Big Rig Deluxe

Contact: Johnny G. dArtenay

bigrigdeluxe@gmail.com

Big Rig deluxe is a five piece roots country band from the deepest point in the Southwestern United States, San Diego, California.  They put their own spin on things with original songs, as well as classic country covers.  When you get around to seeing them, youll also enjoy some select Rock n Roll, Western Swing, and Rockabilly tunes. 

Big Rig DeluxeJohnny G, you and the boys raged like a runaway semi and your purring hillbilly baritone is purty enough to put tears in the eyes of a cobra.

San Diego Union-Tribune, BLUE NOTES     BY BUDDY BLUE

Big Rig Deluxe has a line-up of unique talents that blend together smoothly to create the best kept secret on the San Diego Roots Music scene.  Heres a brief bio: 

• Johnny G. d'Artenay sings lead, writes songs on his own, as well as with the band, plays acoustic guitar, and currently books B.R.D.  Johnny was a founding member of the award-winning, Hot Rod Lincoln.  As a key member for better than 13 years, they toured throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan, released 5 independent CDs, and backed up many great artists on stage and in the studio.  Johnny feels honored to have performed on stage with some American music legends such as Chuck Berry, Johnny Rivers, Billy Lee Reiley, Sha Na Na, Billy Zoom, Robert Gordon, Brian Setzer, and more!
  Johnny G. is curently involved in two other musical endevors guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of Sun Studio fans. He's singing lead and fronting the San Diego based Johnny Cash Tribute Band - CASH KINGS. Check em out by clicking here now!

  NEW! CASH KINGS Johnny Cash Tribute Band web site under construction at www.johnnycashtributeband.net

  
  View CASH KINGS's EPK
  Fans of the Louisiana Hayride Show and the music that made that show famous, will be thrilled to catch The LA Hayriders in action, check em out by clicking here!

• Mike Hunter expertly plays the Upright Doghouse & Electric Bass.  Mike played the piano throughout his childhood and has a solid musical background and love of roots country music.  He and Johnny G. first put B.R.D. together in 2000.  In the past, other commitments have kept them from performing more shows, which kept them under the popular radar, until now.
• Robin Henkel joined the band to add his primal blues/western swing influenced lap steel, dobro, and resonator guitar treatments to the mix.  In the process, he transformed the sound of B.R.D., making it a totally unique musical experience.  Robin is well-known as an award-winning original blues/jazz recording artist and as a highly sought after soloist in the folk and roots country scene.  Hes the original Mr. Bad Bongos!
• Jon Harford came aboard as the electric guitar player and harmony singer after he and Johnny G. had worked together in Jump Jones for several years.  Jon is one of the most dedicated musicians youll ever have the pleasure to hear.  He not only plays in B.R.D. and in the aforementioned Jump Jones, he also is the leader of the up and coming Smokestaxx soul and Rock-n-Roll review.
• Hal Smith decided to take a crack at playing the drums on this runaway semi as of the beginning of 2006.  He took up drums in 1963 and was greatly influenced by live performances by Ben Pollack, Nick Fatool, Fred Higuera, Smokey Stover, Wayne Jones and others.  He is primarily self-taught and has been a full-time musician since 1978. Hals official bio is very extensive, and it gives you the idea that he is quite the rainmaker among the international traditional jazz community.  We are all thrilled to have him on board.

Currently we are focused on booking gigs regionally in the US Southwest in support of our new original CD "Big Rig Deluxe Semi-Garage Band".