CCQs

ABOUT THE CCQS

The CCQs are a virtual band based in Greenville, South Carolina (USA). Their influences include the Beatles, the Beau Brummels, the Kinks, the Morning After Girls, Guy Lombardo, the Old 97s, the Dandy Warhols, the Allah-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Frankie Ford, the Everly Brothers, Spin Doctors, Ernie K. Doe, Neil Young, Neil Old, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Prince, and Mantovani.


Roman Kendall was born in Duncan, SC, but attended high school at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville. While at J.L. Mann, he met Justin Case while auditioning for the school play, “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” Both played guitar and discovered a mutual interest in Del Amitri and Deep Blue Something. They decided to form a band, The Dollar Generals, but were unable to secure any gigs apart from open mic sessions in the Greenville area.

Lead guitarist Will Powers was born in Rolla, Missouri (USA), but moved to Pendleton, SC (also USA) with his family when he was seven. He taught himself to play the guitar and mandolin, developing an early interest in alt-bluegrass bands such as Trampled by Turtles, Poor Man’s Poison, The Brothers Comatose, and The Dead South. After graduating last in his class at Daniel High School, he enrolled at Chicora College in Greenville and met Roman Kendall and Justin Case at freshman orientation. Discovering a mutual interest in Depeche Mode and Jose Gonzales, they began jamming together and wished for a keyboardist and a drummer. Because he had the better guitar, Will became the lead guitarist, while Roman moved to the 5-string bass, then the 6-string bass, and the 3-string bass, before ultimately settling on the 4-string bass. This was the real beginning of The CCQs, as they are known today.

Lauren Ordre grew up in Ninety Six, South Carolina, which is an actual place. She began playing piano at age two, and her childhood was filled with piano lessons and dreams of locking up bad guys. Upon graduating high school, she enrolled at Chicora College as a Criminal Justice major, with a minor in Classical Piano. But while a conviction for shoplifting ended her dreams of becoming a cop, she met Roman Kendall at the Greenville County Jail while he was being booked for DUI. They were thrilled to discover a mutual interest in Third Eye Blind and Sugar Ray, and Roman asked Lauren to consider joining the band. She agreed, on the condition that they would never schedule a gig during “Thursday Night Football”, due to a huge crush on Al Michaels.

Originally from Whitmire, South Carolina, Ben Dover graduated from William Tecumseh Sherman High School and entered into a failed rideshare service, “TaxiMe”, with business partner Abner “Bud” Raymond. Undeterred, Ben entered Chicora College and enrolled in the pre-law curriculum. While staging mock trials, he found that he enjoyed pounding on the table, and a mutual friend suggested he take up the drums. That same mutual friend (Mike Phelan) admitted to being a wannabe songwriter and confided that he’d been feeding songs to an underground band called The CCQs, and they were looking for a drummer.

And the rest is history.