Charlie and The CoolTones

Charlie & the CoolTones are a group of musicians whose music is as diverse as its membership. Formed in early 2015 by lifelong friends, Charlie Smith and Mark Carney who first played together in the early 70’s and on and off since, when time and life would allow. The Cool reinvented themselves and their sound which evolved from several different bands and eras, most recently Tri-Polar and Charlie & the Arthritics.
Our passion for playing and sharing our music with others inspired us to form the CoolTones. We play a wide variety of music which draws from our broad taste of different genres, our life long experience of playing and the diversity of our membership. The CoolTones play a little bit of everything and hopefully something for everyone, from blues, rock, funk and even some country and jazz.
Our line up consists of Charlie Smith of Bridgeville on bass and vocals, Mark Carney of Hockessin on lead guitar, Dan Parsons of Princess Anne, MD on guitar and vocals, Ron Crews of Rehoboth Beach on drums and vocals, Jon Timko of Hockessin on keyboard and Tom Ruggeri of Beltsville, MD on sax. Also part of the Cool Tone Family are Mike McDowell on sax, harmonica and congas and his wife Libby on background vocals. Eddie Smullen fills in on drums, congas, vocals and sound when needed.