gig, three Twelve South members emerged. Alex, Jeremy and Scott all began to write together and stir around the idea of a band. With a friend as a temporary bassist, no drummer and waiting for an electric-guitar player return from the Dominican Republic, they explored the avenues of playing together. They began playing shows with fill-in members and without keys since Scott was on drums until the lineup was set. They also began playing under the name Downpour, until confusion arose since the name was also a part of the Calvary Baptist Church college ministry. At this point the guys needed a name for their new band. They began to think of ideas, and after much deliberation, they found a solution. They wrote down words on pieces of paper and threw them in a baseball cap. They picked the words out two at a time. “Twelve” and “South” were the first two picked. The guys liked it, but they continued to draw names. After coming up with some names that didn’t work like “Nerf Helmet,” they decided Twelve South was as good as it was going to get.
As the summer of 2009 came to an end, Wes returned and agreed to play electric guitar with the guys, and Matt returned from his summer tour and agreed to play bass. Scott was still playing drums for the band as they begin to book gigs. They tried out numerous drummers at practices, even one drummer they found on craigslist.com. They all agreed he had the talent, but the drummer just wasn’t going to work out. So Scott continued to play.
In November 2009, Twelve South played at Rocketown with Sonic Flood, David Upton and Messenger. This really focused the band members, and later that month, they recorded their EP, still with Scott playing drums and keys. As the holidays passed, and they band came back together for practices, they knew they were determined to find a drummer. Alex called back up the drummer from craigslist. He still had no gig and Alex reasoned with him. John entered the picture and returned for another Twelve South practice – and he’s impressed with the band’s progress in such a short time. Thus, the band became six-members strong and faced a new year ahead.
In February 2010, the band released its self-titled EP. March plans include recording some new songs and beginning the planning of a summer tour along the East Coast, in the Midwest and possibly on the West Coast.
The members write songs about real-life situations and their pasts. They view themselves as a group of normal guys with God-given talents they are using together, reaching out to people through their lyrics. Their lyrics don’t have to be an obvious cry out to the lost, but the message is in all of their songs. They hope through the venues where they choose to perform and through their secular rock, pop and acoustic sound that they will begin to reach out to the world. They are simply Christians in a band with a mission to use their talent and music to help their fans dig deeper and uncover their hearts.
Twelve South began as a one-time gig. Alex was asked by a friend to perform for a church youth lock-in. Alex agreed on the condition he could find a band. He recruited from among fellow church members on praise teams, friends, and friends of friends. Out of this gig, three Twelve South members emerged. Alex, Jeremy and Scott all began to write together and stir around the idea of a band. With a friend as a temporary bassist, no drummer and waiting for an electric-guitar player return from the Dominican Republic, they explored the avenues of playing together. They began playing shows with fill-in members and without keys since Scott was on drums until the lineup was set. They also began playing under the name Downpour, until confusion arose since the name was also a part of the Calvary Baptist Church college ministry. At this point the guys needed a name for their new band. They began to think of ideas, and after much deliberation, they found a solution. They wrote down words on pieces of paper and threw them in a baseball cap. They picked the words out two at a time. “Twelve” and “South” were the first two picked. The guys liked it, but they continued to draw names. After coming up with some names that didn’t work like “Nerf Helmet,” they decided Twelve South was as good as it was going to get.
As the summer of 2009 came to an end, Wes returned and agreed to play electric guitar with the guys, and Matt returned from his summer tour and agreed to play bass. Scott was still playing drums for the band as they begin to book gigs. They tried out numerous drummers at practices, even one drummer they found on craigslist.com. They all agreed he had the talent, but the drummer just wasn’t going to work out. So Scott continued to play.
In November 2009, Twelve South played at Rocketown with Sonic Flood, David Upton and Messenger. This really focused the band members, and later that month, they recorded their EP, still with Scott playing drums and keys. As the holidays passed, and they band came back together for practices, they knew they were determined to find a drummer. Alex called back up the drummer from craigslist. He still had no gig and Alex reasoned with him. John entered the picture and returned for another Twelve South practice – and he’s impressed with the band’s progress in such a short time. Thus, the band became six-members strong and faced a new year ahead.
In February 2010, the band released its self-titled EP. March plans include recording some new songs and beginning the planning of a summer tour along the East Coast, in the Midwest and possibly on the West Coast.
Alex Belew | singer, songwriter
Alex is Twelve South’s natural-born leader. He is located in Murfreesboro, Tenn., after moving from his birthplace, Roanoke, Va., when he was 9 months old with his mother, Donna. His drive and desire to write and perform music on and off stage are almost indescribable. Performing and singing have been a great deal of his life. Alex has been singing since he was about 10 years old. He also began to play the saxophone in sixth grade. Throughout high school, he was in National Honor’s Choir and sang in Carnegie Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Ely Cathedral. In college, he found himself in a seven-person jam band, Ivalee, with a southern rock feel for about two years. Alex’s developed stage presence is a slight reminder of Rob Thomas, formerly of Matchbox Twenty, with the vocals of Mac Powell from Third Day.
Music is not his only passion. Alex graduated from culinary school in 2009. He continues to cater events and cook for friends. Alex attended Middle Tennessee State University before going to culinary school. He married another passion in his life, his wife, Sarah, in October 2008. Sarah continues to be motivation and creative inspiration for Alex’s music, such as “Save Me.”
Twelve South began when Alex was asked to put a band together for a youth lock-in. From there, he asked fellow friends and church members from Calvary Baptist Church to join him for a one-time gig. Through this event, three of the six members of Twelve South began to play and write together.
Jeremy Vance Bumgardner | vocals, guitar
Jeremy is Twelve South’s business man. He has always had natural talent. He began singing and playing instruments at a very early age. He was first seen playing a trombone on the porch at the age of 2. Next, he began playing the piano, at age 7. Throughout the years, he began to pick up numerous other instruments: drums, saxophone, harmonica and the prized guitar. Jeremy also got his first standing ovation for a church solo as a 7 year old. Jeremy’s love for the guitar and singing has driven his music career. He got his first guitar when he was 13 years old. That year, he also joined his first Christian band, Modern Missionaries. Jeremy’s life passions also led him to another band.
Jeremy is naturally talented in athletics and academics as well. Two of his favorite hobbies are playing volleyball and astronomy. Jeremy originally found himself at Penn State, studying Astrophysics. He has been interested in astronomy just as long as he has been interested in music. His parents and sisters were supportive of all Jeremy’s endeavors from music to astronomy. While at Penn State, Jeremy joined Cold Water, another Christian band, for a year. He also purchased his first electric guitar.
After two years of living in Pennsylvania, Jeremy decided God was calling him to do something else. He felt God was calling him to reach out to people through music. Jeremy packed up and moved to Middle Tennessee State University for the renowned recording program. Jeremy then found himself at Calvary Baptist Church playing in the college praise band. This is where Alex first sought out Jeremy for what was going to be a one-time gig.
Wesley Merrill | guitar
Wesley is Twelve South’s quiet music aficionado. Wes grew up with a musical taste for all genres and tons of creativity. His father, John, and two older brothers were all involved in music. In fact, John attended music school when he was younger and plays several instruments. Wes credits his creativity to his mother. Wes began playing guitar when he was 14 years old, because he was moving to “Music City.” He and his younger brother took lessons from a friend at church. Later on, Wes took lessons from Steve Frey, who attended the Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. Wes looks up to Frey a great deal for his talent and credentials.
Wes loves to play. He continually strives to become better and that is evident to the band and others. He also loves to write music. When he writes and plays, he hopes that he can feel like the Olympian, Eric Liddell. Liddell said, “I can feel His [God’s] pleasure.” Despite Wes’s reserved personality, he feels like his mission is to see the lost become saved. He has been on numerous international mission trips, where he can contribute music, labor and “other things not really involving a charismatic speaker.” On some of these trips, Wes was able to experience leading worship. Through Twelve South, he wants to continue using the talents God gave him to glorify and reach out to others.
Wes was born Minnesota, and throughout his childhood, he moved around Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon. John Merrill’s job kept the family on the move, but the clan finally moved to Nashville. That’s when Wes picked up an instrument, keeping a promise he made to his friends back in Oregon. Wes began playing in the Calvary Baptist Church praise teams and is still active. In the summer of 2009, after Wes returned from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, he was approached by Alex Belew to play a few gigs with some guys from church.
John McFarland | drums
John, born and raised in Los Angeles, is Twelve South’s experienced band guy and funny man. When he began playing the drums at 5 years old, he was in the perfect place for talent to thrive. When asked what influences him, John replied, “I am actually influenced by everything and everyone, both good and bad, like art and sports, music and nature. I try and make a song a tangible experience by playing from an emotion or a mind set of something I have been through. I am a very lyric conscious player; I listen and try to convey on drums what the singer is saying.” John feels like he was simply made to play music. His mission from God is to give glory to Him through playing and reaching out to others.
John has an extensive amount of experience. He graduated from Musicians Institute of Technology in 2008. Even before graduation, he had plenty of experience in bands and gigs. One of John’s most memorable times was playing percussion for Stevie Wonder in a 2007 Toys for Tots benefit. He played at the Nokia Theater in LA and shared the stage with John Legend, John Mayer, Ellis Hall and Aisha Wonder. Before this, he played with The Offspring for two weeks, worked the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and played at clubs like The Roxy and Whisky A Go Go. In 2009, John toured with American Idol contestant Kurtis Parks in the band The Season.
John’s musical career in Hollywood was successful, but God was ready for something new. After his graduation from MI in 2008, he moved to Nashville, Tenn. In June, he flew back to California to marry his wife, Catheryne, and then couple came back to Tennessee. Catheryne has been inspiration, support and motivation for John since they met. They were tired of the secular band scene when John was offered a gig with a successful hard-rock band. Yet John felt led to turn that gig down and to pursue God’s path. John and Catheryne were in Tennessee all on faith, and that’s when Alex Belew contacted a drummer from California on Craigslist.
Scott Gregory | keys
Scott is the reserved thinker of the group. Scott was born in Tupelo, Miss., the birth place of Elvis Presley. Scott's father, mark, is a southern baptist pastor and was pastoring in Tupelo. The family moved to Murfreesboro,Tenn. when Scott was about five. Mark started preaching at First Baptist Church. In 2000, Calvary Baptist Church was started and it became the family's home church. Scott is surrounded by a talented family. His brother, Daniel, and father are both talented musicians. His mother, Jan, is a wonderful artist and teacher. So it is no surprise Scott is talented in more than one area.
Scott started playing music when he was about ten years old: He took piano lessons and played trumpet in the band. He continued to improve on those instruments. When Scott was around 14 or 15, he started to play drums in the youth praise band; He continued all throughout high school. Scott really began taking an interest in music when he was in the early years of high school. He started to take practicing seriously on trumpet and piano. Here is where Scott developed a love for classical music; He wanted to be a composer. But his heart changed and he decided that he wanted to focus more on piano and keyboards than on classical music. He started getting into jazz and some pop or non-classical. Scott enjoys writing and creating things—putting different stuff together to make something new. Scott's goal is hoping he can create music that has a positive impact on the people that listen to it.
Scott entered college as a jazz studies major, decided he didn't like the music program at MTSU. Then he moved to Nashville to play music and skip the college scene, until he realized that he actually enjoyed school, so he moved back to Murfreesboro and returned to college. Which is where Alex found Scott to ask him to play a one time gig.
