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"The sound this band puts out could easily suit calling the band the
'Big Sound Blues Band'... musically and vocally these guys are on it."
- Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro - Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
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A little background...
The Big House Blues Band offers a combination of diversified musicians working to serve a blend of classic blues and blues-rock with a distinct sound that combines elements of ZZ Top, Muddy Waters, Gary Moore, Maria Muldaur and Eric Clapton with the Blues Brothers!
The Big House Blues Band has played shows with (to name a few): the legendary Larry McCray, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Ryan Shaw, and Jordan Lunardini & the Bad Beat.
The Big House Blues Band is featured weekly on the airplay lists of WGVU 88.5/95.3 FM (West Michigan NPR), WYCE 88.1 FM (Grand Rapids, MI) and WLNZ 89.7 FM (Lansing, MI Public Radio). Worldwide, the band is aired on CKIA 88.3 FM (Quebec), Radio 2 "Mojo Blues" 94.1 FM (Macedonia), BEAUB 89 FM (France), as well as radio stations in Argentina, Poland, England, Brazil, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia and Belgium!
Members of the Big House Blues Band have collaborated musically for over 20 years. The Big House Blues Band itself is the morphed result of a number of blues bands that were formed by "Big Daddy" Doug and Jimi Ray since 1986!
The combination of musicianship and genuine friendship between the individual members of the group produces an incredible level of tightness in their music and a camaraderie between members - something rarely heard of in these days of "American Idol" and manufactured bands.
The Big House Blues Band is looking forward to treating you with a mixture of Blues and Blues Rock to keep your feet tapping, keep your legs dancing and keep your voice humming.
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Detailed band history...
To understand where the Big House Blues Band comes from, we must go back to 1986 when Jimi Ray and "Big Daddy" met. They both began working at a company selling vacuum cleaners, er - excuse me, "air purification systems". A mutual friend introduced them and then began what would turn out to be a 20 year collaboration and friendship that is still going strong today.
Shortly after meeting, Big Daddy and Jimi formed what would be the pre-cursor to the BHBB; the "Blues Persuasion". The group included guitarist/vocalist Todd Lane and drummer Joe Shields.
Throughout the 1980's Big Daddy and Jimi performed and recorded a great number of blues tracks, as well as music of many other genres. In 1993, Mark Wright (keyboards), Chris Houseman (guitar) and Kathy Jo Eaker (drums) were added to the fray and the blues combo was re-christened "BootLeg". It was this version of the blues group which would later be morphed into the "Big House Blues Band".
In 2003 Big Daddy's son Nick moved into Chris' guitar slot (Chris moved to California) and [without Mark Wright] the "Big House Blues Band" was born.
Late 2005 saw the addition of the multi-faceted musician, Tzer, bringing keyboards back into the group as well as another hot guitarist. About the same time, the highly sought after, Jane Bassett joined as lead vocalist.
In the fall of 2007, multi-musician Phil Chester and spunky Lexi Hamiton-Hart joined the group as their full time tenor and alto saxophonists. Phil's brother David was also added to the line up playing trumpet
May 2008 Jane left due to family obligations and the group had the unexpected pleasure of adding Kelly Quinn as lead vocalist. Kelly has cemented the group's unmistakable sound with her commanding stage presence, and belting but all the while soothing, vocal style.
...good things are coming...
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