China Sky formed in 1981 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Original members were Jim Wheat on bass (later with Johnny VanZant) Tom Coerver on keys, Kevin Taylor on drums, Rik Blanz and Bobby Ingram on guitar and Richard Smith on lead vocal. In 1985 the band signed a management deal with Pat Armstrong (Pat Travers, Molly Hatchet, Lynyrd Skynrd,etc.) and began courting major labels for a deal. In 1987 there was a shift in membership as Ron Perry came into the project from Detroit and Richard Smith took over the bass slot.