About Family Tree


Meet the Band Show Dates Downloads Image Gallery Discography Merchandise Press Room Contact/Booking Info Links News/Site Updates

  With roots in just about every musical genre, and focusing lyrically on personal growth and today's most vital issues -- Family Tree has evolved into a driving force of reassuring positivity as well as dissent. Formed in 1998, the members of the band have been working passionately since day one to keep these central ideas in mind along every step of the way. With the release of their first full-length album in November of 2003 and their critically acclaimed EP, Silver Lining in 2005, Family Tree is undoubtedly ready to expand its reach and gain the attention of new and unexpecting listeners.

Family Tree consists of:
Derek Smith Derek Smith
acoustic guitar,
electric guitar, vocals

Zack Klecka
electric violin
Zack Klecka

Kevin Johnson Kevin Johnson
electric bass

Anthony Lomonaco
drums, vocals
Anthony Lomonaco

Kevin Turner Kevin Turner
electric guitar, vocals

Brian Baldwin
percussion
Brian Baldwin

The result is a virtually flawless ensemble with infinite possibilities
-David Todd, Port Folio Weekly Magazine


At its conception, Family Tree was an eight-piece group including guitarist Mike Johnston, flutist Jason Winters, and original drummer, Andy Smith (brother to Derek Smith and first cousin to Kevin Johnson). Mike and Jason left the band, respectively, to pursue other musical avenues, but remain great friends to Family Tree.

Andy SmithOn December 16 of 2004, Andy tragically passed away at his home in Norfolk, VA. The band has continued on, in honor of his memory and for all that they have worked for over the past seven years. Anthony Lomonaco, Andy's best friend and original percussionist for Family Tree, has filled the void behind the drum kit, so that the group may continue to reach new audiences with their music.



Over the past eight years, Family Tree has received a large amount of attention and has gathered an extremely diverse following in and around their home area of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The band has been featured on the area's public radio station - WHRV, the former progressive rock station - The Coast, modern-rock leader 96X and has been positively reviewed many times by Ninevolt Magazine, once the premier music magazine for the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas of Virginia.

Family Tree has received numerous honors, including:

  • 2001 - Ninevolt Magazine Award nomination
  • 2003 - Ninevolt Magazine Award nomination
  • 2004 - Winner: Ninevolt Magazine Battle of the Bands
    • Winner: Ninevolt Magazine Jam Band of the Year
    • Winner: Ninevolt Magazine Drummer of the Year
    • Portfolio Magazine Best Rock Band of the Year nomination
  • 2005 - Winner: Portfolio Magazine Jam Band of the Year
    • Winner: Alpha Xi Delta Battle of the Bands
    • Portfolio Magazine Album of the Year nomination

Family Tree has shared the stage with:

  • 311
  • Steel Pulse
  • The Roots
  • Toots and the Maytals
  • The Temptations
  • Fighting Gravity

Family Tree has shown its staying power through consistent audience response at many venues and has performed once at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater and eight times at the prestigious NorVA Theater in downtown Norfolk.


Andy Smith

While Andy may have left us, he will never be forgotten. Friends and fans of Family Tree can continue to express their condolences to Andy's brother, Derek, and other band members in a guest book found on Loving Funeral Home's web site.

We have available a post script that was written by Fred Kirsch of The Virginian Pilot and appeared in the 12/31/04 edition of that newspaper.
Click here to read it. (reprinted with permission)

This website and its contents are copyright 2007 Family Tree.