Chicago Blues
All-Stars
http://www.reverbnation.com/chicagobluesallstars
Genres: Blues / R&B/Soul / Funk
Label: Azure Music
Management:
Hit & Run Entertainment
Bio:
“KILLER”
RAY ALLISON (GUITAR/VOCALS): First broke into the blues during the early
1970's. Now a regular on the Chicago Blues scene for over four decades, "Killer"
Ray has been an integral tour-de-force in bands by Muddy Waters, James Cotton,
Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells. With a reputation as the hardest hitting
drummer in the blues world, "Killer" has turned down gig offers from Eric Clapton,
John Mayall & the late Gary Moore, so he could fully focus his energies toward
leading a band. In 1998 and 2000, Ray was nominated for the W. C. Handy award as
an instrumentalist.
SCOTT DIRKS (HARMONICA/VOCALS):
Award winning blues historian, instrumentalist & producer. Scott authored "Blues
With A Feeling-The Little Walter Story" and produced Lurrie Bell's breakthrough
"Mercurial Son" for Delmark Records. A walking compendium of Chicago Blues history
and lore, Dirks is an accomplished harp player whose minimalist approach keeps
alive the memory of Sonny Boy, Little Walter & Big Walter.
DEITRA
FARR (VOCALS): Deitra Farr is considered one of Chicago ’s top vocalists,
according to Living Blues Magazine (May 1997). Fiery, energetic, she has been nominated
for Traditional Female Blues artist of the year by the W.C. Handy Awards, Female
Blues Artist of the year by the Living Blues Critics Awards, the British Blues
Connection Awards, and the Les Trophees France Blues awards. Deitra is also a published
writer, poet, songwriter, and painter, who has written articles for the Chicago
Defender, Chicago Blues Annual, and currently she has a column “Artist to
Artist” in Living Blues Magazine.
JOHNNY
B. GAYDEN (BASS/VOCALS): Johnny B's music career as Chicago's first-call
bass player, is one that most musicians can only dream about. He recorded nine
CDs and numerous DVDs with Albert Collins. The band won a Grammy Award for the
Alligator recording "SHOWDOWN" with Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland and Robert
Cray. After Albert's death in 1993, Johnny focused on session work, and his career
tally is close to 100 recordings. Johnny is a nine-time W.C. Handy nominee for
the Instrumentalist-Bass category. He has been honored to record with Johnny Winter,
Gary Moore, John Primer, Son Seals, A.C. Reed, Junior Wells and KoKo Taylor, just
to name a few.
DR. DAN "D-ROCK" IVANKOVICH (GUITAR/VOCALS):
is a Chicago Music veteran of imposing stature. He cut his teeth as a bluesman
at the tender age of 18, as the musical director for legendary bluesman Otis Rush.
After spending nearly a decade touring with a who’s who of the blues, he's
shared the stage with legends that include: Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray & Jimmie
Vaughan, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells. When not performing,
the Reverend is CEO of OnePatient-Global Health Initiative, Medical Director of
The Bone Squad, and actively blogs about social & political issues under ReverendDoctorD.
ROOSEVELT "MAD HATTER" PURIFOY JR. (KEYBOARDS/VOCALS):
Roosevelt has stunned and thrilled audiences with his amazing ability to fuse deep
grooves with brilliant melodic ideas. Over the past two decades, he's remained
Chicago's busiest session musician with over 150 album credits. As musical director
for the likes of Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Junior Wells and countless others, Roosevelt's
fusion of traditional meets modern creates a singular sound that is like no other
in the business.
PATRICIA WINTERS (VOCALS):
As an accomplished vocalist, she spent years performing as a jazz singer, but her
career has been seasoned with R&B, Folk, and Gospel. She’s frequently performed
in community stage productions and was cast in the starring role of Betty-Mae in
the Off-Broadway production of “Sweet Peas, House of Prayer”. While
in Chicago, Winters displayed her vocal talents with pianist JoJo Brown, and the
late jazz great Oscar Brown Jr.
JERRY "BAM-BAM" PORTER
(DRUMS): Throughout his lengthy career as a professional drummer, Jerry
Porter has worked with a wide variety of top-tier blues talents, such as Johnnie
Dollar, Magic Slim, Eddie Clearwater, Buster Benton, Son Seals, Ronnie Baker Brooks
and Big Mama Thornton. A highlight of Porter’s career, and a testament to
his talent and reliability, is his tenure as a member of Buddy Guy’s band
for over fourteen years. Recently, Jerry’s versatility and professionalism
have established him as one of Chicago’s most in-demand drummers.
JOHNNY COTTON & THE ALL-STAR HORNS: This rotating
line-up of Chicago's hottest horn players is anchored by Blues/R&B veteran Johnny
Cotton. He's played with and arranged for a virtual Who's Who of Chicago music.
From legendary performers such as James Cotton, Junior Wells, Syl Johnson & the
Ohio Players, to modern college rockers like Lubraphonic, Johnny puts the 'unk
in your funk.
