DON POWLESS: Bass player, Mohawk, is originally from the Six Nations Reserve and currently resides in Fort Erie, Ontario. He has played in blues bands in Canada and the United States that include Bar Road Band, The Roadhouse Band, Painted Pony and most recently, the Pappy Johns Band.
OREN DOXTATOR: On drums, Oren, originally from Oneida Settlement, near London, Ontario, grew up on Buffalo, New York and currently resides in Fort Erie, Ontario. Don Powless and Oren, who are brothers-in-law, have formed a solid rhythm section for over 30 years.
JOSH MILLER: Also Mohawk from Six Nations, Josh plays guitar and vocals. Josh began his career at an early age, when he toured with Murray Porter across Canada while still a teenager. Now a seasoned veteran of the blues scene, fronting his own bands, The Soul Kings, and Three Wheel Drive, Josh has performed everywhere in North America from the gritty honky tonks of the American South to Major Music festivals. The "Soul King" brings youthful energy and savvy to the band.
JOHN LEE: Keyboards, born in Montreal, John currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario. John has played keyboard with some of the best blues bands across Canada and the U.S, some of which are Mel Brown & the Homewreckers, Matt Minglewood and Dutch Mason.
THE PAPPY JOHNS BAND are long time friends and brothers of the blues. They provide, without a doubt, one of the tightest, most soulfull and fat backbones any blues band could wish for...period. The core players of THE PAPPY JOHNS BAND, Oren Doxtator and Don Powless and have been playing together for nearly 30 years. Musically, achieved some measure of success with the bands they have backed including The Bar Road Band, Roadhouse, Painted Pony.
HISTORY
The Pappy Johns Band came to be when they were originally fronted by Chris "Pappy" Johns (nicknamed because he has a lot of kids), and were playing gigs in and around the Fort Erie area with sideman Lorne Greene (Graham's bro) on guitar. After recruiting vocalist Faron Johns, the band decided to make a DEMO CD in order to help them get gigs. Liking what they heard in the studio, they decided to release that CD and "Blame It On Monday" was born. The band gained both critical & commercial acclaim from this CD, combining that with national television exposure as 'house band' on the APTN series "Buffalo Tracks" The line-up however was somewhat short lived when Murray Porter came looking for a band to lay tracks to help compliment his songwriting. To make a long story short, exiting the band was "Pappy" Johns and Lorne Greene, in was Murray Porter and new guitarist Joe Mafoud and they released "Full Circle". They decided to keep the name "Pappy Johns Band" largely to the fact that the name has been established, well earned and well-known. After the recording sessions for Full Circle , the PJB realized that guitarist Joe Mafoud was not working out, and they added the services of stand-out young guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Joshua Miller. One CD seemed to be enough for Murray as he left to pursue a solo career and shortly there after Faron also parted ways with the band. Adding the services of piano virtuoso John Lee, The brand new Pappy Johns Band CD is NOW COMPLETE...if you want a copy, please leave a message here or call 519 445 0307.
THE PAPPY JOHNS BAND were 2005 JUNO Award nominees for Aboriginal Recording of the Year for 'Full Circle'. The band won Best Blues Album at the 2004 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards for Full Circle, in November 2004. They were also nominated for a 2005 Indian Summer Music Award for Best Blues, in Milwaukee.
For the first time in their career, The Pappy Johns Band, performed in Europe. They performed at Blues sur Seine, a blues festival in Mantes la Jolie, France, from November 17-20, 2005, to an extremely enthusiastic response!
In Canada, they can be seen on REZ BLUEZ TV on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (www.aptn.ca) and BRAVO Canada and in the U.S on Sunshine Network, airing on Saturday nights at 8pm beginning in March 2008. Season 2 of Rez Bluez TV features the new band line-up and showcases some of the NEW songs on the upcoming CD. The FANTASTIC PAPPY JOHNS RHYTHM SECTION (Oren & Don) back numerous artists on the show and can be seen on many episodes, holding some tight grooves down for showcasing artists.
The band also won 4 awards at the 2002 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards: for Best Male Artist (Faron Johns); Best Group/Duo; Best Producer/Engineer (Alec Fraser & Band); Best Song & Songwriter for Blame It On Monday (Faron Johns).
Since reuniting the band has played such prestigious festivals as the 20th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, May 2003, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Grand Opening of the Smithsonian Institution's 'National Museum of the American Indian', on the Four Directions Stage (mainstage) for the closing concert.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hey i want to let you, and all my friends with whom i visit, that i always enjoy stopping by, even tho it's my bad i don't always get around to leaving a comment. But this time, i was thinkin bout how my mom taught me better. When u enter a room, u supposed to speak first to the people there, they not supposed to have to speak first lol. Even though, I know I am usually really busy recording my next album and everything, no excuses. So yea i wanted to say wassup, i like visiting your and others page when i wanna read, listen to music n stuff. U got a cool spot, and i hope your year is shaping up better than last year. Our life is supposed to get greater and greater right? Well let me know how everything is going with your goals for this year! ttyl
Hi everybody, just here to say our new RORY GALLAGHER HAWK BOOSTER is ready for shipping. Have a listen if you get a chance, All the best, Stevie Flynn.
