Over the years, blues-rock artist, Linwood Taylor, has forged ahead nailing down gigs, improving his game and building a reputation as an A-list musician in the Washington, D.C. area with a deep music history rarely fully appreciated.
The explosive guitar work of Jon Butcher ripped through the airwaves when he arrived on the music scene. And his heavy hitting vocals tied to his hard driving melodies offered, and still offer his fans a full force musical gale to get them pumped and rockin’…
In the early 1980’s Roy Rogers spent several years touring with John Lee Hooker before going out on his own with The Delta Rhythm Kings in 1986. Since that time Roy has stayed busy, not only as a performer, songwriter, and recording and guest artist, but, also as a producer of recordings by John Lee Hooker and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Roy has been nominated for two Grammy Awards and three W.C. Handy Awards. He still tours the world with The Delta Rhythm Kings, alongside bandmates Steve Ehrmann [bass] and Billy Lee Lewis [drums].
And what’s even more impressive is Brian Tarquin’s altruism, given his support and contributions to veterans’ and other causes, and the music projects he’s driven to completion with his fellow collaborators, who include some of the world’s first flight musicians: Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford (Miles Davis), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dean Brown (David Sanborn), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth), John Tropea (Billy Cobham), Steve Kindler (Jeff Beck), Carl Verheyen (Supertramp) and Larry McCray (John Mayall), the late Phil Naro, and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
Dave Kline, four strings, plucking and a blistering bow; electrified. These are the ingredients that Kline brings to the stage and into the studio. Pull in some more world-class musicians and they stir a cauldron of some of the best music you’ll ever hear.
Guitarist Clay Melton’s roots lie in the worked lands of Louisiana and Texas where traditional and rock blues grew with the making of the old Chitlin’ Circuit with the likes of BB King, Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson, as well as newcomers, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan
A stampede of both music legends and one hit wonders have risen from Austin’s music clubs and corner bars to reach national fame and stardom. This long list of pickers, singers and others includes Janis Joplin, the 13th Floor Elevators, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Fred and His Playboy Band, as well as Texas blues brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter, just to name a few.
Guitarist Robben Ford began his musical journey at age ten as an alto sax player. A keen interest and understanding of the woodwind instrument, as well as a fondness for the ‘cool jazz’ sounds of Paul Desmond and his legendary recordings with guitarist Jim Hall, helped fuel his musical aptitude at a young age. It proved to be an attraction that only intensified, as the sounds of Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane became elements within the same fascination. Integrate that scenario with an interest in the blues and a flair for emulating Mike Bloomfield and other blues guitar favorites, and one can easily understand Robben Ford’s fondness for both instruments.
Rocker, singer-songwriter, award winning author, music workshop leader and more, Debra Devi, hits all cylinders with her hi-test drive that’s made her talents highly sought after for on-stage performances and presentations. And her ASCAP award winning book, The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (foreword by Dr. John) is an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award winner, that has grabbed the attention and accolades of some of the best blues masters of our day.
Today, Steve Earle has earned his own icon status, not only by writing his own songs and performing to thousands, but by deep digging into the entangled roots of more contemporary music, studying the wherefore and why of musical traditions of songs and styles beyond American shores. Like the generation before him, his own journey is part of both a land mass of musical traditions, and a migration of his own songs for future generations.
