Mr. Happy

Style(s): Oldies, R&B, Rock, Soul

There are lots of vices in life: drinking, lethargy, coffee, and for some it’s Mr. Happy. Mr. Happy is a quartet of fun, energy, and most especially good music and good times. Mr. Happy has been entertaining audiences since 1993 and in that time Mr. Happy has played over two thousand shows and entertained masses of people. They have opened for national recording acts: Cheap Trick, Sass Jordan and Extreme and signed an independent record deal in 1995 with Nashville’s Core Records. Blending a combination of originals, covers, rock, funk, hip hop and the eclectic, Mr. Happy is able to entertain any crowd; large or small, old or young.

Mr. Happy is comprised of Scott Hairston on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and keyboards. Scott helped found the band in 1993 and is an energetic front man. His extensive hat collection and “white-boy funk” dance moves usually turns any show into a scene to behold.

Marty Fussell, percussionist and vocals, also helped found the band in 1993 and enjoys an extensive touring history not only playing with Top 40 bands, but also with sound reinforcement for other touring acts such as: Coolio, Survivor, Vanilla Ice, and Peter Criss & Ace Frehley. Marty also is a “percussion instructor” and can teach even the most rhythmically challenged the basis of the “beat.”

Eric Ellis, lead guitarist, vocalist and all around sound “smith” was voted, after extensive research by the scientist at Happy Inc., as “funniest man alive that you never thought would be that funny at first glance.” Eric is the “glue” that holds the sound together and also is renowned as a dilettante of fine Mexican food everywhere.

On bass guitar and vocals is the man whose nickname is “Jammer”, is Jimmy Tomlinson. Jimmy has toured extensively in the southeastern U.S. and is also currently touring with up-and-coming country act “Sum of Us.” He is one of the most talented bass players in the South and brought Mr. Happy the “funk” it had always needed.

No good band survives long without someone looking after them on the other side of the snake. “Hutch” is that someone. Not only does he have the uncanny ability to make anyone sound good, he can also make the good sound down-right transcendent.

Mr. Happy has played all types of venues, from the Riverfront Amphitheater, to classic wedding venues, to clubs, to the middle of a field in Murray Park. So, no show is too big or too small for Mr. Happy. Just give them a place to play and the party will follow.