The ""DOGHOUSE DADDIES"", are four of the Kansas City area's most distinguished Bluesmen with about 140 years of experience among them. No, no, no, that doesn't mean they're all as old as Pinetop Perkins and Robert Lockwood Jr. They just happen to be four supremely experienced artists who have all been playing the Blues for about 35 years each.
The Doghouse Daddies share a musical passion that translates into broad smiles, involuntary foot tapping and in many cases jubilant dancing on the part of their audiences. These guys have a celebratory thing going when they unite and play that it quickly becomes apparent to everyone in the place that these guys are serious about having fun. The feeling spills over into the audience everytime they play. With common musical roots that go back back 20 years plus among some of the guys, the interplay between instruments, vocals and percussion is seemingly effortless. Individual ego's are set aside as the Doghouse Daddies give themselves to the music and the song at hand. The result is musical magic that is as real as it gets.
Instrumentation
Bill Morlan, Upright Bass
Mark Rollings, Guitar
Howdy Stevens, Harmonica
Jerry Riccardi, Drums
Bill ""Grits"" Morlan Upright Bass & Vocals:
First influences with the Blues began in the 70's for Bill. Visiting local Des Moines clubs to see Freddie King, Willie Dixon and Son Seals, it didn't take long to realize it was his goal to not only learn, but to play those tunes he listened so intently to. Bill's passion for the Blues has been a driving force for this native Iowan who now calls Kansas City his home. With approximately 30 years experience, Bill has captivated many audiences with his energetic and enthusiastic performances. He can inject a ""healthy dose"" of Blues bass lines, vocals and attitude in any project he is involved in.
Bill's first of many ""Blues"" experiences in Kansas City was playing with KC Brass & Electric for two years. In 1997, they had the opportunity to open The Kansas City Spirit Fest featuring : BB King, Jay Geils /Magic Dick, Jimmy Vaughan and Robert Cray & the Memphis Horns. They were in the opening act for Duke Robillard at the Grand Emporium in 1998. Bill also played on KC Brass & Electric's first CD ""Dangerous Pleasure"".
In 1999, he joined Blue Shoe Sole Review and appeared on their CD released the same year. He has been in the opening act for Roomful of Blues on more than one occasion.
Mark ""Hotrod"" Rollings Guitar & Vocals:
One listen to Doghouse Daddies guitarist Mark Rollings, is all you'll need to determine that his ""licks"" are as HOT as any you'll ever hear. He's borrowed licks from Luthers Perkins to Eddie Van Halen, and all musical points in between.
Mark's musical journey started with the Rock & Roll of the 70's & 80's, with detours into the Country realm along the way, influenced by the top practitioners of these diverse styles. He noticed a common thread in all these styles, realizing that the roots from all genres could be traced to the Blues.
After 22 years of honing his craft in various regional acts, Mark became one of the founding members of Steady Rollin' Band. Mark brings a unique approach to the Blues, with energy and TONE to the bone! All the musical paths that Mark has followed have led him straight down the Blues Highway.
A.W. ""Howdy"" Stevens Harp & Vocals:
Howdy has had music in his life for most of his life (almost 36 years of it).....he learned to read music at the age of 8, playing clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor sax. He heard his first bonafide Blues Band, with an amplified harp, live in 1968 and was mesmerized and overwhelmed by the sound of the harp. He had heard the quote ""I didn't pick the harp, it picked me!"" many times, and it was truly a quote meant for him.
Howdy and a good friend, Tony Shaffer started their first Blues Band in 1969 (Whew...that's a long time ago!), called 'Fast Eddie and the Juicers'. Fast Eddie quickly became an ""icon"" in Central Missouri. They were playing Chicago style Blues when no other bands in the area were. People loved the sound which provided them with a rather large following.
In 1971, Howdy moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, playing the East Coast until 1975 when he relocated to Eugene, Oregon, where there was a huge Blues scene happening. Based out of Eugene, he was able to play in California, Oregon, and Washington. After moving back to MIssouri in 1988, he met and began playing with another good friend, Steady Rollin's Bill Morlan. He and Bill (and later on Steady Rollin's Mark Rollings) have worked together in many different venues since.
Howdy's playing is heavily influenced by Blues Greats: Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, James Cotton, Rod Piazza, Curtis Salgado, George Smith and a host of others.......""If you're gonna steal licks, steal from the best!""
Recordings Howdy has been involved in include: Bushwacker (with 'Lonesome Hank' Hart); It's My Music, with Kenny Burford; Basin Fork; and Blue Shoe Soul Revue.
Jerry ""Hitman"" Riccardi Percussion & Vocals:
Jerry became very intrigued with playing drums at a young age and soon after, studied and learned from Kansas City Jazz drumming legend Tommy Ruskin. Jerry has been playing on the Kansas City scene for many years and has established himself as one of the premier blues drumset masters in the area.
Over the last several years, Jerry has played in The Insultors, Big Slim's Full House Band and Steady Rollin' Band, and now is with Doghouse Daddies full time. He has also done work with several other bands for recording and fill-ins. Some of Jerry's most recent ventures have been playing primarily in the Midwest at such prestigious events as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the Eureka Springs Blues Festival, with many more to come in the near future as one of the DHD's.
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