Photo of Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band

Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band

General Info

  • Genre: Blues

    Location CHICAGO/ROCKFORD, Illinois, Un

    Profile Views: 93982

    Last Login: 5/10/2013

    Member Since 1/16/2006

    Record Label Unsigned

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    CLICK HERE TO BUY OUR CD .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY 1968/69 Played in the Blake Street Gut Band in New Haven Connecticut. 1972-4 Played with Goin' Home and Central Heating in Ithaca New York. 1975 Moved to Chicago and played with New Earth Rhythm Band. 1976 Joined the House band at Theresa's Lounge in the South Side of Chicago. Played with Sammy Lawhorn and other members of Muddy Water's Band. Jammed with Johnny Winter. 1977 Joined Fenton Robinson Band. Toured U.S. and Canada. Jammed with Otis Rush. Performed at Chicago Fest. 1978 Played at Kingston Mines with Sonnyland Slim, Paul Butterfield, Hubert Sumlin and Sam Lay.. 1979 Joined Koko Taylor and the Blues Machine. Performed at several festivals which included Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins and Willie Dixon. Performed at Juneteenth Festival in Houston, Texas and Chicago Fest. Toured Mexico with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Son Seals, and Blind John Davis. Jammed with Willie Dixon and Little Brother Montgomery. 1980 Performed with Koko Taylor, opening for Bob Marley and the Wailers in Santa Cruz, California. Featured as lead guitarist with Big Mama Thornton and the Jay McShann Jazz Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Also played with Koko Taylor at Avery Fisher Hall. Recorded live with Koko Taylor at Chicago Fest. 1981-84 Played in Junior Wells and Buddy Guy Blues Band. Toured U.S.and Canada extensively. 1983 Played at Chicago Fest with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Played at Antone's in Austin, Texas; jammed with Brian Setzer, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan. Performed at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. 1985-88 Performed with The Kinks at the West End in Chicago. Performed with Junior Wells, James Cotton and others at Checkerboard Lounge, as well as with Keith Richard and Chuck Berry. Jammed with Tom Waits at Checkerboard Lounge. Performed with Robert Plant and Junior Wells at Checkerboard Lounge. 1989 Toured Brazil with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Etta James, Albert Collins and others. 1990 Performed at King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas with Junior Wells and Robert Junior Lockwood. 1991/2 Played Chicago Blues Fest with Junior Wells. Played Taste of Chicago with Junior Wells 1993 Formed Blue Lightning Band. Guest guitarist with Junior Wells at Chicago Blues Fest. 1994 Performed at W.C. Handy Awards with Junior Wells. Played lead guitar, toured France and Switzerland with Junior Wells. Played for Junior Wells during California Van Morrison tour. Jammed with Lou Rawls at Jack's Sugar Shack in LA. Began studio work for CD with guest artist Junior Wells. 1996 Played at annual RAMI Awards with Broadway Blues Band. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. 1997 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed at various venues in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. 1998 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. 1999 Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Nominated for RAMI Award. Opened for Guess Who at Brookfest. Featured performer at Chicago Blues Festival with Lee Oscar and Jr. Wells Alumni Band. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Special guest guitarist with Koko Taylor at Rockford Blues Festival. 2000 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Jody Noa at annual 4th of July Bash. Played with Brooze Brothers. Played with Dan Noland and Blues Plus. 2001 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Brooze Brothers band at House of Blues. 2002 Nominated for RAMI Award. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. 2003 Nominated for RAMI Award. Played for Harley Davidson "Ride Home" at Kegel's Motorcyle Company. Toured with Liz Mandville Greeson. 2004 Played at Chicago Blues Exchange with Big Fun Blues Band and Liz Mandville Greeson. Nominated for RAMI Award. Recorded solo album "9 String Blues". 2005 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Bob Levis. Nominated for RAMI Award. Played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Released "Blues For Theresa" CD. 2006 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Bob Levis and Ann Rabson. Nominated for RAMI Award. 2007 Played at Warrenville Fest with Jake & Elwood & Big Fun Band with Lonnie Brooks. Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Nominated for RAMI Award. 2008 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played at Warrenville Fest with Lam Jam Blues Band. Played at Sam Zell's Bithday Party with Big Fun Band. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories. 2009 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played Fridays in the Park with Blue Lightning Band. Played at House of Blues and Shaw's Crabhouse with Mississippi Heat. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.Won RAMI Award in Best Solo category. 2010 Won RAMI Award for Best Blues Band. ..
  • Members

    STEVE DITZELL - GUITAR & VOCALS DAVE KAYE - BASS MARTY BINDER - DRUMS WITH GUEST HARMONICA PLAYER JUNIOR WELLS ON "BLUES FOR THERESA" CD
  • Influences

    Steve Ditzell learned to play the blues on Chicago's south side. He has shared the stage with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Keith Richard, Robert Plant, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnnie Winter, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks and many more. Steve and his band Blue Lightning play rocking blues featuring both original and traditional songs with great intensity. Their style is steeped in the Delta, with rock and roll influences. The band lays down fat grooves while Steve piles on emotion-drenched guitar solos and passionate vocals. From Carnegie Hall to the corner bar, their goal has always been the same--that the good times roll for all.
  • Sounds Like

    Band sounds like Cream meets ZZ Top with some Freddie King and Otis Rush with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Blue Lightning Band named in honor of Lightnin' Hopkins

Comments

Post a comment...
  • tom washington

    Peace, Steve   play them blues ...Rock ON!! 

    11 months ago
  • Scott Hudson

    HELLO,  YOU SOUND GREAT! THANK YOU FOR THE ADD,  PLEASE STOP IN AND HEAR OUR BAND. HAVE A GREAT DAY, SCOTT L. HUDSON (LEAD GUITAR/KEYBOARDS FOR THE LOST HUDSONS.) 

    1 year ago
  • Theresa C. Keyser

    ..
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    Thank you for all the great music you guys put out.
    love uuuu

    2 years ago
  • Marsha AGuIlar



    hey great music :)

    2 years ago
  • Geri Prowl

    Just prowlin' around to see what your up too:)


    Cheers :)

    2 years ago
  • Chris Jeter


    You're so good. I love your music!

    2 years ago
  • Ash (TOUR BUILDING) Man…

    Enjoying your site !

    I'll be entering the UK Folk Scene in 2011
    From bardic roots.
    With hats, double neck guitar, loop machine, stories and medieval mischief

    Please enjoy. Ash :o)

    2 years ago
  • Rosa Souder

    I LOVE YOU!!!
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    2 years ago
  • 2 years ago
  • Vern Gosdin - 40 Years …

    RIP Vern Gosdin as we celebrate the loss of The Voice of Country Music one year ago.

    http://thevoiceofcountrymusic.com

    2 years ago
10 of 1078More

MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY

1968/69 Played in the Blake Street Gut Band in New Haven Connecticut.

1972-4 Played with Goin' Home and Central Heating in Ithaca New York.

1975 Moved to Chicago and played with New Earth Rhythm Band.

1976 Joined the House band at Theresa's Lounge in the South Side of Chicago. Played with Sammy Lawhorn, John Primer, Ray Allison, Ernest Johnson and other members of Muddy Water's Band. Jammed with Johnny Winter.

1977 Joined Fenton Robinson Band. Toured U.S. and Canada. Jammed with Otis Rush. Performed on Blues Stage at Chicago Fest.

1978 Played at Kingston Mines with Sonnyland Slim, Paul Butterfield, Hubert Sumlin and Sam Lay..

1979 Joined Koko Taylor and the Blues Machine. Performed at several festivals which included Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins and Willie Dixon. Performed at Juneteenth Festival in Houston, Texas and Chicago Fest. Toured Mexico with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Son Seals, and Blind John Davis. Jammed with Willie Dixon and Little Brother Montgomery.

1980 Played in Koko Taylor's Band.

Performed with Koko Taylor, opening for Bob Marley and the Wailers in Santa Cruz, California. Featured as lead guitarist with Big Mama Thornton and the Jay McShann Jazz Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall..in New York City. Also played with Koko Taylor at Avery Fisher Hall. Recorded live with Koko Taylor at Chicago Fest.

1981-84 Played in Junior Wells and Buddy Guy Blues Band. Toured U.S.and Canada extensively.

1983 Played at Chicago Fest with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Played at Antone's in Austin, Texas; jammed with Brian Setzer, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan. Toured and Performed at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.

1985-88 Played in Junior Wells Band. Performed with The Kinks at the West End in Chicago. Performed with Junior Wells, James Cotton and others at Checkerboard Lounge, as well as with Keith Richard and Chuck Berry. Jammed with Tom Waits at Checkerboard Lounge. Performed with Robert Plant and Junior Wells at Checkerboard Lounge. ..

1989 Played inJunior Wells Band,... Toured Brazil with Junior Wells, along with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Etta James, Albert Collins and others.

1990 Performed at King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas with Junior Wells and Robert Junior Lockwood.

1991 Played Chicago Blues Fest with Junior Wells.

1992 Played Taste of Chicago with Junior Wells.

1993 Formed Blue Lightning Band. Guest guitarist with Junior Wells at Chicago Blues Fest.

1994 Performed at W.C. Handy Awards with Junior Wells. Played lead guitar, toured France and Switzerland with Junior Wells. Played for Junior Wells during California Van Morrison tour. Jammed with Lou Rawls at Jack's Sugar Shack in LA. Began studio work for Blue Lightning Band with guest artist Junior Wells.

1995 Played at Times Theater with Eddie King & Johnny Dean.

1996 Played at annual RAMI Awards with Broadway Blues Band. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.

1997 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed at various venues in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Performed both guitar parts for "Thunder Knocking on the Door" at the Northlight Theatre. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.

1998 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed at various venues in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival.

1999 Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Nominated for RAMI Award. Opened for Guess Who at Brookfest. Featured performer at Chicago Blues Festival with Lee Oskar and Jr. Wells Alumni Band. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Special guest guitarist with Koko Taylor at Rockford Blues Festival.

2000 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Jody Noa at annual 4th of July Bash. Played with Brooze Brothers. Played with Dan Noland and Blues Plus.

2001 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Brooze Brothers band at House of Blues.

2002 Nominated for RAMI Award. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.

2003 Nominated for RAMI Award. Played for Harley Davidson "Ride Home" at Kegel's Motorcyle Company. Toured with Liz Mandville Greeson.

2004 Played at Chicago Blues Exchange with Big Fun Blues Band and Liz Mandville Greeson. Nominated for RAMI Award. Recorded solo album "9 String Blues".

2005 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Bob Levis. Nominated for RAMI Award. Played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Released "Blues For Theresa" CD.

2006 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Ann Rabson & Bob Levis. Nominated for RAMI Award. Won Best of Rockford Award played On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.

2007 Played at Warrenville Fest with Jake & Elwood & Big Fun Band with Lonnie Brooks. Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Nominated for RAMI Award.

2008 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played at Warrenville Fest with Lam Jam Blues Band. Played at Sam Zell's Bithday Party with Big Fun Band. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.

2009 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played Fridays in the Park with Blue Lightning Band. Played at House of Blues and Shaw's Crabhouse with Mississippi Heat. Played several acoustic solo gigs at House of Blues - Chicago. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.Won RAMI Award in Best Solo category.

2010/11 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played Fridays in the Park with Blue Lightning Band. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.Won RAMI Award in Best Blues Band category

Played several acoustic solo gigs and Blue Lightning gigs at House of Blues - Chicago.

2012 Performed on guitar for "Thunder Knocking on the Door" at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

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