Storyteller

Born and raised in Southern California, Jerry began singing professionally at 25 and has spent years performing in classic rock, R&B, and country bands, both part-time and full-time. His earliest musical influence was Motown; rock didn’t really grab him until he heard Journey, opening the door to a much broader range of vocal influences.

One memorable career moment came when members of the legendary doo-wop group The Coasters saw Jerry perform and later invited him onstage with them in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

As Storyteller’s primary lead vocalist and bandleader, Jerry brings a soulful, expressive approach shaped by decades of music ranging from Motown and classic rock to country and singer-songwriter favorites. A U.S. military veteran, he also helps shape the stories, pacing, and overall feel that give the Storyteller show its identity.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Richard has been playing guitar since his teenage years, performing in both cover bands and original-music projects. His early influences were rooted in classic rock, including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Yes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

After several years in rock cover acts, Richard discovered a deeper connection to acoustic guitar and the singer-songwriter tradition, drawing inspiration from artists such as Neil Young, the Eagles, Jim Croce, Michael Hedges, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. That shift led him toward solo performance and acoustic-based groups, where he developed a particular interest in alternate guitar tunings that still shape his playing today.

After moving to California about thirty years ago, Richard performed in a number of Los Angeles and Inland Empire acoustic groups. He later became a founding member of Storyteller with Jerry Lloyd, helping shape the group’s original acoustic sound and harmony-driven approach. After the project’s hiatus, Richard and Jerry reunited to reform Storyteller, later welcoming Jerry Baker into the current trio.

A recently retired college professor of Earth Sciences, Richard is known within the band as “The Professor” — a nickname that fits both his background and his thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to music.

Jerry Baker has been playing and singing since the night he saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. That spark turned into a lifetime of music.

In the 1970s, Jerry played in a country-rock band based in Texas, traveling and performing from Arizona to Florida. After moving to Colorado in the 1980s, he continued playing throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Kansas.

A multi-instrumentalist since his teenage years, Jerry has long played guitar, banjo, and pedal steel, and added mandolin more recently. His musical tastes are just as broad, ranging from the Beatles and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Frank Sinatra, Dan Fogelberg, and beyond.

In Storyteller, Jerry brings decades of experience, harmony vocals, and the instrumental colors that help give the trio its distinctive sound. He’s especially excited to be part of a project where he can draw on the full range of music and musicianship he’s collected over the years.