The Souls of Joy is a Jacksonville band comprised of local musicians whose combined experience represent decades of professional musicianship and performance. Fused from a background in several different musical styles and formats, the Souls of Joy provide a musical experience that transports the audience back to a time when rock music was classic and pure. These vintage roots shine through in both their original music and their cover songs which infuse traditional classic rock with smooth southern stylings that harken back to their influences from Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Backed with a solid and seasoned rhythm section, guitarists Paul Ivey and Michael Richardson layer their harmonized guitars and vocals to the mix, sticking to their influences and energetically give us a dose of "the good old stuff."

Paul Ivey - Lead Guitar/Vocals

Paul Ivey has over 25 years experience playing guitar - and a diverse collection of other instruments - and has entertained in many premier venues in the southeast. Brought up in Jacksonville in a musical family, Paul has been singing since childhood and, in turn, cultivated an appreciation for music and harmony from a young age. A founding member of the Jacksonville bands Yankee Slickers and the IveyWest Band, Paul is a familiar installation in most local Venues and the surrounding festivals. His musical style lies along classical Southern Rock roots, having been influenced by the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Paul has opened up for many regional and national acts including Bad Company, JJ Grey and MOFRO, Jarred Ashley, Lee Brice, and many more.
​ See Full Music History Here.

Michael Richardson - Guitar / Vocals

Michael Richardson is a local musician from Jacksonville Beach. He has played in several local bands over the years and is currently one of two guitar players in The Souls of Joy. His influences include The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead and any good rock and roll music. 

Kyle Moore - Keys

JC Hernandez - Bass Guitar

JC Hernandez, a Tampa, FL native, began playing music on the baritone in his grade-school band.  Quickly realizing how much fun it was, he looked for friends with which to start a band and ultimately settled on the bass guitar as his contribution. Over 20 years later, and JC has been playing the bass as his main instrument for countless original and cover bands through his time in college and traveling around the world with the Navy.  He even fronted a Japanese pop-punk band while stationed abroad!  Finally wanting to settle down, JC left the Navy and found his home in Jacksonville where he founded the alt-rock band Rip junior and became a member of the Souls of Joy.  He states his major musical influences as Coheed and Cambria, Thin Lizzy, the Allman Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vulfpeck, and Khraungbin.

Kyle Moore is a local musician who studied piano and percussion at Georgia Southern University. His influences stem from a wide range of jazz, funk, and classic rock. His favorite musicians are Jerry Garcia, Stevie Wonder, and Tom Waits. ​

Chris Castro - Drums / Vocals

Originally from Bronx, NY, Chris Castro was born into a family of musicians. He began playing drums at a young age at his church in Richmond, VA and by the time he was 15 Chris started playing funk and Latin/Jazz fusion gigs in town with a few local musicians from his church. After graduating high school, Chris joined the US Navy in 2005 as a musician in the Navy Band Program. He would go on to serve for 8 years, sharpening his skills as a drummer and percussion in all styles of music. Chris left the Navy in 2013 and moved near St. Augustine, FL with his family and continues his musical journey. Over the years Chris has played with many different local bands and joined the Souls of Joy in late 2019.