The Band Members

Band Member Profiles

All Web Banner and Band Member Profile Photos by Leonidus Imaging

Robert Basil

A native from Buffalo, N.Y, Robert started playing drums at the age of 13. Artists influences, including "The Animals", "The Kinks", "The Beatles", Elvis and Sinatra, shaped and molded his style of drumming. With the music blaring at sufficient decibels, most of Robert's teenage years were spent drumming to the radio in his parents' basement. In recent years, Robert has focused on developing his drumming technique and has become a very accomplished musician. Once In A While Band has been very blessed to have this amazing beat generator.

Julio Beltran

As a retired school teacher from Texas, Julio's greatest love (besides his wife) is playing guitar and performing. Growing up in Henryetta, OK, Julio's musical interests started when he was a teenager where developed an appreciation for several musical genres ranging from folk music to 60's "classic" rock. He entertained several coffee houses over the years and performed with a female vocalist duo called "Azure Blue Trio". Julio recently moved back to Oklahoma after a 35 year teaching career in Texas. The band is extremely fortunate and honored to have Julio as the band's beloved acoustic guitarist.

Tom Bostelmann

Tom Bostelman

Hailing from Chicago, Tom's exposure to the world of classical music started as a young child where he attended several performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While he learned "folk" guitar as a teenager, Tom went on to study classical guitar at the Chicago School of Music where he majored in Art and minored in music. In addition to being the band's flautist and blues harpist, Tom is the band's lead vocalist performing tunes from "The Band" to "Muddy Waters". Tom currently plays the violin, recorder and flute in several community bands across the Tulsa metro area including Tulsa Community College Orchestra and Band. He is a colorful individual with a contagious "can do" attitude.

Lindsey Ison

Lindsey is a born and raised Okie from Muskogee. She grew up on classic country and singer-songwriters of the sixties and seventies. Without a doubt, her country style flair and vocals are a very much welcomed addition to the band's music program. Lindsey's musical upbringing began when she started performing with her parents at age two, and she's been singing and playing music ever since. Lindsey spends her days as a pediatric speech pathologist. When she isn't working or performing, she spends all of her time with her husband and twin girls!

Kelly Melton

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kelly was influenced by his mother's love for music and started playing guitar at the young age of ten. His music was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Led Zepplin. After attending college at OSU, he started performing at local pubs around Tulsa. While entertaining the audience with Elvis impersonations, Kelly was coined the name "Kelvis" from his good friend Jimmie T. The nickname took and the rest is history. While modeling sun glasses through a local agency, he met his lovely wife, Gina, and they are now celebrating 21 years of marriage. Kelly's motto is "Live big, live strong and never stop loving!

Karen Silvis

Music has been an integral part of Karen's life for as long as she can remember. From sonatas to Sinatra, the music that filled her childhood home was as diverse as the New York City neighborhood she grew up in. Encounters with street performers and subway musicians was an almost daily occurrence. As the band's percussionist, Karen brings a natural sense of rhythm and a subtle seasoning to the band's music.

Greg Silvis

Greg is the band's founder and organizer. During his pre-teens, he acquired a love for the Beatles and Motown music. Along with his passion for Motown and Beatles, his later influences came from a variety of artists starting with Eva Cassidy, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett and Eric Clapton. As the bassist for the band, his music preferences range from the any tune with a moving R&B/jazz bass riff to acoustic melodic guitar ballads. Greg is also a song writer and has authored several original works for the band.

Rick "Jones" Tahdooahnippah

Rick Tahdooahnippah

Coming from a long line of family musicians, Rick Tahdooahnippah (also formerly known as "Rick Taylor" or "Rick Jones") started playing guitar at the age of 14 and never stopped. He chased his dream to Hollywood and practiced 8 to 14 hour days while studying music theory and music composition at the Guitar Institute of Technology. He eventually made his way back home where he went on to compose and perform scores for film and television. He even scored a commercial that aired during the Sunday Gator and Superbowl. After a highly competitive guitar contest in 2016, Rick was officially named the "Best Guitar Player In Tulsa". However, with all of his accomplishments, Rick still maintains a humble heart and always conveys a genuine kind spirit to all he encounters.

Robert Mays

Robert began taking violin lessons at the age of 3 and taught himself piano. By age 8, he was playing with various symphonies and picking up other instruments on the side while still taking formal training with violin. In addition to, he began playing at church early on, and by the time he was 12, he was playing piano and other instruments for church services. At age 18, Robert used a music scholarship to go to Radiology school while serving as music minister at a variety of churches. According to Robert, he married the best woman to ever live on Y2K day (December 31, 1999)! He is blessed with having two very talented girls (women now) who both sing and play multiple instruments.

During his entire adult life, Robert has served as music minister at churches and played in many different ensembles while having a simultaneous career in Radiology. He has played sessions in several studios and authored church music, commercial instrumentals and jingles. He has also done some voiceover work as well. Robert moved to Tulsa to take a church position and was eventually employed at Saint Francis. He finished his master's degree in healthcare administration in 2017. As of today, he is the music minister at Newspring Family Church and Manager of Radiology at Saint Francis South.

Nikki Shay

Throughout Nikki's life, music has been deeply rooted in her psyche. Her passion for singing is evidenced through her singing style. She is an energetic artist and versatile entertainer who appears to draw energy from the very music she performs. She began at the age of 3 when her parents enrolled her in music classes. She has been part of several musical groups and traveled the US, Europe and Japan. A Springfield, Missouri native, Nikki moved to Oklahoma and now resides in Sand Springs with her husband Matt. Nikki's main goal with the OIAWB program is to help people feel empowered and less isolated. She further wants to create a sense of togetherness, ignite belief in one's self and inspire kindness both towards others and ourselves.