Dennis McClung Blues Band

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Blues / Indie Rock / Jam Band


"Dennis McClung is the Blues Hall of Fame Ambassador to the State of West Virginia."
-Daniel S. Merolt, Blues Hall of Fame


ARTIST BIO

From the hometown of Blues Piano Great 'Johnnie Johnson', Dennis McClung Blues Band plays blues you can use! If you like B.B. King, Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Chicago Blues then you'll love the Dennis McClung Blues Band! Their CD "Prisoner Of The Blues" can be purchased on the web at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/mcclungbluessy

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, but now living in the same hometown which celebrated the legendary blues pianist, the late Johnnie Johnson, blues guitarist Dennis McClung started listening to Fats Domino at the age of three. Since then, blues music has entwined itself around his soul, and it's his undying passion for the blues that keeps the Dennis McClung Blues Band playing. McClung embraces the emotions behind the music and believes that breathing life into these emotions is what gives the blues its real soul.

McClung has won many awards, including being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and being selected as Blues Ambassador for West Virginia.  Called "a force of nature," "the real deal," and "the genuine article," McClung recorded his first CD, "Prisoner of the Blues," in 1998 as a testimony to the emotionally tough events in life. BluesWax, the world's largest virtual blues publication, addressed the authenticity of this release by saying it was "tasty blues, served up hot and intense...the kind you'd like to feast on in a hot, smoky club. Prisoner of the Blues has a quality sound that is hard to come by."

Blues Revue magazine also caught "the real deal" by saying, "This CD finds its power in McClung's potent voice and precise stinging lead guitar. If you asked me to guess where the Dennis McClung Blues Band hailed from, based only on the groups' sound, my answer would be some Windy City tavern....that's the pulse it has its finger on."

Thanks for listening and supporting this artist! - Bluesdaddy

Pitchfork

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Country / Red Dirt / Texas
MusicLabel: Rusty Old Records
Management: Rob Hankosky

ARTIST BIO

What do you get when you put together four rockers who can't shake their country roots, the songwriting that can only come from Texas and a few beers? You get Pitchfork.We got all the basic elements of country music, "whiskey" "heartbreak" "highways" "women" ect ect ect...But the kick you in the ass energy of rock&roll that brings it all home.

Pitchfork is a Texas, southern, country, rock and roll band from San Antonio, Texas!

Anthony Gomes

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Blues / Classic Rock
Label: Ruf Records
Management: Peter Carson, Peter Carson Productions, peter@petercarsonproductions.com, Promoagogo

ARTIST BIO

Born in Toronto, Canada, to a Portuguese father and a French-Canadian mother, Gomes began playing guitar in his early teens and was drawn to the blues sounds of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. While hoing his skills in the blues bars at night, Gomes earned a Master's Degree from the University of Toronto in the 'Racial Evolution of Blues'.

He relocated to Chicago in the late '90s to learn from the blues masters and to establish himself as a musician and artist. During his brief stint as a sideman for Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Gomes put together his own group and won the first annual Buddy Guy’s Legends “Best Unsigned Blues Band” competition in 1998. Three years later, he moved to Nashville to sharpen his skills as a songwriter.

Gomes made his recording debut in 1998 with “Blues in Technicolor“. The disc introduced him as a guitar-slinger loaded with impressive firepower. Instead of following up with more of the same, Gomes boldly stepped back for an intimate acoustic offering in 2000 with the critically acclaimed "Sweet Stringin' Soul."

In 2002, he released “Unity” and proceeded to win the 2003 BluesWax Artist of the Year award. This accolade elevated Gomes to the top of the blues field, and consequently he was able to draw larger crowds to his live performances, which increased in frequency and scope. Gomes’ endless touring kept him atop the blues field, as he continued to be nominated for BluesWax Artist of the Year awards several years in a row.

“Music Is the Medicine“, released in 2006, peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. Produced by Jim Gaines (SRV,Santana), the disc featured collaborations with hit songwriters, including Jim Peterik, Mark Selby and Tom Hambridge. 2008’s “LIVE”, is Gomes’ greatest commercial success to date, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.

Gomes is currently in the final stages of recording a new studio album tentatively titled "Up 2 Zero" which is slated for a fall release.

Mezcaleros

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Southern Rock / Blues Rock
Management: http://mezcaleros-music.com/

ARTIST BIO
CD "Road to Texas" is available here :
http://mezcaleros-music.com/

Quickly to 15, I had my first guitar, a stratocaster (even then) and a 10 watt amp with an unknown brand ...
Fast enough, having an attraction to the sounds fuzzy, I turned to the heroes of the day and turned on the radio ... ever: La Grange ZZ Top ...After a few groups, I disappeared ...

In early 2000, I bought an acoustic and I listened ... more Clapton and JJ Cale at the time ...A guitar led to another and soon I found myself with a dozen guitars, banjo and dobro ...

HOME STUDIO landed the meantime, and while I was learning to play without an amp with modeling systems ...I finally build and equip a recording studio at home ...I put some songs online and in less than a month on the sites, I found myself with 1000 fans and more than 25000 plays ...

So I decided to continue to see where it would lead me ...

 I like ZZ Top, JJ Cale, Clapton, SRV, sounds fuzz and dust, the desert ... my many trips to the USA I have wrought in this direction and in that style ...Today Mezcaleros is a concentrate of all that ...  I am on rotation on several radios, Belgium, France, Texas, California, Germany and UK… It is just the beginning !!!

Rock / Blues with heavy sounds and penetrating, a melody that is easy to remember and hit all those who listen ...And on stage, it will power 1000 ... These are the fans who brought me here ... so I continue ... for them!

Currently I'm on gauge mycornerbar.com a participative website where people who love can deposit money to help me make my CD, I have 3 months to collect 11,300 euros after it explode!

Put Mark Knopfler's voice, SRV feeling, Rose tatoo energy and ZZ Top Texas sounds in a shaker...Shake during 20 years .... Its MEZCALEROS .............See Mezcaleros soon in your bins and music sites ... You can hear Breakdown Limousine now, one of the 20 songs I got …

Hasta la vista…

James Ferris

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Rock / Country
Label: Ferris Music Publishing
Management: Ferris Music Publishing BMI

ARTIST BIO

THE NEW SOUND OF THE TEXAS BLUES! Texas musician,multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, singer-songwriter of "Don't Mess With Texas" fame, James Ferris has performed for millions of fans throughout his career including national television shows and award winning commercials.

Ferris has performed WITH (not opening for) many major acts including (but not limited to) James Brown, Stevie Ray, Freddie King, Bobby Keys (Rolling Stones), Eric Johnson (album), Johnny Dee & the Rocket 88's, Bad Rodeo, John Earl's Boogieman Band, Voodoo Lounge, Brat, Celebration, Sante Fe, The Bluenotes even Mel Torme and many others.

Being a full-time musician/entertainer, when James is not working on his own original career, he is the most sought after "Mick Jagger" impersonator in the country, with his uncanny resemblance and voice to match rock icon. James and his band are currently recording their third album to be released early summer of 2011.

THE NEW SOUND OF THE TEXAS BLUES

With a career that spans over five decades, James Ferris' musical talents (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizers, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, and vocals) are as diversified as his influences. From Amadeus to the Animals and all points in between…Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello, Todd Rundgren, Stones to the Beatles, Stevie Ray to Stevie Wonder, Carol and B.B. King, just to name a few.

James has performed at almost every club in the Dallas/Fort Worth area during the 60’s and 70’s and many others thru out the U.S. and beyond. James has also played keyboards or fronted for some of the most popular local and regional acts since the mid-sixties. 1964-1966 he played with The Seventh Street Prophets, one of the few bands playing at that time. This was also James’ first experience with recording; the band released a 45 titled Everybody Needs Somebody (a Stones hit).

1968 to 1970 James continues to climb the ladder being hired by Santa Fe; just three days before opening and touring with Three Dog Night. Managed by Ray Dennis and Beverly Beard, who wanted a bigger sound for the three piece, had James learn their entire show on keyboards in just a matter of hours. Besides touring with Three Dog Night, they also opened for Spirit and others. At the Dallas Memorial Coliseum opening for “3 Dog”, James’ parents saw their “long hair son” and proclaimed lovingly “I guess those piano lessons finally paid off!”

Tommy Katona

Artist Bio:

Tommy Katona (Tamas Katona), born August 15th 1984, was raised in Pecs, Hungary. At the early age of four, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan became one of his biggest musical influences. It began one day, while he was watching one of his father’s videos of the Texan legend playing. Tommy’s father, Tamas Katona Sr., is also a great blues guitarist. When Tommy saw his father performing live, it inspired him to pursue music as his path in life.

At the age of nine Tommy started playing with his dad’s band and was regarded as a child prodigy. In the mid 90’s, he had numerous successful shows, as well as TV and radio performances in Hungary. As he was growing up, Tommy’s infatuation with playing the blues developed. One day, Tommy’s dad told him about the sudden and tragic passing of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Tommy then decided to learn more about Stevie’s music and life so that he could follow in his footsteps. During this time he was also studying the music of the old great blues musicians. His inspirations were: T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix and at last but not least his father Tamas Sr. Even though Tommy spent over four years in music school learning to read and write music, he always learns and composes by ear. American blues music, especially Stevie Ray Vaughan’s, highly influenced the young player.

A few highlights of his early life were: opening for Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, playing with Memphis blues legend Eb Davis, sharing a stage with Muddy Water’s son, Big Bill Morganfield and the great Chicago harmonica player Sugar Blue.

Tommy’s big dream was that someday he could go to Texas to play the blues. Just a few years later his dream came true. His first visit to Texas was in 2006. He attended the Stevie Ray Vaughan fan club tour and the SRV Ride and concert in Dallas. He was able to play with local Texas greats such as Wes Jeans, Texas Slim, Jim Suhler, Cheryl Arena and Alan Haynes. After his three week trip to Texas he went back to Hungary bearing many great experiences. Texas was pulling at his heartstrings and he was ready to go back.
Meanwhile, Tommy recorded and released his first original album “Let Your Fingers Bleed”. He began touring in the spring of 2007. Tommy and his Hungarian band “Full Blast” were fortunate enough to play at the Puisto Blues Festival in Finland. They had the prodigious opportunity to open for the great Johnny Winter. They also played in Italy and opened for Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers. After the summer tour Tommy decided to return to Texas to try and start a new life. As an only child it was very hard to say goodbye to his parents. Knowing well this was his only chance to be a successful musician, Tommy’s parents released him to his destiny.

Tommy landed in Dallas on October 3. 2007. Stevie Ray’s birthday. A chance circumstance!
After living with a close friend for a year and a half, Tommy found the love of his life, Rachel. They got married on September 1. 2009. While in Texas, Tommy played with many musicians and had different musical projects. One more of his dreams came true when he played with Double Trouble bassist Tommy Shannon at the Granada Theater in Dallas! As well as constant performances, Tommy also teaches guitar during the day. His favorite guitar always has, and always will be a Fender Stratocaster!

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy