THE FINEST TALENT ON THE WEST COAST
Lady "J" Huston & The Fireballs
Scott Rhiner & The Moanin' Black Snakes
Andy Walo Grew up in Stockholm, Sweden. Walo was playing Blues in clubs in Sweden, Denmark and England until he was persuaded, by former band members of the Albert Collins' Band, to move to Chicago in 1993. Walo later hooked up with Blues singer and harmonica player Junior Wells. After 5 years in the Chicago Blues scene and touring the world with the Junior Wells Band Andy eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he co-led local Blues-band The Mama's Boys.
In 2002 Walo formed his own band, showcasing original songs in the Classic Blues/Rock vein of Free and Led Zeppelin coupled with Classic, Funky Chicago Blues.
He won the International Blues Challenge regional finals in 2007. The Andy Walo Trio currently performs weekly in the Los Angeles area and monthly in Las Vegas.
Bill Magee Born in Collins, the back woods of Mississippi in 1943, Willie (Bill) Magee grew up loving music, listening to Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and B.B. King on his Father's small radio. Life was difficult and Willie experienced many hard knocks. His mother died when he was four years old and his father followed when he was just thirteen. Taken from his parentless home, his older brother Deloy moved him to his tiny one room flat in Ithaca, New York. Determined to finish high school, Willie concentrated on his studies while Deloy worked hard to support him.
At the Community Center Willie met guitarist Butch Rosenberg and his focus turned to music. As the friendship grew, they spent many hours listening to R&B and Rock and Roll, especially the blues guitars of B.B. King and Muddy Waters. With a part time job at a Department store Willie managed to save for his first guitar...a $29.99 Montgomery Ward special, much to the chagrin of his brother. Willie promised Deloy that some day he would play the Apollo Theater.
A year of solid practice brought Willie to join his first local band and at age fourteen music became his life. Working with various local bands he soon was earning money, and also managed to graduate from High School...the first in his family to do so. His ambition is to become the best guitarist in the country!!!
Moving to the Big Apple, he rented a flat in Harlem directly across from the Apollo Theater and dreamed of having his name on the marquee. Before long he was working seven nights a week and he decided to check out the King Curtis Band at the Small Paradise Club. Asking to sit in, he played three songs when the regular guitarist joined in. The air was electric as the guitarists traded off solos and riffs. After the final set the guitarist introduced himself as Jimmy James(Hendrix). That summer of '63 Jimmy James introduced Willie to the music scene and they formed the band Jimmy James and the Flames. Willie eventually put together his own band....The Kansas City Playboys. Several years were spent on the road opening for the James Brown Revue which included the Apollo Theater. Thus, his dream was realized!!!
In 1967 Jimmy James(Hendrix) left for England and Willie toured Russia, Japan, Europe and England with his band. Professional play kept him touring on the Chittlin' Circuit and on the New York scene when he was home. It was during this time Bill Magee played with B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Wilson Pickett, and Bo Diddley among others in venues like The Regal and McCormick Place in Chicago, The Royal in D.C., Madison Square Garden, The Filmore East, The Baby Grand as well as Yankee and Shea Stadium in New York City.
With the birth of his fourth child, Willie finally gave up the relentless touring and the music business for a 9 to 5 and fatherhood. Relocating to San Diego in 1987, he continued his hiatus from music until 1993. With music in his blood, Bill had to return and is now burning up the San Diego Music scene with his guitar virtuosos and those New York/Chicago Blues. Bill Magee is THE REAL DEAL.
Candye Kane The jump blues singer and songwriter from East Los Angeles has earned this moniker the hard way. Nominated for three 2010 National Blues Foundation Awards for BB King Entertainer of the Year, Best Blues Contemporary CD and Best Contemporary Blues Female (the highest honor for blues artists) and beating down pancreatic cancer in the last two years, Kane is one tough cookie. She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy. Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family, Candye became a teenage mother, a pin up cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Ten cds, six record labels, millions of international road miles and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.
A colorful mixture of the traditional and the eclectic, Kane cut her musical teeth in the early 80's onstage with Hollywood musicians and friends, Social Distortion, Dwight Yoakum, Dave Alvin, The Blasters, X, Fear and Los Lobos, to name just a few. While raising two sons, this role model for the disenfranchised, championed large sized women, fought for the equal rights of sex workers and the GLBT community and inspired music lovers everywhere. Her fans are a mixture of true outsiders: bikers, blues fans, punk rockers, drag queens, fat girls, queers, burlesque dancers, porn fans, sex workers, rockabilly and swing dancers, grey haired hippies, sex positive feminists and everyday folk of all ages, flock to see Candye and hear her musical messages of love, hope and empowerment.
Kanes' live shows are the stuff of legend. She honors the bold blues women of the past with both feet firmly planted in the present. She belts - growls - shouts - croons and moans from a lifetime of suffering and overcoming obstacles. She uses music as therapy and often writes and chooses material with positive affirmations that leave the audience feeling healed and exhilarated. A show that is part humor, revival meeting and sexuality celebration, she'll deliver a barrelhouse-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a gospel ballad like Jesus and Mohammed, encouraging audiences to leave behind religious intolerance. She'll slay the crowd with her balls out rendition of Whole Lotta Love or glorify the virtues of zaftig women with 200 pounds of fun. She often says she is a "fat black drag queen trapped in a white woman's body" and she dresses the part. Bedecked in bright colored feathers, sequins and rhinestones, Kane's performance is Mississippi by way of Las Vegas with a quick stopover in San Francisco.
Kane's tenth CD release, Superhero debuted at number nine on the Billboard Blues Charts. The cd continues to receive amazing reviews worldwide. It was produced by Kane and 27 year old guitar virtuoso, Laura Chavez who also plays in Candyes live band. It features guest performances by Kid Ramos, Dave Gonzales and Mitch Kashmar along with Kanes' rhythm section featuring eldest son, Evan Caleb on drums and bass veteran, Michael Turturro. This CD is chock full of the songs of triumph and empowerment that have made Kane a favorite with enlightened congregations everywhere.
Chris Tofield is a musician who has dedicated his life to sharpening his skill to a razor’s edge and who truly enjoys his trade. He has maintained a strong work ethic that has kept him in business for over 25 years and built his solid reputation as a down to earth, no-nonsense performer and person to deal with.
Tofield, a seasoned journeyman musician, has performed with some of the top artists of the blues and rock world. Most recently, Chris was the guitarist and musical director for legendary soul/blues singer “Mighty” Sam McClain, a multiple Grammy Award and W.C. Handy Award nominee and an inductee in the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame. Other artists Chris has performed with include James Montgomery, The Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, Ronnie Earl, Savoy Brown, Toni Lynn Washington, Big Mike Griffin and many others
With McClain and others, Chris toured extensively across North America, Europe, U.K., Scandinavia and the Caribbean, appearing at many prestigious blues festivals and venues. In 2004, Chris headlined two highly successful tours of Eastern Europe, including performing on Romanian national TV.
Tofield co-produced, arranged and appeared on McClain’s 2003 release “One More Bridge To Cross”, which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for ”Best Soul / Blues Album of the Year”. He also wrote two songs for the CD, including the title track. Tofield has also released two critically acclaimed CDs; 1994’s “self titled” CD and 2000’s“Broken Strings”. Both received considerable airplay, earning Tofield the distinction of being “the 2nd most requested local artist of the year in 2003” on “Beef Stew’s Sunday Night Blue Show” on WCCC in Hartford, CT; a 6 hour blues show on one of Southern New England’s largest commercial radio stations, which reaches an audience of over 5 million listeners.
Cordle-Scott Band
Brad Cordle
Tim Scott, vocalist, bassist, songwriter, is a veteran professional of the music industry. His skilled and soulful voice as well as his deep funky bass notes have graced the stage with some of the most notable names in the music business including: Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, Dr. John, John Mayall and Jack Mack and the Heart Attack.
Tim has been a member of the R&B/Soul band, Jack Mack and The Heart Attack for the last 15 years. Performing at events such as the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and with Scott Hamilton’s Ice Show Special on NBC, Tim has added his rhythm and soul in these and many other endeavors including tours with Tower of Power, Dave Mason, Robben Ford, Etta James, The Boneshakers, El Chicano, The Grammy All Stars and his latest project, Zen Blues Quartet, with internationally acclaimed drummer Steve Ferrone.
Tim has collaborated on numerous albums and sound tracks as a musician and vocalist, as well as a composer.
Classically trained in voice by the Northwest’s renowned vocal coach, the late George Peckham, Tim also teaches George's unique style of vocal power which focuses on diaphragmatic breath control and dispels the myth of falsetto voice.
Dean Reichert
Ric Ulsky
LA Jones Handy Award nominee, LA Jones has been tearing up the floorboards in roadhouses all over the world for the last three decades. He has performed in every state in the Continental USA and has toured extensively in Japan and throughout Europe. He has toured and recorded with legendary bluesmen; Pinetop Perkins, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Luther Johnson and Joe Houston. “L.A. bends, slings, pulls, hammers and thrusts his own brand of guitar bravado“..“he is relentless in his sense of dynamics, creating and designing his solos to take you right out to (and sometimes over) the edge.”
Lady "J" Huston, Vocalist/Trumpeter, Lady "J" Huston toured as Music Director with Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Albert King. She won the “Best Blues Performer” award by the Black Music Association (BMA) of Las Vegas and was featured in the “All Stars” cast on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Season 3, airing worldwide to over 25 million viewers. Her band “The Fireballs” show is highly energetic - combining Classic Soul and Blues with her own perfected dance arrangements.
NEM Project
Nick Evans Mowery began playing guitar at the age of 12, inspired by artists such as Steely Dan, Tower ofPower, Bob Dylan, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Nick attended the Berklee College of Music inBoston, MA and The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH majoring in music/guitar performance and business.
Yves Frulla’s A versatile musician with a background in classical piano, Yves Frulla quickly worked his way up in the music industry, establishing his reputation as a brilliant keyboard player. Today, his impressive experience reads like a “who’s-who” of the pop/rock music scene, both in his native Canada and internationally. Indeed, over the years, he has toured and travelled extensively with a number of renowned Canadian artists, including Juno Award winner Sass Jordan , as well as Julie Masse, Sylvain Cossette, Laurence Jalbert and Claude Dubois. Since 1990, he has had the honor of being keyboard player for Celine Dion, touring with her worldwide, recording three live albums and appearing on numerous TV shows, including Jay Leno, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, and Oprah Winfrey. He performed on Celine’s “A New Day” Las Vegas show, hailed as a breakthrough in the entertainment world and was a part of Celine's world tour.
Billy Bilger is originally from Philadelphia, Pa. He started playing drums in jazz clubs in Philly at 17 years old with a couple of good musicians John and Joe Davis. Billy moved to the West Coast in 1975 and soon started working the casino's in Lake Tahoe. He got an audition with the Ray Anthony Orchestra and became as Ray liked to call him - "The Kid on the Drums" - for 4 years. When Billy moved to Los Angeles he backed up Tom Jones, Rich Little, John Travolta on Don Kirchner's Rock Concert and many others, however he likedLake Tahoe so much he couldn't pass up an opportunity to audition for a Fredric Apcar show called " Bedazzel" at Harrah's. While performing at Harrah's for the show in the mid to late 80's Billy met Sammy Davis Jr. They became good friends and Billy would sit in and play for Sammy whenever he came to town.
After years in Lake Tahoe Billy moved to Northern California to play with numerous artists however one group would bring him back to Nevada to Las Vegas. Warner Brothers recording artists "The Marcy Brothers" had recorded two albums and had a semi hit with a song called: "Achy Breaky Heart" (which was later recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus) and they needed a drummer. With Billy on the drums the band started getting popular again and they got a date in Las Vegas at the Alladian Super Star Theater as the opening act. They started opening for big acts all across the country- Roy Clark, Travis Trit, Merl Haggard.
Tod Andrews always knew the 'bottom end' was for him, even as a young lad. By the age of 12 he had learned to play his first, $45.00 dollar pawn shop guitar. By high school he had transitioned to the bass and had formed the most popular band on campus. They played all the dances and even opened for Michael Bloomfield and Buddy Miles of Electric Flag and Paul Butterfield Blues Band fame. In the summer of 1979 he opened a recording studio and became a hit recording engineer in Hollywood, California. During this time, he recorded and associated with luminaries such as Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Motown recording artists The Contours, Joe Cocker, Mickey Steele (The Bangles) and others. Tod has also played with country legend Bobby Bare, Donnie Brooks (the voice of the George Of The Jungle cartoon sound track) and many more. Tod brings the funky blues bottom to the Nick Evans Mowery Project with experience, pride and joy.
Oakhurst Take a string band and swap out the fiddle player for a groovy drummer and you’re well on your way to understanding the sound of Oakhurst. The band spikes traditional bluegrass with rock & roll and a kamikaze rhythmic sensibility. That danceable concoction along with banjo vs. mandolin shootouts, three part harmonies, and citybilly swagger keeps the band in high demand. Oakhurst’s unpretentious, go-for-it interpretation of a genre that’s often handled too reverently, sparks interest in bluegrass by folks who don’t know Doc Watson from Doc Holliday.
Oakhurst’s road hardened sound has taken them far beyond the boundaries of Colorado. The rockin’ bluegrass quintet has played everything from major festivals to City sponsored events… from floating festivals in the Caribbean to private parties on mountain tops… from bluegrass festivals in the Appalachians to Chateaus in the Champagne region of France… In fact, the band has gotten around so much they have been joined on stage by Zac Brown, Shawn Mullins, Marc Broussard, Ed Robertson (BNL), Kym Warner (Greencards), Pete Wernick (Hot Rize), Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon) & Andy Falco (Infamous String Dusters) to name a few.
The band's latest album, Jump in the Get Down, received airplay on over 200 radio stations nationwide. The spins not only earned the quintet spots on the Americana, Bluegrass and Jamband charts, but an even larger national following. That hybridized, hard-to-categorize sound has also gotten Oakhurst nominated by Denver’s Westword Magazine 5 years straight as the best band in 4 different categories. Oakhurst captured the “Best Bluegrass Band” honor against stiff competition & earned the independent artist of the year award by Mile High Music Store as well.
Oakhurst’s broad appeal and nebulus stlye has earned them spots on lineups with very diverse national talent. The fact they have shared bills with with the likes of John Mayer, John Hiatt, The Flaming Lips, The Avett Brothers, Brett Dennon, Emmylou Harris, Barenaked Ladies, Patti Griffin, Yard Dogs Roadshow, Bela Fleck, Gaelic Storm, G. Love, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey’s Mcgee, The Radiators, Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Lang, Bang Camaro, & Guster is good testimony that the band can entertain virtually anywhere and to anyone.
Stoney Curtis The buzz has grown steadily on The Stoney Curtis Band since Shrapnel Records released the debut album from the veteran blues artist on July 19, 2005. This is one of those rare times when you can almost judge a record by its cover. From the title “Acid Blues Experience” to the front cover depicting Stoney Curtis caught live in the moment in front of a stack of amps, the listeners know to expect something special. The bands second release, "Raw and Real" was met with critical acclaim, including an ESSENTIAL ALBUM PICK by the All Music Guide...
Stoney Curtis has also appeared on Jizzy Pearl's ( Love/Hate, Ratt, Adlers Appetite) solo records, "Just a Boy" and "Vegas Must Die"..
The Lucky Cheats A four piece band from Las Vegas that formed in early 2008. The members include Luke Metz on bass and Jeff Koenig on harp, both hailing from past Las Vegas band The Holy Smokes. From the Chicago area is Wade Braggs on guitar and Joe Perv on drums. The Lucky Cheats play an amped-up, stripped-down version of the blues that they have come to call their own, blending a wide range of influences into their sound and blurring the lines between blues, rockabilly and roots rock and roll...
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Bigger, Badder Blues! In September - only at the Sand Dollar - Candye Kane!
Our Location: 3355 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Call Us: (702) 871-6651
Email Us: info@sanddollar.us