Magic Sam, Jimmy Rogers, Slim Harpo, Tiny Grimes, Pee Wee Crayton, Freddy King, Albert Collins, Louis Myers, Johnny Young, Johnny Dollar, Lefty Dizz...
I hate this part because most of these bio's are supposed to tell you how great the artist is because he's played for this many years and that many cool people etc....which is okay but ....
You are only as good as your last gig and the people you are playing with.
I play with a great band of musicians and I play good clubs and 99.9% of the time we are really pretty good.
I have been around the world or all over the country but I have been around the block. The guys in my band have played with every cool person in the blues it seems and played the big shows. I'm honored to be in the band with them.
I started playing when I was 14 because I realised it was a good way to meet girls. I talked Dave Corbett, my 1st cousin and a great bass player to get his friends Phil Lucafo and Michael McCoyne to show me how to play. After driving my mother crazy playing Sunshine of Your Love over and over and over all summer long she bought me a new SG Standard guitar and a Fender Twin Reverb amplifier. After wanking away in numerous rock bands I saw Freddie King in 1971 at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago. He stole the show in a red suit, red leather shoes walking the crowd. I played in many bad blues bands before joining the Navy in 1976 which changed and probably saved my life (most mothers cry, mine was overjoyed that they accepted me).
I rose up through the ranks to Chief. I didn't touch the guitar for 13 years but always went to blues clubs around the world and when on leave back home in Chicago.
While stationed and living in downtown Chicago (sweet eh?) my friend Maria Olek talked me into buying an electric guitar. After practicing for two years I nervously got up on stage at Harvey's in Oshkosh, WI and after managing not to embarrass myself too bad was asked to join The No Trim Blues Band with Jeff Roberts (RIP Jeff).
While still in the Navy I gigged on weekends and eventually got out of the Navy to try my hand at being a full time musician. I met "Madison Slim" in Milwaukee and started the Chain Smokin Altar Boys in 1996 with Slim on harmonica. Slim was still in the Jimmy Rogers band and when he went on tour "Cadillac Pete Rahn" joined the band. I put out my first CD "Slow Burn" in 1998 and started making a living playing blues.
Best job I've ever had. I've played with a lot of great musicians like Slim , Pete, R.J. Mischo, Benny Rickun, Perry Weber, Vic Spahnn and opened for B.B. King etc....
But I really haven't been anywhere or played with anyone
really famous. I play with guys that are all better than me aand they have played with and know everyone cool and great, especially Slim and my bass player P. T. Pedersen.
My crowning achievement in life is my marriage to Diana and being blessed with great friends and a job doing what I love which somehow pays the bills which I owe to all the great club owners like: Jeff Wagner/Blues on Grand, Hal and Carol Yeagy/Slippery Noodle, Dave/Famous Daves, Gary at Blues on 52, Dan/Thirsty Ear, Jim/Savannah's, Steve/Fat Fish Blue ...and all the great people that come to see us play like Joe and Amy, Liz, Bad Bruise, Mother Superior, Claire from Chicago, Lisa, Christy and Sheila (RIP) Shane, Skinny, Tracy and Rick, Big Dave and Brian McHugh, Scott Allen and Jen Taylor, T-Bone, Amy, Crystal, Semi, Chopper Dan, Tina, Linda, Laura, Jay, Linda Mort, Steve Ruby and many more that I don't have space for.
Best to all
Rev
Wisconsin Premiere July, 19 2008 @ Majestic Theater, King St. Madison, Wisconsin Cost : $7.
Screening (8 PM) followed by performances by Mad Trucker Gone Mad (10 PM), The Skintones (11 PM), The Gusto (midnight) and Screamin' Cyn Cyn & The Pons (1 AM). All ages with bar w/ID and full sized movie screen. Let's party. Doors open at 7.
Directed by Natalie Hinckley Co-produced with Jake Shut
An inside look into the music of Midwestern label Crustacean Records, 14 years of ROCK and still going.
Film includes live footage and interviews of the Awesome Snakes, Screamin' Cyn Cyn and the Pons, Ouija Radio, Droids Attack, The Skintones, Drunk Drivers, John Kruth, Mad Trucker Gone Mad, The Gusto, Things Fall Apart, plus The Birthday Suits, Peelander Z and more.
appleton to grafton on new bike to watch Greg Koch ,runnin' late couldn't find show , Hey I can still catch the Reverend in Ripon 180miles to see the REV. Later.
Greetings from the rock and roll hall of fame city: Cleveland OH
Thanks for the add,great stuff, btw! I am a blues/jazz/rock musician, currently #1 in Jazz and #2 in Blues for the state of OH, and looking to climb. Please check out my mp3s and comment/rate them if you like
Hey Rev...How are things? Still playin lots i see! I've still been doin the same with Chris up in Green Bay. Hopefully we'll get to get out and see you soon! later yo!
Hi there Reverend Raven! I just want to tell you that you rock and that I am playing your song, I Can't Get You, on my site today. I love how you do that song! Thanks for your friendship! Hugs, Miss Kitty
The Reverand Raven taught me how to steal cars, but then he turned Jehovah Witness and made me give them all back! Thanks Rev, do you know how hard it is to put a Fender DeVille on a freakin' bicycle! You da Man! Iggy
Ohmygod! I just saw you're set to play the Ham Jam in Hampton, Iowa in September! That's my hometown, and I was planning on coming back for it anyway, but now I'm so excited I'll get to see you guys there! Now you just need to come visit us folks in Kansas City sometime.
