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(l. to r.:) Scott, Marvin, Leo, Roger.
Also read: A History of the Band
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Marvin Gruenbaum, Fiddle, vocals
Day job: Violist, Kansas City Symphony Orchestra - Scott Prowell, Banjo and Mandolin, vocals
Day job: Chiropractor - Roger Eilts, Guitar, vocals
Day job: Food Broker - Leo Eilts, Bass, vocals
Day job: Director of Marketing, Festival Promoter
Spontaneous Combustion was formed in the summer of 1986. In the years since they first got together, the four original members have found a lot of reasons to keep playing. In an industry that often seems preoccupied with defining its own boundaries, Spontaneous Combustion has simply taken the approach that all songs are potential bluegrass songs, which means that there’s a lot of territory to be explored.
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine says of their first album "BlueRock," that the "blend of contemporary popular material and bluegrass instrumentation . . .has an undeniable appeal." That appeal comes partly from the band’s irreverent notion that even classical music has a place on a bluegrass stage, encouraging the speculation that if Mr. W.A. (Bubba) Mozart were alive today, he may well be composing for high-energy bands like Kansas City’s own Spontaneous Combustion.
With the release of their third and most recent album "Where There’s Smoke", Spontaneous Combustion ups the ante to include works by The Doors, The Beatles, the aforementioned Mozart, The Lovin’ Spoonful and even the Moody Blues. About their eclectic choice of material, Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine says ". . .why not? Nobody thinks twice about the fact that there are countless CDs filled with covers of classic country or bluegrass tunes. . ." and goes on to describe Spontaneous Combustion as a "lesser-known band with some truly dazzling talent."
Spontaneous Combustion has appeared for a nearly-unprecedented sixteen consecutive years at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. In an effort to expand on their local and regional appeal, the band journeyed to Telluride in 1997 to compete in the Telluride Band contest, where they placed second. In 1998, the band was invited to perform at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Festival where they were warmly received by an audience not often exposed to their unique style of "baby-boomer bluegrass."
Their stage show is a sparkling mixture of interactive fun and high-spirited music which is tight and well-rehearsed. Their stage dynamics are arresting and are designed to have a "focusing" effect, making the band as much fun to watch as they are to listen to.