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, 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 upcoming '08 releases by Toronto's Adam Warner, Collingwood ON's Aaron Garner, and Windsor ON's Dusty D'Annunzio. 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, Twilight Hotel, 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 And The Witnesses's Friend Space (Top 24)
A Friend Is Like A Four Leaf Clover: Hard To Find And Lucky To Have! Have A Great And Wonderful Weekend! Hope Everything Goes Well ! A Big Hug For Your Friendship!
Howdy ya'll! I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking the time to accept us as your friend, and listening to our music. We appreciate the gesture and are grateful that you enjoyed our tunes enough to add us to your community of friends. After all, having people connect with our music is why we do this. I hope you'll come by often to say hello and let us know what's happening with you, and when you have a spare moment, please visit our brand new webpage at www. crosstimbersbluegrass. com there you can listen to more of our music and find out more about us. Feel free to sign the guestbook! (And if you have any ideas about how we could improve the webpage, be sure to let us know)
All my best and thank you again, Matt (the bass player) Cross Timbers
Great tunes! Love the harp playing. Where can I get the CD? Hope to see you in Sault Ste Marie again. My band opened for Big Sugar when you played here many moons ago.
