Who Are Johnny Lex and The Allies?

Johnny Lex

The "Conductor"

Johnny Lex is the humble front man that conducts Johnny Lex and the Allies through their creative performances. He was born and raised in Roanoke, Va, and is well known in the area. Singing came to Johnny early and he performed in the Roanoke College Children’s Choir including in competitions at Princeton University and Walt Disney World. As an adult he honed his craft performing at local Roanoke open mics, before growing into running his own. This experience has put him at the heart of the locally established and burgeoning musical scene players. 

He loves music with a passion that can so easily be witnessed in his connected interpretations of JLA’s songs. Whether originals or covers, you know that you will always receive the heart that brings every song and each word to life.

Ben Epperly

The "Mad Professor of Piano"

Ben Epperly is the ‘Mad Professor of Piano’ for Johnny Lex and The Allies, a ground breaking genre-bending band. Ben graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology from Virginia Tech. As a well-rounded eclectic music aficionado with perfect pitch, he is well-known as a professional improviser on the keys. He delights listeners by playing in many styles from Jazz, to Rock and Pop, and includes world and classical musical influences. He plays for various groups within the Roanoke Valley, regionally around southwestern Virginia, and at venues through the Carolinas.

Mad Professor of Piano

Daniel Kepel

The "Shredder"

Daniel Kepel, AKA the ‘shredder’, plays violin for the innovative band Johnny Lex and The Allies. Born in the UK he came to the US in 1999. He grew up in London and studied music at University in Cambridge England. Having played and recorded with many musicians, bands, and classical performance groups in the region and nationally, he recently rebranded and performs as ‘Daniel Kepel, The Singing Violinist’. He is known musically for his musicality, taste, and for occasionally taking off into exuberant expansive solos. He is excited to include his eclectic musical styles in the collaborative originality of Johnny Lex and The Allies. 

“Finally I feel like I’ve found a home to match my musical quirkiness!"

Daniel Kepel, The Singing Violinist

David Merritt

The "Glue"

"In retrospect, I realize now that getting expelled from the classroom for using my 3 sided metal desk as my first cajon shaped my approach to percussion. The more I played the more time I spent in the hallway, waiting it out ( often till the next “bell”) and that suited me just fine until the report card came home. I also learned that when the desk had more books in it the sound was affected greatly because the sound chamber was decreased – I was taking mental notes and figuring out all the colors of sound I could extract from my precision “desk”. As a ghetto boy in Portsmouth Virginia the air was full of not only the hard rock of my era but the evolving rhythms of Earth Wind and Fire, Rick James and Grand Master Flash.
Flash forward to today I feel my influences have found a home with JLA and I am extremely humbled that such educated and formally trained musicians would allow me to hold down the foundation for what we create together. The process for me with JLA seems so seamless and syncopated that I am truly on a high after each rehearsal.
Other early influences include the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Kansas, Bob Seger, Steely Dan and Alan Parsons. Then of course who could forget the Police, English Beat, Sade, Talking Heads and UB40 – the list is huge! As a completely self-taught percussionist I have tried to play trap set and other drums with sticks. But once I discovered the subtleties that can be accomplished with hand drums I never looked back. Oddly enough I have an approach to my very unique set up that requires brushes only when I’m not using my hands. My “kit” truly looks like it came from the Island of Misfit Toys! 

-David Merritt

the glue