John Neish-Bass Alternators Tom Royer-Jimi Bott-Mike Klobas on Drums and Dover Weinberg on Keyboards.
NEW CD "I'M ALL YOURS"---“The Rick Welter Band delivers a master class in touch and mood on I'M ALL YOURS (Bluestopia Records), a survey of roots styles that avoids tired covers. Welter’s own songs encompass uptown blues, relaxed funk, sophisticated swing, and R&B ballads. A warm, believable singer with a harsh edge, Welter produces mellow, vintage tones from his guitar, and the band never overplays or pushes too hard. This is music just like the good old days”.—BLUES REVUE
Influences
The "King's" including Bobby and Earl, Jimmy Nolen, Tiny Grimes, Johnny 'guitar' Watson, Lowell Fulsom, Jimmy Reed, Jr. Watson, Cal Green, Pee Wee Crayton, T-Bone Walker, Luther Tucker, Sammy Lawhorn, Earl Hooker and so many others.
NEW CD RELEASE "I"M ALL YOURS" AVAILABLE AT WWW.CDBABY.COM/CD/RICKWELTERBAND AND LOCALLY IN PORTLAND AT MUSIC MILLENNIUM AS WELL AS AT 'LIVE' PERFORMANCES EVERYWHERE.
Award winning R&B guitar man Rick Welter combines the raw edge of the Blues with the soulful feel of 50’s & 60’s R&B. He and his band have been giving a legion of fans heaping helpings of timeless American Roots Music for years. Hailing from Albany New York, Welter spent some time in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area where he had the opportunity to share the stage with some legendary musicians, notably John Lee Hooker, Boz Skaggs, Jimmy Reed, Elvin Bishop, and guitarist Mel Brown. Welter also toured the U.S. & Canada with master-blaster Charlie Musselwhite, which included a performance at the world renowned Chicago Blues Festival with special guest "Big" Walter Horton. His stint with Musselwhite also yielded a live and raw recording from the Belly-Up Club in San Diego, California. Welter was also guitarist for boogie-woogie pianist Mitch Woods, unleashing the recording "Steady Date” available on Blind Pig Records. For nearly a decade he and his musical crime partners were broadcast live on radio station KRCL which featured such luminaries as Hubert Sumlin, Luther Tucker, Denny Freeman, Smokey Wilson, Larry Davis, William Clarke, Roy Gaines, Jr. Watson, CoCo Montoya, Paul Delay, and many many more. The fruit of this collaboration was released on CD to rave reviews in 1993. Welter has also shared the stage with B.B. King, Albert Collins, Wild Child Butler, vocal sensation Johnny Adams and Hall of Fame legend Bo Diddley. In 1994 his former band The Tempo Timers released a CD entitled "Makin' It" which received favorable reviews from Living Blues and other publications. Over the years he has opened for James Brown, BB King, John Lee Hooker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Billy Preston, Johnny Winter, Buddy Miles, Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy and most recently Robert Cray. Festival performances have included the 1995 Monterey Blues Festival, the 1996 Utah Blues and Jazz Festival with Charlie Musselwhite, in 1997 with Texas saxman “Kaz” Kazanoff and again in 1999 featuring his own band.
Having recently spent some time back in New York, he released a ‘best of’ CD entitled “In The Open” which included some raucus live material. He also appeared at numerous hotspots in the area including Syracuse’s renowned Dinosaur Bar-b-Que Club, a live performance on radio station WRPI in Troy NY, The Troy Riverfront Blues Festival, The Clermont Music Festival, and The Blues 2000 & 3 Festival in Kingston, New York.
In late 2003 a call from vocalist John Nemeth led to another move out west. This collaboration led to appearances throughout the Midwest, as well as the Northwest, including a knockout performance at the Winthrop Blues Festival in 2004 and 2005. He also performed with the legendary James Harmon at the 2004 Pinedale Blues Festival. Since his arrival in Portland he has received the prestigious Muddy Award from the Cascade Blues Association for best new act and performed at the world renowned Waterfront Blues Festival in 2005 with the following review: “Next up was boogie-woogie pianist Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne and Chicago blues belter Zora Young on the North Stage. One of the hottest sets of the weekend. It was an all-star lineup that featured guitarist Rick Welter, the huge harp of Paul DeLay, and the Texas Horns with Kaz Kazanoff. Amazing stuff”! Rick had the honor to perform with Paul Delay on several other venues as well before he passed in 2007, and has also performed with local Portland legend Curtis Salgado. Along with drum great Jimi Bott, he performed with the legendary Sugar Pie Desanto on her tour of the Northwest, and performed at the 2007 Rendezvous Blues Festival and Waterfront Blues Festival in 2006, ‘07’ & ‘09’!
Booking Info: 503-252-5144//email: rickwelter@gmail.com
Rick, Greetings from the Pudding River, Thank you for being friends with Whiskey Hill. We hope you enjoyed our songs. We are recording again and hope to add some more music in the near future. Whiskey Hill wants to wish you a holiday season filled with peace and joy. Whiskey Hill
Yo Rick, NICE DISC! The guitar is great and the singing is really good not to mention the fine choice of material! Have a great CD release party. I'll spread the word. John
Kick ass fun last night at Cactus Jacks! Nice to have Lloyd Jones sit in with you guys too! See you next Thursday 8pm at Cactus Jacks ~ can't wait to hear the new cd! Jan
Looking forward to Thursdays at Cactus Jacks with you & the guys...not to mention Thursday May 14 @ The Refectory with Terry Hanck band...so greatful to be your friend and help with your music!!! Dance ~ Dance ~ Dance
