The Renton Reporter recently caught up with Dwain Bickham the band leader of the Triple Treat Band for a question and answer session. The Triple Treat Band will play at 8:30 p.m., July 24, Friday at Shuga Jazz Bistro, 317 Main Ave., Renton. Tickets are $10.

1. Where are you from originally and where are you based now?

All the band members are based in and around Seattle. The band includes vocalists Jennifer Johnson, Shanee Dawkins and Patricia Standford. Herbert Owens on guitar; Howard Dixon on keyboard; Reggie Beasley on bass and Dwain Bickham on drums and vocals. They’ve been together for more than 10 years.

2. How would you describe your music?

“Our music features a wide variety.” They play venues like Shuga Jazz Bistro to casinos. “The ladies are really versatile and so are the musicians.” They play everything from Tina Turner and Chaka Khan to Beyoncé and Usher; Motown and tunes from the ’60s to modern day hits. “(We’ve) been able to last 10 years because we play a wide variety of venues and musical styles.”They’ve opened for Montell Jordan and done Seahawks events. Triple Treat Band recently played for a Black Surgeons of America event in Seattle. “By us being versatile, it always keeps us busy. We always manage to find some place to play.”

3. Are you a cover band or singer/songwriter band?

“We do a lot of covers, we also do originals. We’re getting ready to release another single this month.” The song is called “Can’t We All Just Get Along” and it’s inspired by recent tensions with police and African Americans across the country. Bickham sent the song to the mayors of the cities he mentioned in the single.

4. Where do you get your inspiration for your songs?

“It just depends. I’ve written all the songs for the band so far. I could be riding home from work and an idea pops in his head.” He gets home and works it out on his piano. “Some ideas are actually from relationships or things that are going on, but I try and keep it positive.” One of his songs, “Work this Joint,” is about playing in places like Shuga Jazz Bistro. “He Said Yeah,” is about a woman meeting a man, who she doesn’t think is into her, but she’s surprised to discover he is into her. “I try to write positive tunes or tunes that lead to a positive situation.” He doesn’t do “cryin’ your eyes out” tunes, he said. The vocalists in the band all try and dress alike, or at least uniformly. “They step and dance like the older groups used to. We try to come out and entertain and put on a good show.”

6. If you weren’t playing music, what would you be doing?

“Playing music. I’ve been playing on stage since I was 13 and I’m ready to turn 59.” Bickham has lived in Hollywood, Calif. and Woodstock, New York, but decided to raise his family in Seattle. Prior to settling down in the Pacific Northwest, Bickham has opened for other artists including once for Marvin Gaye and Tony!Toni!Toné!. He did the starving artist musician thing in his 20s, he said. He’s spent more than 25 years in the construction business, when he’s not been playing music. He’s getting ready to retire from construction and do music full-time.

7. Preferences: Prince or Michael Jackson; Tina Turner or Chaka Khan?

“Chaka Khan, she is definitely my favorite artist. There will never be another Michael, he was one of a kind. But, Prince is absolutely a fabulous musician. That’s just such a hard call.”