Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe: lead vocals, harmonica, saxophone, rhythm guitar
Greg Cox: guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals
Bradford Helner: drums
Josh Zalev: bass, vocals
Influences
Bill Monroe, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, Fats Domino, Del Reeves, Lee Dorsey, The Delmore Brothers, Ray Charles, Herbert Hardesty, Red Prysock, Big Walter Horton, Buck Owens, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Doc Watson, The Staples Singers, Carl Story, Ferlin Husky, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Louvin Brothers, Little Walter, Wayne Raney, Deford Bailey, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Merle Travis, Shorty Long, Bill Doggett, James Hand, Lonesome Lefty, Wild Turkey.
Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe has been a fixture on the Canadian and international music scene, starting with roots rockers, The Dougalls (1981 to 1986) and then with The Windsor Dukes (1986 to 1994). In 1994 he joined Toronto-based reggae 'n' blues rock recording act BIG SUGAR. Big Sugar released five CDs and one EP during his tenure with the band. When Big Sugar dissolved in 2004, Mr. Chill formed MR. CHILL & THE WITNESSES, and released in '06 "Mr. Chill's Cold Testament" a CD blending his passion for country, bluegrass, blues, folk, gospel and old school rock 'n' roll. Mr. Chill has been busy as a studio sideman as well. His session work can be heard on BLACK CROWES' frontman Chris Robinson's solo effort "New Earth Mud", Canadian rockers The Trews' '06 CD "Den Of Thieves" and Halifax indie songsmith JOEL PLASKETT's "07 release "Ashtray Rock". His harmonica and tenor sax playing have graced recordings such as Big Rude Jake's "Blue Pariah" 1998 CD, The Luge Sessions' "Hard End" (2000) and Windsor ON's Regael 2005 CD "Coastlines". Manitoban J.P. Lepage's "My Best Regards" (1998), Vancouver band John Ford's 2001 CD "Bullets for Dreamers", and singer-songwriter Pat Robitaille's '07 release, "Summer Of Love", plus '08 releases by Toronto's Adam Warner, "Sawdust And Sour Apples", and Collingwood ON's Aaron Garner's live CD "There And Back". He has performed and/or shared stages with artists such as Gov't Mule, Allman Brothers Band, Dr. John, The Rolling Stones, Melissa Etheridge, Big Rude Jake, Sugar Ray, Blues Traveler, Chris Duarte, Great Big Sea, The Tea Party, Sarah Harmer, Pinetop Perkins, Lazy Lester, Mel Brown, Wild Child Butler, Willie D. Warren, Mr. Bo, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Kim Wilson's Blues Explosion, Carey Bell, Sam Lay, New Earth Mud, Steve Nardella, Ron Leary, Pat Robitaille, David Gogo, Joel Plaskett Emergency, The Trews, Aaron Garner, Toronto's songwriter extraordinaire PATRICK BALLANTYNE, ITABITH? (Is There A Band In The House?, featuring former "The Tea Party" drummer Jeff Burrows), Austin Texas' blues 'n' metal purveyors GRADY, The Perpetrators, Kane Welch & Kaplan, Stan Rogers, Garnet Rogers, Blue Rodeo, Molly Johnson, The Crazy Strings, Marc Roy, Colin Linden, Paul Reddick, Twilight Hotel, Lonesome Lefty & His Cryin' Shames, The Silvertones, City Wide Vacuum, Adam Warner, The Locusts Have No King, Grand Marais, and Dean's Dragon to name more than a few. In his hometown of Windsor ON and elsewhere, Mr. Chill performs with his band, The Witnesses, and in a duo setting with Witnesses' guitarist GREG COX. He can also be heard in a trio with pianist CHRIS BORSHUK and guitarist/vocalist TOM HOGARTH. Mr. Chill performs often with the gifted songwriter RON LEARY in both a duo setting and in the Ron Leary Trio with SCOTTY HUGHES on guitar.
Mr. Chill And The Witnesses's Friend Space (Top 24)
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Windsor-born Stu Heydon is a veteran bluesman with his first CD as a leader. He began his career playing with Detroit’s legendary Bobo Jenkins, to whom this CD is dedicated. A charter member of the Windsor/Detroit scene, he was also a long time member of the Wild Child Butler band after he re-located to Windsor. So he knows about the blues. Although he has since moved to Carmel CA, he recorded much of this album at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton with our A-List players: Prakash John & Jordan John are on bass & drums, Mike Branton on rhythm guitar, Les Smith on harp andMichael Fonfara/Bob Phillips/Dennis Keldie on keyboards. The result is a solid program of original songs. “Middle Of The Night” is a chugging opener that reminds me of Coco Montoya or John Mayall. “Closing Time”, at a similar tempo, is another one of the highlights – a packed seven minutes that goes by too quickly. The B3/lead guitar sound he likes reaches its peak on the title instrumental, a jazzy delight. The slow blues “Fooled Myself” features a lengthy solo by the unheralded Les Smith although solo may not be the right word. Heydon simply sings over the hard-working band, much as a jazz singer might. It’s unusual but works very well here. As a singer, he
Just want to remind everyone to get their fine selves to the Saxon and show how cool Austin music scene really is. Let's rock the place! It's The Ruby Jane Show being filmed for tv. Be in the audience and get yourself on tv, all you dudes, dancers, and wonderful Austinites!!!! Let's show the Austin music love to the world! 4:30-5:30! Ruby Jane
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane. I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Hello from the amazing windy plains just outside Calgary , Alberta(weather subject to change on the 1/2 hour with out notification) Wonderful music in your space.Many discoveries made at your space, very nice indeed to be m8s.Cheers ! (mO:) moreno
In a act of Kindness endorphin levels are elevated in the Giver, the Receiver and the Observer, how nice is that.
"do not seek happiness .. but .. do rid your self of unhappiness = Zero Negative thoughts"
"Share knowledge ,it is a way to achieve immortality"
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