Helen Ravenel

Pictured from left, are Jack Ploch playing the guitar, Roger Ploch as the drummer, and Sam Ploch as the bass guitarist. The brothers, members of The 3 Dudes, are shown practicing at their Sullivan’s Island home.

Helen Ravenel

Roger Ploch is shown singing a song behind his massive drum set.

John McClain

Pictured is the the album cover of The 3 Dudes. Shown from left are Roger Ploch, Sam Ploch and Jack Ploch.

But that’s not stopping three brothers from jamming in their Sullivan’s Island home.

The Ploch brothers’ band, The 3 Dudes, consists of 8 year olds Jack and Roger and 10-year-old Sam.

Perhaps Charleston’s youngest band, The 3 Dudes have written songs that kids their age can relate to.

Fourth grader Roger wrote a poem, “Screentime” to convince his mother, Samantha, that he and his brothers need screentime.

The poem was later turned into the band’s first song which is about how the boys were not allowed much time watching T.V. or using the computer.  

Rhythm guitarist Jack sings the vocals:

“My mom and dad say it’ll rot my brain I keep asking for it so much, That I know it’s goanna drive ‘em insane

But when I’m finished with my homework

I keep on asking, asking, asking again

Asking again for my screentime

I want screentime

Got to have screentime.”

The Charleston Collegiate students started playing two and a half years ago.

Their interest was peaked when they went to a friends’ house and he played the piano. They signed up for piano lessons at Music Unlimited.

Eventually the boys wanted to add guitar, drums and then bass.

“The instruments they wanted to take up happened freely,” their mother explained.

As a group, they started playing last November.

   The reasoning behind the boys wanting to play?

To help others.

When the boys went to a car wash with their mom and learned of a local man, Jeff Sundquist, who had brain cancer, they said, “Mom, we have to help him.”

 As a result of the illness, Sundquist, former general manager of Liquid Highway car wash in Mount Pleasant, and his wife had to sell their possessions and perhaps are going to have to sell their home.

The boys pulled together “Art from the Heart” where they were able to play music and raise over $5,000 with support from the community.

In September they performed at a benefit with Wonder Works called “Kids with a Cause.”

“This has become a family endeavor- to help other people because we have been so blessed. We want to show them [the boys] how to help other people and give back,” Samantha Ploch said.

Their fund-raising efforts do not end there.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, The 3 Dudes, along with band Uncle Mingo, will be performing at the Charleston Collegiate’s annual Oyster Roast, Rock & Roast.

Also on the calendar, performances at Christmas Commandos event on Goldbug Island, Saturday, Dec. 5, Sullivans Island Park Street Party, Sunday, Dec. 6 and Windjammer Family Night, Tuesday, Dec. 22.

The four songs on their “All in a day!” are original.

The boys practice almost every day and have lessons a few times a week.

Instructor Aaron Levy helped the boys write their songs.

For example, when The 3 Dudes told Levy about the Boogie Man who comes out at night, Levy wrote “At Night” about the scary things that come out when it gets dark.

“The teachers at Music Unlimited want them to succeed and do well,” Ploch said.

Other instructors, Daniel Crider of Music Unlimited, Sean Mackenzie of Encore Music, and Elise Testone have all helped the boys hone in their musical skills.

Sam admits the music was hard to learn but it is a way that he can express himself and have fun at the same time.

Drummer Roger likes that he can come up with new beats and is known as the “creative force” in the band.

For more information about The 3 Dudes and their upcoming events, visit http://the3dudes.com.

(Helen Ravenel can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com.)