ARTISTS

Larry Dean

Larry Dean

Band leader Larry Dean grew up playing accordions, organs, pianos…anything with a keyboard. A little country, some R&B, some solo piano all helped to work his way through his younger years and his music education at Campbell University. Immediately after finishing (35 years ago) he joined North Tower and has been here ever since.

Playing the keys and singing lead vocals, Larry’s vision for North Tower has never changed. Making great music with great friends. In recent years Larry has added Artist (acrylic painter) and Teacher (teaching art classes in Raleigh NC) to his resumé.

In early 2025, Larry was inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Hall Of Fame!

Jeff Hinson

Jeff Hinson

Jeff has been performing with North Tower for over two decades as saxophone player and vocalist. He still recalls the first time he saw North Tower in 1987, when he was a college student at UNC-W, meeting the original sax player (Bob Craig) and having no clue that he’d ever play with the band. Now he’s part of the North Tower tradition carrying the torch into the band’s 46th year of making music.

Jeff began his professional music career while a senior at UNC-W when he joined the local beach music/top 40 band Mirage. Mirage taught Jeff how to perform and how to navigate the music business, preparing him for North Tower.

When reflecting on 20 plus years in North Tower Jeff said “North Tower is more than a band…It’s truly a family. There is a kinship between the original members, past members and the current members that I’m not sure happens in other bands. I’m blessed to be part of the North Tower family”.

Jeff lives in Wilmington with his wife Michelle and has two adult sons. Jeff has many interests including marching band/drum corps, going to local concerts and plays and in recent years has fallen in love with New York City.

Tom Bagley

Tom Bagley

T.F. has had a diverse and extensive musical career spanning several decades. He began by playing guitar and singing with the band Misunderstood. After high school, he moved to Greensboro, NC, where he played with Chocolate Funk, sharing stages with legendary bands such as The Ohio Players, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, and Confunkshion.

During his career, Tom also collaborated with country music artist Gwen Biddix, in association with Archie Campbell from Hee-Haw (television variety show). In the 1970s, he toured the Southeast with Instant Replay and later co-founded the Central Park Band, known for recording six original beach music hits. Tom himself wrote, recorded, and released the original songs "You Don’t Know" and "Parda".

Tom is noted as a versatile guitarist who has performed with several beach music bands over the years. His musical journey led him to join the North Tower Band full-time in 2016, continuing to contribute his talents and passion to the music scene.

Jim Stoudemire

Jim Stoudemire

Jim started playing trumpet in the 6th grade, graduated high school in 1977 and started playing in his first band, Threshold (Sumter, SC) on New Years Eve, 1977. For the next 24 years, he played valve trombone and sang with Main Event (Columbia, SC), The Fabulous Kays (Charlotte, NC), and North Tower (Raleigh, NC). In 2001, Jim went to work with Fat Ammons Band (VA Beach, VA), then followed that with over 20 years with The Fantastic Shakers (Lincolnton, NC) and The Entertainers (Charlotte, NC). While with The Entertainers, Jim sang lead on two recordings, "Satisfy My Woman" and a medley of "Saturday Night At The Movies" and "Kissin' In The Back Row" known as "The Drifters Medley" with both reaching #1 on several beach music charts. Through these times, Jim has been privileged to back artists such as Major Lance, The Crystals, Percy Sledge and Archie Bell as well as having opened for The Temptations, The Four Tops, Three Dog Night, The Family Stone, Jerry Butler, The Spinners, Taylor Dayne and Firehouse among many others.

In 2018, in recognition of his contributions over the previous 41 years, Jim was inducted into The Carolinas Beach Music Association Hall Of Fame.

In 2024, an opportunity arose for Jim to rejoin North Tower, singing and playing trumpet and flugelhorn, which he truly enjoys and is thankful for the chance to continue his musical journey with such a great group of guys!

After living all around the Carolinas and Virginia, Jim currently resides in Rock Hill, SC with his wife Judith and their Siberian Huskies, Luka and KyAnn.

Patrick Brown

Patrick Brown

BIO COMING SOON

Joe Salerno

Joe Salerno

Joe Salerno- Bassist and Vocals
“Coming from a family deeply rooted in music appreciation, I have been surrounded by melodies and rhythms my entire life. My education in music began in garages, jamming with friends, and was later complemented by academic studies in theory, composition, and ear training. These experiences have shaped me into the musician I am today.

I have had the privilege of performing in various settings, from intimate church gatherings to large venues across the western United States. My musical journey has taken me from Northern and Southern California to New York City, through Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Along the way, I have had the honor of playing alongside A-list musicians, collaborating with talented singer-songwriters, and contributing to studio projects.
I have also fronted my own musical endeavors, each experience adding to my growth and versatility as a musician.
Now, I am thrilled to have found my place as the bassist with North Tower Band. This talented group of musicians has become my musical family, and together, we bring our passion for music to life across the Carolinas.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. I look forward to “jumping around” with some of you folks down the road!

God Bless
Joe Salerno"