Big Ray on Drums and Vocals
Matthew James (Guitar)
Dave Forte (Bass)
Influences
Wow...Albert King,Jimi Hendrix,Otis Rush, Lefty Dizz,Little Jimmy King, Stan Skibby...all the Left-handed guys. And all the ELDERS of the Blues (living and dead) famous or not that paved the way for me to even pick up a guitar and do this. Me and Michael Burks squeezing some strings.
I've had my band for 8 years now. We're a BLUES band but i like to freak it out a bit, so we might play anything. We've played the Chicago Blues Fest (Gibson stage), Pickles Blues fest (Lima Ohio) I've been to RIGA, LATVIA twice. Kentucky,Indiana,Iowa,Michigan...And various clubs in Chicago... House of Blues Hotel,Buddy Guys, Kingston Mines Andys Jazz, B.L.U.E.S,Blue Chicago, Harlem Ave Lounge etc....My goal is to keep this Blues alive and do it right.
“Modern, loud and funky blues...one of the striking new talents on the Chicago
blues scene...Cannon dazzles with his guitar playing.”—Blues & Rhythm(UK)
“No matter how wild he gets, he’s always saying something in his solos, not
just slinging notes around for the sake of it. His vocals are equally expressive,
whether he’s testifying on a soul-tinged number or braying a blues anthem.”
—Chicago Reader
I've also been featured in Blues Matters (UK) and Living Blues (USA) magazines
Toronzo and the Cannonball Express's Friend Space (Top 40)
Toronzo and the Cannonball Express has 1136 friends.
It makes no difference at what age you discover Jimi Hendrix Musical Legacy..because Once You Have Arrived, You are HOME
He continues to inspire MILLIONS of brand new young guitar players,much younger then me & you from his GRAVE...That is the Truly Amazing Power of Jimis Soulful Playing!
«We hold these truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness» INDEPENDENCE, which hopeful word and of freedom... I always wish you throughout your life, to be able to be "independent" in your own choices to find the happiness....
May you have many more opportunities to swap licks with the Blues Icon Players! I'm hoping I can come and visit Chicago & Detroit some day! AmpCabsDave
