Ronnie Owens - vocals/harp,
Ivan Appelrouth - guitar,
John
Fralin - keyboards,
John Sheppard - bass,
Mark
Young - drums
Influences
Son House, Charlie Patton. Robert Johson, Muddy Water's, Little Walter, Big Walter, Howling Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, George "Harmonica" Smith, Sonny Boy Williamson I & II, Deford Bailey, Dr. Ross, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Billy Boy Aronld, Carey Bell, Sam Meyers, Robert Lockwood Jr. Otis Spann, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor, Lightin' Hopkins, John lee Hooker, Elmore James, Junior Parker, T-Bone Walker, The 3 Kings, Guitar Slim, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, Lowell Fulson, Ray Charles, 'Gatemouth' Brown, Albert Collins, Guitar Jr, Louie Armstrong, Louis Jordon, Big Joe Turner, Ike Turner, Fat's Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Hank Williams Sr, Jimmy Rodgers, Ernst Tubb, Lefty Frizzell, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Marty Robbins, early Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbinson & all the great musicians in these great bands, there's more, we havn't even hit on all the swing, big band & jazz cats who's licks I still try to steal, and that's just thru the 50's!! The true Pioneers of American roots music.
Lil’ Ronnie & the Grand Dukes are, to quote one reviewer, "...the real deal! ... superb talents well versed in traditional blues". While Ronnie & the band are well schooled in all styles of blues they also use elements of 50's r&b, soul, vintage rock & roll & jazz in their unique blend of American roots music.
Lil’ Ronnie and the Grand Dukes are led by blues singer / songwriter and Hohner Harmonica endorsee, Ronnie Keith Owens.
Ronnie was born in Richmond, VA in 1950. Inspired and encouraged by his jazz drumming uncle, Ronnie was beatin’ the skins by the time he was 8, and giging in local bands by the tender age of 13. Ronnie was weaned on the sounds of swing jazz, rhythm & blues and 50's rock & roll, but it was the post-war urban blues that really spoke to Ronnie, especially the deep blues of Muddy Waters, the wicked harp of Little Walter and all the great Chess artists.
Ronnie is a member of that first generation of young white bluesmen who embraced the genre during the folk / blues revival of the 60’s. Ronnie finally, at the age of 30, put down his sticks and picked up the harp and within a couple of years he was fronting his own bands as both singer and harp player. Ronnie has now been leading his own bands for over 25 years. He has played with or shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the blues, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, 'Gatemouth' Brown, Albert Collins, Jerry Portnoy, ledgendary Blues Band w/ Pinetop Perkins, Matt Murphy, Taj Mahal, Carey Bell, Anson Funderburg, Sam Meyers, Johnny Winter, John Mayall, and many many others. Ronnie toured the US and Canada as a featured member of Big Bill Morganfield’s (Muddy’s son) band. Ronnie has also performed with Mark Hummel’s prestigious “Blues Harmonica Blowouts” where he performed with top blues artists, James Harman, Magic Dick, Fingers Taylor and Mark Wenner. Ronnie has also hosted his own ‘Blues Harmonica Revue tours’ featuring west coast Harmonica greats, Mitch Kashmar, John Nemeth and RJ Mischo. Ronnie has worked hard and paid his dues to earn the respect of his peers.
Ronnie and his band ‘the Grand Dukes’ are a critically acclaimed touring band and play anywhere from funky little blues bars, where the music was invented, to major blues festivals, including a headlining & swinging night at New York’s prestigious Lincoln Center. They have earned the reputation as an exciting, must see band!
Ronnie and the band have recorded 3 critically acclaimed and internationally distributed CD’s. Their latest CD ‘do what’cha do’, produced by renowned Texas blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh was a hit with Blues & Americana radio worldwide. The CD reached 5 on XM Radio’s Bluesville and reached 15 on ‘Living Blues’ worldwide radio charts, where it stayed for 2 months!
‘do what’cha do’ was ranked 8 in Real Blues Magazine top CD’s of 2005, the band was also named ‘Best US Blues Band 2005’ from Real Blues Magazine. Ronnie and the Grand Dukes were also voted ‘Best Blues Artist’ at the 5th Annual Virginia Music Awards.
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Lil Ronnie and the Grand Dukes's Friend Space (Top 40)
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Thanks for saying so...always enjoyed you. We have alot of friends in common but did not get to meet when I lived up north. My best and I hope to catch you in person soon. Jon
Hello from Ruthie Foster! Thank you for the friend request! Please visit www.RuthieFoster.com for exclusive fan content, tour info, merchandise and more!
Ronnie,Thanks for the request hermano!All is well!!Recovering from total hip-replacement and the Winter blues.Things are getting better,cuz the gigs are startin' to roll in.All the best to you and the Grand Dukes. Play on!!
