Dukes Of Destiny

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Higher Ground

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Released: Jan 1, 2013

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Higher Ground
5:21
116 plays
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Black Men Blush
4:19
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Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie
3:18
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Make Me Wanna Holler
5:06
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Dr. Feelgood
6:01
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Total Plays: 4,274 / Plays Today: 6See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Blues / R&B / Swing
Location PHILADELPHIA, Un
Profile Views: 50113
Last Login: 4/14/2013
Member Since 2/28/2009
Website email us at dukesofdestiny@yahoo.com
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .. .. ....The History of the Dukes.. .......... ...... ...... ....(..as.. told by John ..Colgan..-Davis) .... ...... ...... ....It was a rambling three story house on the edge of the woods in ..Philadelphia..'s ....Fairmount.. ..Park..... The year was 1984 and four young musicians lived in that house, spending hour upon hour jamming on old blues songs. They decided to take the act out as The Dukes of Destiny, a name they got from a matchbook cover urging the reader to "Be the Captain of Your Own Destiny." At first they played house parties in ....Germantown...., generating word of mouth interest. A gig at the now-defunct Taker's Cafe in Germantown launched their public career, and 20 years later they are still playing some of the hottest, most danceable blues and ..R'n'B.. in the Philadelphia area. The Dukes of Destiny reign as one of ....Philadelphia....'s longest lived blues act... .......... ...... ...... ....In all these years, there have only been a few changes in the act. Turk McFadden, the Dukes original drummer (who previously played in the original "Slant 6" band with founding member Steve Brown..)left.. after the first year to spend more time with his new family. He can still be found playing gigs throughout the Tri-State area. Sax player Steve Bernstein left to tour with pianist W.C. Clark (who co-wrote "Cold Shot" with ..Stevie.. Ray Vaughn) and later moved to ..Austin.., where he plays R&B in those cool ....Austin.... clubs. Guitarist A.C. Steel left to start his own band (A.C. Steel and the ..Galvinizers..) and plays gigs from time to time in and around the Philly area... .......... ...... ...... ....Although original singer Steve Brown died in March of 2000, the core of the band has remained together for all of those 25 years, resulting in a band with a unique tightness and an original approach to the music:.. .......... ...... ...... ....Harmonica player and singer John ..Colgan..-Davis has played in the ..Philadelphia.. area for more than 30 years, playing and touring with such notables as Bonnie ..Raitt.., ....Tennessee.... bluesman Sparky Rucker, the John Cadillac Band, and the legendary guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell... .......... ...... ...... ....Drummer Bob Holden has played with Robert ..Hazzard.. and Columbia Records recording artist Quincy... .......... ...... ...... ....Before the Dukes, guitarist Richard Adler played around Philly in a mostly acoustic duo with Steve Brown, beginning way back in 1975... .......... ...... ...... ....CC Crabtree is a longtime Philly sax player, who has played with many area bands... .......... ...... ...... ....Bassist Rich Curtis has led his own jazz groups and played with guitarist Jim ..Dragoni.., percussionist Doc Gibbs, and ..Saxman.. Byard Lancaster... .......... ...... ...... ......Arlyn...... ..Wolters.. joined the Dukes in early 2003 as our new lead vocalist. ..Arlyn.. sang blues and R&B in NYC clubs before moving to Philly and joining the Dukes. Together, the Dukes represent more than 100 years of professional experience and exploration of American roots music... .......... ...... ...... ....Keyboardist Carl Snyder is the Dukes' most recent addition. Carl was based in ....Chicago.... for many years and has played and toured with some of the best Chicago Blues bands. He also hosts a local radio show... .......... ...... ...... ....Over the last 25 years the Dukes have gained a large and loyal following among ....Philadelphia.... listeners who know and love the blues. They've appeared at four River Blues Festivals at Penn's Landing, five concerts sponsored by the Philadelphia Blues Machine, the YO Philadelphia Festival sponsored by the Daily News, and the Pocono Blues Festival. They have also been an opening act for such greats as Albert King, Charlie ..Musselwhite.., Commander Cody, ..Gatemouth.. Brown, ..Koko.. Taylor, John Lee Hooker, and John ..Mayall... ..They.. ..have.. also served as the backup band for legendary ....Chicago.... guitarist/singer Otis Rush. Most recently, Duke ..members.. Bob Holden, John ..Colgan..-Davis, and Rich Curtis served as the backup band for singer Terry Evans at performances at TRAMMPS in ....New York City.... and the Penn State Festival of the Arts... ..They also received an award from the Philadelphia Folk Song Society in 1993. With a mix of their own arrangements of obscure blues standards and powerful original songs, the Dukes continue to grow and develop. Their solid musicianship and love of the music inspires fans and critics alike... .......... ...... ...... ....The Dukes have released three CD's that have received airplay on WHYY, WRTI, and WXPN. The first ..one,"The.. Dukes of Destiny", was released in 1991. The second, "House of Forbidden Love" was released to solid reviews in 1997. It features guest appearances by bassist Steve ..Beskrone.., a veteran of Ray Charles' band, and Motown percussionist Jack Ashford. The third, "3", was released in October, 2004 and is the first to showcase ..Arlyn.. ..Wolters.. on vocals. It also features CC Crabtree on saxophones and Walter ..Runge.. Jr... ..boards..... .......... ...... ...... ...."We're a band", harmonica player John ..Colgan..-Davis said. "We're not So-and-So and his backup group. We play off of each other's energy and creativity. We have fun, and that comes across to the audience. If you come to a Dukes gig, be prepared for a lot of dancing and some big smiles. We love playing together and it shows.".. .......... ...... ...... ....It's been 25 exciting fun-filled years for the Dukes of Destiny. The energy and excitement they generate says that there are still many more years yet to come... .......... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .. .. .. .. .. ............MySpace Layouts..............MySpace Layouts............MySpace Codes............MySpace Backgrounds..........
Members
....Dukes of Destiny................ .. .. .. .. ....John ..Colgan..-Davis: Harmonica, Lead Vocals - - John has been a ....Philadelphia.... music treasure for most of his adult life. His harp style is both raw and haunting. He is a powerful and emotional vocalist. John has written several songs that are on our current CD, "3"........ ...... ...... ......Arlyn...... ..Wolters..: Lead and Background Vocals - - ..Arlyn.. is a sassy singer with great stage presence......... ...... ...... ....Rich Curtis: Bass, Lead and Background Vocals - - Rich is a smooth yet powerful vocalist and his passion for bass has led him to become one of the most solid bass players in Philly......... ...... ...... ....Bob Holden: Drums, Background Vocals - - Bob is another Philly legend, and one of the hardest working men in the music business. He is one of the ..the.. most powerful and tasteful drummers in the area......... ...... ...... ...."Chicago" Carl Snyder - Keyboards, Vocals only when he feels like it - - Over a span of thirty years, "Chicago" Carl Snyder worked with over sixty of the Windy City's blues artists, most extensively with Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Son Seals and Jimmy Johnson......... CC Crabtree: Sax, Lead and Background Vocals - - CC is a classic R&B sax player who can "wail" or play mellow, depending on his mood and what he had to eat that day. He is also a great singer. AC Steel: Guitar, Lead and Background Vocals. AC returns to the Dukes after a several year hiatus bringing is talents on guitar and vocals back into the Dukes fold. .. ..
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