With a library of nearly a half million songs, professional sound & light system for any event and radio veteran Kelley Drummond Gaskill.
Hit N Run Mobile Music Service was started in 1995 by Bill Ferguson and Chris Miles."Nervous Bill" a radio name handed to him by the staff while working at WKHI radio in Onancock, saw an opportunity to pursue his love of music and earn extra money to support his growing family after the birth of his twin daughters. In a collaboration with longtime friend Chris Miles who had a large music collection, Bill bought used PA gear from his DJ mentor Bill LeCato and the pair started "rehearsals".
It didn't take long for things to start rolling, advertising by hand-printed flyers, and word of mouth they booked their first gig , a wedding reception at the Captain's Deck in Nassawaddox.
The pair worked as a team for many months, operating out of the back of Bill's pickup truck, carrying the CDs in plastic totes and a handmade "coffin" to house the players and mixer, playing indoor and outdoor parties, dances, carnivals and wedding receptions.
Life's demands had Chris relocate to California and Bill was left to scramble to amass a CD collection of his own. Along with this, he incorporated a light show, small at first but it grew, and added a nice effect to the tunes. No computer driven operation, but Nervous Bill working the switches as the tunes pumped out. Not only was the amount of gear Bill hauled growing, but his family as well. His new wife Kim blessed his family with a second set of twins, this time sons in 2003.
During the years from '96 to 2010 "Nervous Bill" played over 260 wedding receptions, along with countless other events. From Salisbury to Richmond International Raceway, and in all that time only canceled 1 gig. When traveling to play a Christmas party on Chincoteague several years ago, a tire and wheel was lost off a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and crashed in the windshield of the van,coming mere inches from striking him and temporarily blinding him with exploding glass. His wife Kim had to threaten to restrain him to keep him from trying to get to the party and fulfill the obligation to the clients.
Occasionally, Kim would help out in playing events, or "take the show on the road" herself when Bill could not get time off from his regular job as a professional firefighter. She became quite an accomplished dj in the process. The only thing she couldn't do was back the trailer up in the driveway when coming home after the gig.
All throughout these years, one uncompromising fact was a cornerstone of Hit N Run Mobile Music's creed, "when the music counts, count on us". High sound quality always, and attention to detail at wedding receptions are paramount. Meeting with the parties involved and ensuring their special day is indeed "special" and was and is the major objective.
Life is a process of growth and change, having two sets of twins, and seeing a new direction that life was taking Bill, he retired from dj-ing in October of 2010. Handing the reigns over to lifelong friend, and fellow music-lover Bryan Daffin.
Not wanting to turn the business over to just anybody, Bryan was the only logical choice to ensure the tradition of quality and attention to detail Bill insisted on was carried on. Like Bill, Bryan has the experience, a feel and a love of music and the joy it brings to life that is mandatory in this profession. He also believes: "If you love what you do for a living, you never go to work".
Bryan is taking Hit N Run Mobile music into the future now. Incorporating computer technology, a new light show, and a fresh vision for the future, the phrase "when the music counts, count on us" lives on.
