The story of Outlaws I & I begins with featured lead vocalist Butchie B. His voyage from young gospel singer to R&B performer allowed him to perform on stage with prestigious acts such as The Dazz Band, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and The Whispers. Butchie B’s talents soon led him to Reggae music, performing with well-known Reggae artists such as Toots and the Maytals, Yellowman, Beenie Man, Culture, and Eek-A-Mouse, and traveling to 3 different continents to entertain. On the local scene, he was the lead singer of Steele and Bread and The Champion Bubblers, thus leading up to the creation of Outlaws I & I in 1996.
Outlaws I & I’s original lineup included Butchie B, Clarence Carter Jr., and Bill Gnawles. After Clarence and Bill disbanded from the group, multi-talented keyboardist and vocalist Ryan “The Lion” Mitiska (formerly of R&B Hip-Hop phenoms Ghetto Wisdom) entered as a permanent fixture in 1999. Specializing in Roots & Culture with a dash of R&B and Dancehall, Outlaws I & I spanned all 48 continental U.S. states, performing at national reggae festivals such as the Ohio Midwest Reggae Festival, Lansing MI Caribbean Festival, Birmingham AL Reggae Festival, and the Blues and Cultural Festival in Pensacola FL, to name a few.
Fast-forward to 2009 – Butchie B and Ryan Mitiska have assembled an unstoppable crew of exceptional musicians to form THE NEW OUTLAWS I & I Reggae experience. Added to the mix are the furious guitar stylings of Gino Long (of the Cleveland Rock/Reggae pioneers First Light), and newcomers Jen “Shorty” Roy on vocals, and bassist Tony “TC Bassie” Howard.
Outlaws I & I certainly live up to their name, breaking down cultural and age barriers, producing a truly fresh, unique, and profoundly American blend of personalities and perspectives. Though primarily a Reggae outfit, the band peppers every performance with some Soul, Hip-Hop, Soca, Dub, Ska, and even a little bit of Rock & Roll. Outlaws I & I encourages every audience to participate and have fun, playing original compositions, as well as an extensive playlist of well-known Reggae classics (not to mention a few surprises!) In their relatively short existence, Outlaws I & I has had the privilege of opening for Reggae legends The Original Wailers and The Mighty Diamonds.
With the perfect combination of youthful spirit and decades of combined professional experience, Outlaws I & I are sure to ignite any atmosphere into an instant party the second they hit the stage. Four walls can barely contain the contagious positive vibrations pulsing from the deep pocket of the rhythm section, the heartfelt and soulful vocal melodies and harmonies, the expert musicianship, and of course Butchie B’s commanding and powerful stage presence. Whether it’s a warm breezy Summer day, or a famously frigid Cleveland Winter evening, Outlaws I & I is sure to bring the heat!
ONE LOVE!!!! it has been forever scence i stoped in and said hi wish i was still in cleveland to come see you play im in florida now hey maybe some day yall gonna have to come down and play in panama city lol well i hope all is well
Big up Outlaws! Keep the vibes flowin!!!!! Miss you all so very much. Greet the family for me and keep in touch so when I come home we can break bread! Happy Kwanzaa and may Jah bless with much successes in '08!
