THE GROOVE THANGS Although the Thangs are really a Headline act, we feel it is only right that they take their place amongst the "local" stars of the event. This is one of the Few Bands from So. FL., that were one of the best & original @ what they did & garnered one of the most loyal followings of any act that So. FL ever produced. Although the band is no longer a real entity per se, they make it a point to do 2 or 3 Reunion Shows a year in their home town. They started as Bonefish Johnny & Down Pat and could be found in 1981 playing happy hour to 5 or 10 patrons in the Cafe Exchange. Don Cohen was their original manager. Kilmo on bass, has a long history of playing Mus. Ex. shows and recruited Don Cohen to be part of the operation when he opened the original 900 capacity Alligator Alley Concert Club in 1999.
THE JOEY GILMORE BAND Joey is probably one of the most under respected musicians in the business. This man, a So.Florida Resident for over 30 years has paid his dues. Joey belongs on any Blues Festival as a HEADLINE Performer...honestly, when it come to blues and R & B, and you can ask any musician down here, you can't get much better then Joey. With over 13 recordings under his belt, and a new original CD on the way, 1000's of gigs and festivals, we felt it right that Joey Gilmore should be the opening act to kick off the festival, on the main stage on the Riverwalk Friday Nov. 19th @ 6pm. Joey has been performing at Musicians Exchange shows since the late 70's and was managed for a period by Don Cohen.
THE BIG CITY BLUES BAND Big City band is Florida's R & B, soul & blues music entertainment at it's best. Recipients of best Florida blues band from the South Florida Blues Society, the National B.B. King Lucille Award and two Jammy Awards for best blues band in Florida. Performing at club, corporate, festival and concert venues, they rock every event with style and great stage presence. Residing in the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami area, they are ready to get you jumping at the Fest. A number of members of TBCB were members of the original Roach Thompson Blues Band, who were a staple at Musicians Exchange concerts & clubs.
ALBERT CASTIGLIA Albert is a So. FL favorite in the blues community, and rightfully so. In 1997 he was recruited by JR. Wells to be his permanent guitar player. Unfortunately JR. passed away in1998 and Albert branched out on his own. As well as Jr. Wells Albert has performed and jammed with important blues artists and bands such as Sandra Hall, Pinetop Perkins, Aron Burton, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Sugar Blue, Melvin Taylor, Ronnie Earl, Billie Boy Arnold, Phil Guy, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Larry McCray, Lee Oskar, Michael Coleman, J.W. Williams, Little Mack Simmons, Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Burns and Otis Clay. Albert's Keyboard player, Jerry Mascaro was the Musicians Exchange Referral Director from the late 70's thru the mid 80's.
KING MUDDFISH Guitarists Mike Edwards and Dan Newman have been a musical team since 1969 and have forged their years of experience into King muDDfish. Dan lays down lead guitar that intertwines with Mike's vocals, slide guitar, and harmonica. Together with drummer Jerry Crepeau(who joined the team in 1974) and basist JoelKobelin, they throw down a Wall of Blues. Dan Newman was one of the main Sales people at the original Musicians Exchange music store for over 10 years, and has a long history of playing at Musicians Exchange shows.
HEPCAT BOO DADDIES The hard-rocking Hep Cat Boo Daddies have just dropped a studio record, Long Time Comin' (Mosher St. Records), that does a solid job capturing the trio's thumping live shows. The Daddies' amalgam of blues, metal and surf is more in its element onstage than when bottled up in a sound booth. But Long Time Comin' has enough of that Stevie Ray-meets-the-Surfaris-at-a-Sabbath-show vibe to tide Hep-heads over between gigs. Sean Piccoli-Sun Sentinel Joe DaSilva, Evil, and Randy Blitz quickly formed the power trio known as The Hep Cat Boo Daddies. They are known for their raw edged and unique style and have won many awards. All three have a long history of playing Musicians Exchange concerts and clubs with different bands as well as HCBD.
NUCKLEBUSTERS BLUES BAND Best Blues Band-New Times 2000 - Nucklebusters Blues Band. Over the course of its 17-year run on the South Florida club circuit, the Nucklebusters Blues Band has served as the house band at a number of reputable local venues, including the legendary Musicians Exchange in Fort Lauderdale. The band's specialty is raucous, Chicago-style blues, and after all their years of nonstop gigging, Famous Frank and the boys pretty much have their act down cold. What can we say about Famous Frank & The Nucks? THEY ARE THE REAL THING! Long time bassist Sheldon Voss was one of the original owners of the Musicians Exchange Complex on Sunrise Blvd.
MOTEL MEL & THE INNKEEPERS- Motel Mel, the longest remaining employee of the Musicians Exchange operations, continues to keep the blues alive as the "White God Father of Soul and Blues" hailing from So. FL. Since the early 70's "Motel Mel" Seba, has been one of the most sort after Blues and Soul keyboard men in South Florida. He has played with many greats through the U.S. and has toured the world with his band October Road throughout the 70's. The band worked extensively with Musicians Exchange, in the mid 80's, Motel Mel became the Musicians Exchange Referral Director, and held that position until 1996. MOTEL'S WEBSITE
DAVE SHELLEY AND BLUESTONE Powerful blues rock guitar. Soulful testifying vocals. Heartfelt original songwriting. Passionate percussion with a hard grooving band. These elements make up the music of David Shelley. Fusing traditional forms with unique cultural experiences, David Shelley is a roots rocker with a worldbeat edge, a bluesman for the planet Earth. David played on CHER's "Heart Of Stone" album, including the famous aircraft carrier scene of "If I Could Turn Back Time." As the former Mrs. Greg Allman, the pop diva was no stranger to blues rock talent and drafted the guitarist to play in her touring band from 1989-1991. David was a regular player with different Musicians Exchange house bands, including TISHAN a Cafe favorite through the 80's.
THE REGULATORS Are You Ready For The Premiere Jump Blues Band in South Florida? Then prepare yourself for The Regulators, who will be sure to show you a toe-tappin', finger-snappin' good time! The Regulators have changed members and evolved over the years, always looking to fine tune their Jump Blues sound. The Regs have been performing at Musicians Exchange and Downtowner Saloon events for many years.
JUANITA DIXON Juanita Dixon is one of the most established blues, jazz and R & B singers to ever hail from So. Fla. Combined with one of the finest B=3 players in So. FL, Mitch Goldstein and a tight rythym section, they produce some eclectic blues, jazz and R & B. there's a lot of talent in this band,
THE LADY A BLUES BAND Hailing from Islamorda, "Not only is Lady A a superb vocalist but also an excellent harp player, with both voice and harp crisply mastered"
Blues Therapy and Jazz "Our doctors of Blues Therapy have assumed the roles of physicians to the family of man, trying to cure their terribly atrophied patients of soul deficiency fever," reads Blues Therapy and Jazz's mission statement, as posted by the band. "Their secret hope," the statement also notes, "has been somehow to provide a remedy rather quickly, before we all sink in the soft, smooth, artificially made pop music that corrupts our minds these days." The band played regularly at Musicians Exchange @ One Night Stan's, and is a Saturday Night Favorite at the Downtowner Saloon
BETTY PADGETT South Florida has produced some great female singers over the years. The top two spots, the best of the bunch so far is Betty Wright & Gloria Estefan. The latest is a Ft. Lauderdale Beauty, small in stature, but carrying a big voice is Betty Padgett. Betty is a skilled singer, whose music and performance have captivated audiences from Florida to Mexico, Europe and back. Smooth forceful raw energy, style and rendition of Blues and R & B standards and pop music has made Betty a hit with every audience she has performed before. Betty's histroy with Musicians Exchange goes back many years to the days she graced the original Musicians Exchange stage as featured vocalist with Joey Gilmore. BETTY'S WEB INFO
BENT FENDER BAND As a four-piece or duo (Beeson and Hester), Bent Fender always bring plenty of chops as well as a great sense of humor to any stage they step on. Speed-freak Beeson, who got bit by the competitive auto racing bug a few years back and still haunts Hialeah Race Track, brings a similar sensibility to his guitar playing, his fingers conducting an "enduro-race" of their own up and down the frets. Electrically, Bent Fender might perform songs by Howlin' Wolf or Stevie Ray Vaughan, whereas acoustically, they might dig deeper into the Delta bag. Bob Weinberg/City Link For almost a decade Jerry Hester worked in the Musicians Exchange music store, referral service and was a Sound Tech in the Musicians Exchange Cafe. Bent Fender will also feature Stan Waldman on Sax of the legendary One Night Stan'sNO WEB INFO
BLUE HOUSE BAND This increasingly popular So. FL blues band has been around since 2001. The current lineup of Robbie Alter on Guitar/Vocals, Richie Goldman Bass/vocals, & BBG on Drums, is quickly becoming a So. FL favorite of the blues community. While playing popular blues tunes familiar to their audiences, they have added original tunes to their repertoire. They have also become known for their high-energy shows and always go out of their way to creatively entertain. The band played regular performances for Musicians Exchange @ One Night Stans, as well as the members playing w/different bands at Musicians Exchange events over the years.
IKO IKO Based in Miami, FL, Iko-Iko is "rockin' the boogie!" They have performed with every major musician you can think of from many styles of music. From Blues to Rock to Cajun to Country to Funk and Soul - this band does it all. From films like "Contact" and "Cape Fear" to MTV Sex in The 90's, to radio and much more! You might have seen them or heard them and not even have realized, Voodoo Crew Graham Drout, long time leader and founder of IKO IKO
captures a long history of performances for the Musicians Exchange dating back to our Back Lot Parties in the late 70's & early 80's, specifically with THE FAT CHANCE BLUES BAND & Iko Iko.
FABULOUS FLEETWOODS Since 1982, the Fabulous Fleetwoods have been entertaining South Florida's live music venues. Their unique blend of hard charged covers and rocked-up & inspired original blues, gives their audiences a trip through various musical styles like, Rockin' Boogie, Roots Funk, Tex-Mex, and an ability to make every show a Rockin' Rhythm & Blues party!
This is one of the most established and respected blues band in So. FL and a most recommended act at the Fest. John Harris & The Fleetwood history with the Musicians Exchange is a long one, including performing at the original So. FL Blues Festival, in the back parking lot in 1987.
ERNIE SOUTHERN Ernie is an award winning Delta Blues musician who settled in So. FL in the late 80's, met up with Frannipalooza's own Franni Howe, and soon after made her his wife. With Franni's publicity push she helped make her husband, a staple of the So. FL blues music scene. Ernie has been a featured delta blues player for Musicians Exchange and Frannipalooza shows for some time now, and we are pleased to present him at the 2004 RBMF
NO WEB INFO
CAPTAIN REESE'S SON OF MAN Captain Reese has been known as the voice of Musicians Exchange and Downtowner Events. His history with the Exchange dates back to 1976 when he used our services to help get his music connections in So. FL intact. He is a solid bass player with a ripping powerful singing voice and when he hits the mic you will take notice. A former preacher, current boat captain, & a video production specialist, his band is a potpourri of some of the best So. FL musicians, playing a variety of blues, rock and roots. He is also known for hosting the closing jams at many of our events.
SOUTH FLORIDA BLUES
AND R & B ACTS
AVAILABLE BY REFERRAL TO ANY EVENT
*LIL MISS FRANI &
THE HOUSE ROCKERS
Josh Smith and The Frost, The Weld, Nicolle Yarling, The Shack Daddys, The Groove Thangs, Big City Band, Betty Padget, Texas West, Joey Gilmore, Albert Castiglia, Nickel & Dime, The Fabulous Fleetwoods, Rhino Cats with Rick Caffero, The Regulators, Piano Bob, Son Of Man, The Hard Luck Blues Band, The Nucklebusters Blues Band, Bent Fender, Blues Therapy and Jazz, The Famous Larry's, The Step Twins, Piano Bob, Jarvis Jenkins Band, The Boneshakers, Pier Six Brawlers w/One Night Stan, Blue Genes, Stan Street, Hep Cat Boodaddies, Blue House, The Mama Lukes, Bobby Nathan Band
THE FAMOUS LARRY'S The Ultimate Zydeco, Rock, R & B Party Band
The Famous Larry's only take occassional gigs for the right party and group. Five Guys playing very up Party music, complete with Accordian and washboard players these guys are only interested in playing for "Fun". They play a variety of very recognizable tunes and pride themselves in being one of the few bands from South Florida that play quite a bit of Zydeco Dance Music. The Larry's have gained a loyal following of fans in So. Fla., and if you can get to see them at a spot appearance in the area you are guaranteed to have a great time and sore feet from their uptempo dance party tunes.
If you are looking for the right mix of Zydeco, Rock and R & B...The Famous Larry's had a regular gig at Musicians Exchange @ One Nite STan's
Theresa Lindstrom & TC BLUE For as long as she's been performing, Lake Worth-based singer/songwriter Theresa Lindstrom hasn't had trouble finding an audience. But a musical genre, or even a niche, has been more elusive. That's because Lindstrom -- like most modern songwriters -- incorporates a wide variety of influences and styles. It's an artistic strength but a commercial liability.
"The blues people don't think I'm bluesy enough," Lindstrom explains. "They think I'm more of a country or folksinger, while the country and folk musicians think I'm too bluesy. I just say I'm 'roots music.' That way I cover it all." Bill Meredith
TL & TCBLUE have been added to Sunday's Women In The Blues by popular request.
THE JARVIS JENKINS BAND Ronnie Tillman, Mike Burns, Pat Kregor and Stu aka "JARVIS JENKINS BAND" Ronnie Tillman, worked in the original Musicians Exchange Music Store for 10 years. Along with Stu, from the early 80's the original Jarvis Jenkins, WHISKEY ON ICE, played all our different clubs and many of our Festivals, including some of the earliest Riverwalk Blues Festivals. Thier signature double lead guitar work, and combination of Blues, Classic and Southern Rock was also supported by thier fans. The band as Jarvis Jenkins, leans more to the blues and blues rock side these days, and thier set at the Fest will be memories of Festivals past.
No web info.
