The Blues Crusaders is 3-piece Blues Band, based out of Delray Beach, FL. The band won the Treasure Coast Blues Alliance IBC competition held in Stuart Florida and will be representing the Treasure Coast region in Memphis in 2016. The band plays all genres of blues but also performs Jump Swing and Old-School Rock & Roll.
The band has a strong reputation for not only entertaining audiences but keeping them on the dance floor.
Half Mack Truck, Half Americana Blues/Rock Roots Bluesabilly All Original and All Soul
Sound influenced by Buddy Guy, Albert King, The Sonics, SRV, The Black Keys, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Memphis, Chicago, The Swamp and the City, Otis,Robert Nighthawk, James Brown, U2, Rockabilly, The Chili Peppers , Earl Hooker, Magic Sam , Muddy Waters , Dick Dale , The list can go on ...and soul.....with a sound all our own.
Shaw Davis & The Black Ties is a heavy blues-rock trio based out of Pompano Beach, FL. The band has made multiple appearances on Blues Radio International and has been featured in South Florida Music Magazine. They have opened for and shared the stage with some of the nation's and south Florida's most respected blues-rock artists such as Albert Castiglia, Matt Schofield, GE Smith and JP Soars.
Shaw Davis & The Black Ties released their debut album on June 14, 2017 and played a sold-out release concert at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, FL. The album has been receiving steady airplay on blues/rock radio stations in the United States as well as the UK. It also received a great review from Blues Magazine!
Throughout their shows, the band plays a high-energy mix of originals as well as renditions of covers from of their greatest influences like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cream, ZZ Top and many other blues-rock giants.
Chicago Blues, Roadhouse Blues, Delta Blues with a little Blues flavored Classic Rock and some good old fashioned R & B with a dose of some serious funk thrown in for good measure!
The Hoodoo Blues Band has performed at many of South Florida's finest establishments. county fairs, municipal venues and large outdoor venues as well as performing at many local charity events as well.
BAND MEMBERS:
ERIC AUSTIN: Lead Guitar & Vocals.
Eric Austin is one of South Florida's premier Guitar players. His vocals are smooth as glass and seem to be tuned just right for the Blues.
Eric was born in Miami Florida and spent time in North Carolina and Georgia. He came back home to Miami in 2002 and has been here ever since.
Eric's been singing all his life and started saxophone at an early age, by the time he graduated high school Eric decided Guitar would be a better match for his voice. With some inspiration from John Lennon, Eric proceeded to self-teach himself the instrument and was obviously successful.
Eric has shared the stage with, many well known musicians including John Hammond Jr., Taj Mahal, Susan Tedechi, Joan Jett, Tinsley Ellis, Jerry Reed, Ben Orr, Liberty DeVito, Johnny Winter, Derek Trucks, Angela Motter, Jerry Peek, Bruce Kulick, Willie "too big" Hall, The Georgia Satellites, Andrew Black and local acts from the Southeastern USA and Texas.
Eric lives with his wife and son in North Miami and the Hoodoo Blues Band is happy to have him in our lineup.
AL "SOUL-SAX" FERRIERA (aka "Big Al) Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Flute & Vocals
Al Ferreira was born & raised in Long Island New York.
His early years were spent playing in local clubs & the greater New York area as well as touring Europe.
Some of Al's idols and influences were King Curtis and Sam “The Man" Taylor.
Al has shared stages with the likes of Ben E. King, Bo Diddley and countless others.
In 1985, Al relocated to South Florida. His first Florida gig was with the late Fleetstarbuck Blues Band and ha hasn't looked back since. He has been with the Hoodoo Blues Band since 2009.
Al brings not only a righteous Blues vibe to the band, but he also brings his own brand of R and B and some Soul as well.
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JIM "DUKE" KELLEY: Bass Guitar & Vocals. Jim is a South Florida Bass Stalwart and one of the original members of the band. Jim was born on the South Side of Chicago and was raised in the State of New York. Jim was inducted into the Rochester, NY Music Hall of Fame on April 28th, 2019. At this point in time, Jim has played in over 3,200 gigs, has appeared on 20 albums and has 64 published original compositions most of which have been written on the piano. Although his parents were not musicians they were great lovers of music, so Jim was raised in a household with consistent great music playing in the background. His first musical instrument was the trumpet. After that he played the drums and one fine day he discovered his attraction to the Bass Violin and it has been all bass ever since. Down through the years Jim has been blessed to be surrounded by many fine musicians especially in New York and he got to tour extensively through the United States with many of the big names. Jim was considered to be a trend setter many years ago when he pretty much introduced the fret-less electric bass into the musical mix. Jim moved to South Florida in the early eighties and has played with most of the better players in this region. Jim is happily married to a very sweet lady from Brazil and has five incredible children and three grandchildren. Jim is very proud that his youngest son as well as a grandson both play the bass. No DNA testing required. "I am very excited to be playing with the fine unit of musicians that make up The Hoodoo Blues Band. This band has solid players at every position".
"HOODOO" GEO: Drums & Vocals is our Band Leader. A Boston area transplant who has been living in South Florida since 1975. Prior to that, he was a High School Band member and remembers his first paying band in 1963, "The Novas", where he was paid $25.00 for the gig. A lot of money back in the day. Geo was planning to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston after High School, but got sidetracked by a draft notice. He serving tours in Germany and Vietnam with the U.S. Army from 1967-1970. Ever the musician, In Vietnam, he actually had a hand-me-down Rogers drum kit left over from a USO show given to him by a departing fellow soldier. Now, Geo has settled into his place with the Hoodoo Blues Band making "Blues That Rocks".
