Norm Bellas & the Funkstars
Keith Lowe: Bass
Ronnie Bishop: Drums
Steve Black: guitar
Mike West: Tenor Sax
Norm Bellas: Hammond B3 Organ/Vocals
Norm Bellas Band:
Norm Bellas: Keys, Bass, Vocals.
Jeff 4A: Guitar.
Rotating Drummers:
Conrad Ormsby,
Dave Smith,
Phil Bowden,
Les Merrihew,
Bob Merrihew,
Jerry Garcia,
Stu Monsma,
Scott Ketron,
Mark Schoellhorn
and K.T.
Influences
Jazz, Blues, Funk, R&B, Latin, Gospel and Country.
Norm Bellas won the Washington State Blues Society 'Best of Blues' award for best Keyboard and was nominated for best songwriter. His blues compositions are on the CDs of Saffire, the Uppity Blues Woman; Ann Rabson; Kate Hart; Chris Bonoli; Charles White; and Jr. Cadillac Norm played and/or recorded with Big Momma Thorton, Albert Collins, Charlie Musclewhite, Boz Scaggs, Bo Diddley, Harvey Brooks, Joe Houston, Long John Baldrey, the Shirelles, the Coasters, the Drifters, the Temptations, the Platters, Brian Auger, Carlos Santana, Buddy Miles, Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop, Jorma Koukonen, John Mayall, Steve Miller, the Blues Project, Duffy Bishop, and Lee Oscar; Plus jazz artists: Russell Malone, Frank Wess, Robben Ford, Tootie Heath, Barry Finnerty, Jessica Williams, Buddy Catlett, Don Lamphere, Michael White, Art Lande, Mel Brown, Mark Lewis, Bill Mulenhoff, Sue Raney, and Chuck Metcalf. Based in Seattle, Norm was musical director, live performance Hammond organist, and recording organist/pianist for the Seattle Woman in Blues; he played in the bands of local legends, Tom McFarland and Issac Scott; he played and recorded with Kathy McDonald and Polly O'keary; and he was Musical Director for the blues musical: "We are not good girls."
Thanks for the add! ECS will be opening in September to support musicians in the Puget Sound Region. THe location will be near Guitar Center in the Southcenter MAll area.
Thank you dear Norm for the friendship and the great music, you ae at home on my page, great top friends here, have a happy week full of peace and love.
Howdy from Times Square NYC Norm, great to see you on the Space...many thanks for the Add-On! Any sign of Mike O'Day?! I remember seeing you on the gig with Barry in Fairfield CA in '70 or '71, no business like Music Business...and especially with B3 in-tow, 'eh Norm?! Great to see you're keeping the old B3 oiled up there in SEA...keep up the good work and the hammer down! c ya' Jon http://hammondcast. livejournal. com *Member AFM Local 802, Local 6 / ASCAP Publisher
