Right to Refuse got its start when J.D. Kesner and Ryan McMurray started playing together in 2002. It really all started just picking a few songs in the living room of a small apartment. At the time, J.D. had only been playing guitar for a year and a half, and had barely started writing his songs. Ryan had never even picked up a guitar before he met J.D. Well, J.D.'s interests soon rubbed off on Ryan. J.D. began teaching Ryan the basics on guitar and Ryan soon grew from there. They both went ...
Right to Refuse got its start when J.D. Kesner and Ryan McMurray started playing together in 2002. It really all started just picking a few songs in the living room of a small apartment. At the time, J.D. had only been playing guitar for a year and a half, and had barely started writing his songs. Ryan had never even picked up a guitar before he met J.D. Well, J.D.'s interests soon rubbed off on Ryan. J.D. began teaching Ryan the basics on guitar and Ryan soon grew from there. They both went their separate ways for a while, writing songs and playing solo shows.
In early 2006, Ryan and J.D. reunited. They began playing acoustic shows around Houston and Pasadena. Armed with the songs they had both written, their musical influences, and their guitars, Ryan and J.D. soon created a sound that had heavy classic rock and country undertones, yet was truly unique in its own.
The duo remained un-named until early 2007 when they chose to bill themselves as Right To Refuse. Shortly after, Ryan chose to pursue a professional career as a Chiropractor. The spring of 2007 brought many changes to the group. J.D. met Martin Lide at a benefit they were both performing at in Humble, TX. The two played a spur-of-the-moment set together and got hired for a private party at another bar later that night. This was just the beginning of what was to come.
J.D. and Martin continued to play acoustic shows together including hosting a weekly open mic at Puffabelly's in Old Town Spring, TX. In July of 2007, Right to Refuse became a full band adding John Camarillo as bass guitarist and Fred Camarillo on drums. The band has opened for Texas artists such as Wade Bowen, Honeybrowne, Band of Heathens, Rick Trevino, and Gary P. Nunn.
The band made a few more changes in the summer of 2008. They invited Tom Berwick to step in on drums while Fred Camarillo made the move to guitar. Martin Lide, who penned the song "Let Me Die in Texas," split from the band in order to concentrate on his own music. Martin's departure from the band left the lead guitar spot open for the taking. Bassist John Camarillo decided to fill the void. Most recently, TJ Lauterbach has stepped in as the new bassist for Right to Refuse.
The new version of Right to Refuse made its public debut on October 24, 2008. They have enjoyed playing the same great music (and some new stuff), with the same high energy. Right to Refuse plans to stay true to their country music roots while delivering its music with a southern rock attitude.
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