Meet The Band
Stacy Doherty
Lead Singer / Guitar / Songwriter
Everyone has those favourites that they envied as children, those guitar gods or singers, drummers, bass players, what ever it may be, Stacy has many but it usually comes back to the Canadian legends of The Guess Who or Steppinwolf. He says his first serious band vocal venture at 19 was a failure, but singing on stage in high school is still one of the scariest, yet rewarding performances he’s encountered. The 90’s were filled with the big and small stages for Stacy with the band Fishbelly White, playing with many legendary artists all over Ontario at so many memorable locations and venues. While having had a few songs achieve some local and major centre radio play, the band never quite jumped over that hump that defines musical success, so like many, he sort of retired to married life and fatherhood. Fast forward a few years, a failed marriage and a new found desire to write and play again, Stacy found himself on the stages again, sometimes solo or with various other musicians. With the success of a couple solo songs, the need for a live band gave rise to Greatest Of Ease, a new place to call home for his songs and vocals.
Eric Dreher
Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals
When the needle hit the groove and the epic sound of Purple Haze came blasting through the speakers, it was inevitable that his father’s vintage Gibson would be pulled from its case and put to work for the first time in twenty years. With five years of classical piano training under his belt, Eric plugged in and began what would become a lifelong relationship with his new found mistress. He spent hours every day figuring out the fretboard and how to use his hands on this unfamiliar yet enticing machine. As he quickly progressed through the first few years of conservatory classical guitar, his passion for blues rock outmanoeuvred his classical interests with influence channeled from guitar gods like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Jimi Page, Brian May, Slash, Mark Knopfler and Stevie Ray Vaughan. After achieving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrative Music Studies at Concordia University with a focus on jazz, he continued to hone his craft while playing in bands, seeking new inspiration and establishing his own voice on the guitar. Now, as a husband and father of two boys, he continues to write and perform with persistence and ardour as the latest member of Greatest of Ease.
Jennifer Duval
Piano / Harp/ Background Vocals
At parties, when she was really small, Jen's Mom and Dad just asked the hosts if they had hi-fi and headphones. She could spend a couple hours on Alan Parsons project or Pink Floyd, falling asleep in the corner. Piano lessons at an early age from a handful of very diverse and "interesting" teachers made nothing off-limits. Isn't it just better to call them keys and let us make some music? GOE has given her a chance to hear the sweet, subtle sounds that accompany heartache and the driving keys that bring the soul to their signature tracks. A vocalist by nature, Jen sometimes forgets to sing. She's having too much fun with the keys...
Michael Hepburn
Bassist / Background Vocals
Music has been a part of my life from as long as I can remember. I was put to bed with music on when I was a child, my parents extensive record collection was fare game to listen to whenever I felt like it and as I grew up, my two older sisters’ music filtered through the walls and unknowingly was shaping my young mind. Growing up in Port Hope, Ontario Canada, there was a decent music scene for the better part of my music life. Local talent already playing the local venues, as well as budding musicians in my generation, that went on to music careers where most are still doing it to this day. My first musical instrument was when I was 12yrs old and was a cheaper copy of a Fender P bass. I played it everyday and as I matured, I modified it cosmetically to suit my teenage angst and goth appearance. (ie. I painted it black!). My life changed with a $200 Ibanez Musician bass that I bought off a friend’s brother. In hind sight, a killer deal for a more pro sounding bass. I used that bass for the next 5 years where my playing took off, thanks to my high school music teacher, who allowed me to play bass in the school Jazz and Concert bands. Not only did I feel like a real musician, reading sheet music and learning scales and theory, I was playing regularly under the teaching of someone who shared the same passion for their music. Highlight of this period was winning a silver medal in our high school category at the 1992 New Orleans Heritage Jazz Festival. Something I will never forget. Our prize not only a trophy but a chance to see Boz Scaggs live on the main stage, truly another life changer. From then on, I had the bug. I wanted to play and make it my life. When I was accepted to the University of Waterloo for their music program and started practicing for my entrance audition, I realized that my passion was not for the rigid rules of this type of environment and all I really wanted was to play rock music in a band. For most of the next decade, I would be part of a local all original band with guys I went to high school with. Our singer would bring us ideas and we wrote around it and created a lot of music that we performed locally for the first few years. Playing bar tunes and slipping in our originals when we could, was the usual. The jewel of these opportunities was when local promoters heard our original music and asked us to perform it at some great venues, supporting some of the more prominent bands that were influencing us during those times. With the release of Fishbelly White’s “Fashionably Late”, it was official, we had a legitimate release and was being played throughout the area on local radio. A dream come true for a bunch of 20 something high school buddies. On occasion, through contests and spotlight submissions, our music could be heard late night on some of the bigger stations in the Toronto area. I have found throughout my life; I see road signs. Signs showing me the best path to choose and somedays, I guess I miss a few. Some choices are not so apparent and after some hardships with Fishbelly White, I chose to see what else is out there and moved to the “big city”. After some cover/tribute band experiences, I realized that original music is where my heart truly lays. After a failed few years in Toronto, I moved back to the area where Fishbelly White had regrouped and reconnected with my former band mates for a short period, but some things are best left alone and after some time, things dissolved again. As life grew more complicated and members became dads and husbands, focus was shifting to my personal wellbeing. I needed to take care of myself and some lingering issues that were causing me to spiral out of control in all aspects of my life. During these darker times, music was there…always there to elevate me when I was down, rejoice in personal accomplishments and be the soundtrack to my person journey through recovery. When I was ready, Stacy Doherty, close friend and former Fishbelly White band mate, had an idea to form another band. We agreed it was a good idea. Stacy had been keeping his dream alive while I was taking the time I needed, met and played with some amazing local musicians which led to a solid line up forming for this new project. Once drummer Travis Watts was onboard, the first generation of Greatest of Ease was born. Currently, I am also exploring the world of audio engineering and production by recording the next batch Greatest of Ease songs in a home built studio. With the help of the rest of the band, recording, mixing and mastering have become a new part of my musical obsession. Playing bass in the current line up is something I look forward to every chance I get. It challenges me in ways the former line ups didn’t. I am always looking to improve and grow as a player and learn as much as I can about the industry I would love to someday call, my ‘fulltime career’. Music, playing bass and guitar will always be part of my life, I hope I get the chance to share it with you. Write to
Travis Watts
Drums / Backing Vocals
It didn't take long for Travis to realize he wanted to be in a band says the G.O.E. Drummer. His dad performed in many bands from a young age. Many a night Travis would wake up to full on jams happening in his rec-room. Travis recalls one instance where he went downstairs and half the Downchild's Blues Band was jamming. "I remember watching this drummer play and watching how creative he was on a small 3 piece kit. It inspired me. I studied his every move. I also watched how much fun everyone was having. I knew I wanted to be the creator of the music. I wanted to be awoken by music everynight!" When asked about drums, Travis said "Drums just seem to by my thing. My dad played guitar and bass, my brother did lead guitar, my nephew is a guitar wizard who actually played with us when Stacy was recovering from surgery. I felt like we needed a drummer in the family. I naturally took to it. I practiced hours a day and started to get pretty good. Infact, I recall being asked by my dads country music friends to go on the road with them at the age of 16. I recall playing at some bars and having to go wait outside on break as I wasn't old enough to be in the bar. I loved every minute of it though." Travis loves all music and acredits his ecleptic tastes to his grade shool and high school music teachers. "When I was younger, my influences were the typical rock drummers like Keith Moon, John Bonham, Neil Peart, etc... but it wasn't until I went to play in the school bands that my eyes and ears were opened up to the likes of Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Max Roach and Art Blakey to name a few. It made me appreciate all genres and try to diversify myself as a musician." Travis is no stranger to the stage and can often be found Headlining stages at many Country Music festivals across Ontario. "I love playing all music and consider myself lucky to be able to perform with so many incredible musicians. It is a real honor to have played with the people I have played with. Some of whom are Hall of Famers or up and comers. I enjoy playing all music but for me it is this band Greatest of Ease. We are family. It is so rewarding to play original music. Especially when the crowds are on their feet singing the words and dancing along to our songs. It is such a high you never want to come down from. I will play until I physically can't."
The Band
So, you want to know a little about us? GREATEST OF EASE started to form in the summer of 2016 when singer/songwriter Stacy Doherty along with bass' Michael Hepburn, and drummer Travis Watts joined forces to form what is now the idea behind G.O.E. Jennifer Duval has been on keys, vocals and assorted noises duty for a couple of years and in mid 2022, GOE welcomed Eric Dreher to the fold on guitars and vocals. Whats the story behind the name? Simply, it reflects what this band stands for and who they are, life should be lived with the greatest of ease, music the same, friendship, love, etc, etc. What's your 'come together' story? Truthfully, we all have a story, we all come from other bands that provided each of us with some pretty cool things to look back on, but mainly, this band was formed because of broken hearts in a few of the members and an overwhelming desire to show our children that in order to accomplish life's goals, you must put forth the effort to obtain them, and, we just wanted play music, turns out the music was well liked and here we are, great story eh? Yeah, there is way more to it, someday it will be told.