Tip of the Top's DEBUT CD DEPOT STREET BLUES Now available on BlueBeat music and CD Mojo!
Also available for sale at our shows for only $15
Launch the music player to sample tunes from Depot Street Blues!
Tip of the Top - Depot Street Blues
Jon Lawton is the kind of guitarist that musicians notice. He knows
how to build a solo and how to play rhythm ... (Lawton displays) mastery of slide (guitar) ... (Lawton's vocals) evoke a mood like the ultra-coolness of Willie Mabon.
(Kumar has been a) best-kept secret commodity around the South Bay in recent years ... Kumar's vocals and harp shine ... (Kumar plays) very tasteful acoustic harmonica ...
(Carlos Velasco and Frank DeRose) anchor the groove-driven arrangements.
The lead instruments blend in to create a unified sound. These guys sound like a band.
- Joel Fritz, Golden Gate Blues Society
Overall some very tasty and well played tunes. The CD should garner worldwide airplay...it's that good...3.5 stars out of 5 stars.
Mark "the Jakester" Jacobson
Blues Program Director
KSCU 103.3
We endorse:
Member of The Golden Gate Blues Society:
Influences
Tip of the Top is an exciting new blues band playing around the San Francisco Bay Area. I want to encourage everyone to attend one of their performances.
Bruce Labadie
Festival Director, AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival
Tip of the Top plays classic blues with a vibrant and original sound and stage show.
Mark Jacobson
Director of Blues Programming
KSCU 103.3 FM
Don’t miss these guys…Authentic blues right here in the South Bay.
Gary Smith
Blues Harmonica Master
Tip of the Top has created a new and exciting mix of guitar and harmonica blues. Great to listen to…Great to dance to … Great to watch…
Gil De Leon
Blues DJ KKUP 91.5 FM
Tip of the Top plays traditional blues with a modern upbeat presentation.
Tony McKenna, Owner
The Grand Dell Saloon, Campbell, CA.
Tip of the Top digs deep into the roots of the Blues…Vintage Blues music played with style.
Jay Meduri, owner
Poor House Bistro, San Jose, CA
Tip of the Top is a throw back to the Juke Joint era of the early 1950s and they create an intimate experience even
in the largest of venues.Very Cool band !!!!!
J.C. Smith
Recording Artist
Blues DJ, KKUP 91.5 FM
The audience loved Tip of the Top…I have already booked the band for next year’s music series…The bands professionalism and entertainment value far exceeded expectations…I would highly recommend this band for any event.
Pat Curtis
Entertainment Coordinator
Morgan Hill Thursday Night Music Series
Tip of the Top is one of the SF Bay Area's finest new bands, bringing together two veteran musicians, Jon Lawton and Frank DeRose with new comers Aki Kumar and Carlos Velasco. The band blends various traditional styles of the blues - Chicago, Delta, Memphis, Texas, West Coast and country - and brings to life a unique sound like no other band in the area.
Jon Lawton has been a veteran of the California blues scene for over two decades. His blues influences included Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Johnny Shines, John Nicholas, Asleep at the Wheel, Elmore James, Robert Johnson and all the King family guitarists. Johnny also cites The Stones, Grateful Dead, David Bromberg, Bonnie Raitt, Pink Floyd, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Frank Zappa among his early musical influences.
Prior to moving to the Golden State, Jon toured the mid-west with various popular regional blues/funk bands and backed up luminaries such as Luther Allison and John Hammond. Shortly after arriving in Santa Barbara, he joined its premier blues band The Pontiax, garnering rave reviews across the US, Europe, Canada. In 1990, Jon moved on to form Little Jonny and The Giants, which developed a solid SoCal following and performed at numerous venues and festivals with heavyweights such as Kim Wilson, John Hammond, James Harman, Gregg Allman, Koko Taylor, Fenton Robinson, Mighty Joe Young, Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Slim, Bob Dylan, Sista Monica and Anson Funderburg. Jon is now settled in the SF Bay Area where Little Jonny and the Giants continue releasing terrific CDs, performing all over California and collaborating with great artists such as Tom Ball, Paris Slim, RJ Mischo and many others!
Frank De Rose, a fixture in the Bay Area blues scene for over 25 years, has collaborated with the who's-who of the area's top blues artists including: Gary Smith, Tommy Castro, Mark Hummel, Kenny Ray, John Garcia, Mike Shermer, Sid Morris. Over the years, Frank has also provided his bass playing skills to a long list of national touring blues acts such as Snooky Prior, Otis Rush, Johnny Heartsman, Little John Chrisley, Nick Gravenites, Andy Just, Chris Cain, Rusty Zinn, Jr., Watson, John Garcia, David Barrett, Jackie Payne, Larry Davis, Mississippi Johnny Waters, Johnny Adams, Luther Tucker, Andy Santana, "Might" Mo Rogers, Eddie Shaw, Mike Wheeler, Nellie "Tiger" Travis Curtis Salgado .. the list goes on.
A short list of Frank's notable performances include several San Francisco Blues Festivals along with several of the San Francisco Battle of the Harps, multiple performances at the Monterey Blues Festival, San Jose State Fountain Blues Festival, JJ's Blues Festival, Santa Cruz Blues Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, The Legends of Chicago Blues at Villa Montalvo and the California Blues Legends show.
Born and raised in Bombay but now settled in San Jose, Aki Kumar is an up and coming harmonica player on the Bay Area scene. He has been a devoted fan of the Chicago blues since 2003 and under the guidance of harp guru David Barrett, has studied and absorbed the styles of harp greats such as Little Walter, George Smith and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Aki seeks to take his music in new directions, while keeping alive the spirit of the old masters.
Over the last couple of years, Aki has sat in and collaborated with with numerous blues musicians including Gary Smith, Mark Hummel, Kid Andersen, Charles Wheal, Andy Santana, Andy Just, John Nemeth, Rusty Zinn, Screamin' Iain, Sid Morris, John Garcia, Phil Berkowitz, Jonny Lawton, Kenny Blue Ray, Johnny Cat, Russell Barber, Jimmy Dewrance, Ben & Nathan, to list a few.
Bay area native, Carlos Velasco stumbled onto the local blues scene 7 years ago; that's when he first picked up a pair of sticks! Shortly thereafter, he joined forces with harpist Dennis Carelli who worked at Dave Barrett's School of the Blues in San Jose. It was through his association with the School that Carlos met many legendary and "up and coming" blues greats! He has had the good fortune to sit in and gig with many local bluesmen, including Dave Barrett, John Garcia, Frank DeRose, Gary Smith, Kenny Blue Ray, Sid Morris, Ron Thompson, Screamin' Iain, Isis, and of course, Jay and the Po' Boyz, just to name a few. Carlos has been drumming regularly for the After Dark Blues Band, the KFB Blues Band, and now Tip of the Top!
Lately, Carlos has been studying with the phenomenal Wally Schnalle, a bay area drum master! Check Wally out at http://www.myspace.com/wallyschnalle. Among his main influences as a drummer, Carlos lists Dennis Carelli, Frank DeRose, Dave Barret, and Wally Schnalle.
