The Gospel Hummingbirds play a combination of traditional gospel (in the style similar to the Swan Silvertones, one of the Hummers' chief inspirations) and modern electrified blues- and soul-injected gospel. For the past couple decades, they have performed at religious gatherings, nightclubs, rock concerts and blues festivals, but regardless of where they perform, their joyful praises of God remain the same. The Oakland-based group have been together since the 1970s and were founded by the father of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Joe A. Thomas, who began playing bass with the Hummingbirds when he was only eight. As of 1995, the rest of the lineup included Roy Tyler, Clarence Nichols, James Gibson, Jr. and Mark Smith, Sr. ~ Sandra Brennan