Artist Information
Biography
April 2013
While we're all waiting for spring to arrive, the band is still heating up all the venues we're playing! It's always a privilege playing to fans, and having them express their appreciation for our music. YOU are what it's all about. Your support and enthusiasm is key. Find our Kim Adams and the House Cats page on Facebook and "Like" us. It helps to gain fans and spread the word about who we are. As always, thank you all for supporting LIVE MUSIC! ==============
Kim Adams and the House Cats is a satisfying cover band whose repertoire is centered around blues, with healthy influences of jazz, swing, gospel, and soul.
This band's leanings tend to be varied and sometimes far-from-mainstream. "I'm drawn to songs that are lesser known", says the band's namesake, whose vocal stylings have been compared from Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin to Patsy Cline and Ella Fitzgerald. Although she laughingly doubts the comparisons, she declares "I'm flattered. I simply try to deliver a song with straight-ahead sincerity and passion." True enough.
Born and raised in a small town not far from Knoxville, Tennessee, Kim was weaned on country, southern gospel, and Appalachian music. "I believe my love of music comes from my Daddy, Samuel Franklin Adams. I'm still completely awestruck that he was a travelling bluegrass musician in the 1930's in the southern Smokey Mountains. He sang and played banjo, but didn't talk about that part of his life - until almost the end of his own. After serving in the war overseas, he returned home to a wife who wasn't too keen on him travelling around with his buddies. So, unfortunately, the music chapter of his life ended."
As a teenager, Kim emigrated to Montreal with her family. She has sung in several choirs, cutting her teeth with classicial music, traditional hymns, and gospel. She spent eleven years as the main soloist with a choir that performed in and around Montreal, one of those defining performances having been at the Montreal Jazz Festival. "I was lucky that my Daddy was able to attend one of my concerts before he passed away at 92. I know it tickled him to boast that my talent came from his genes! I had always adored singing, and when I sang gospel, I recognized something very familiar. It was then that I realized that gospel, blues and country were so intertwined, and so in my blood."
It was also in that choir that she met Ted Phillips, one of the House Cat musicians. Ted is an accomplished and respected pianist, composer, arranger, and former founder and director of a 20-voice vocal ensemble. The fortitude of their 18-year musical partnership is immediately apparent.
Joining them on bass is Michel Dansereau, whose notable onstage appearances include backing the strippers in the heyday of Montreal's psychedelic sixties!
On guitar is Bernard Yeo, who hails from Singapore, via London, England. His many years spent as a full-time, gigging musician lends a certain credence and experience to playing the blues.
Drummer Jeremiah Mitchell is a Concordia music graduate, who's currently pursuing a second music degree in order to establish a professional career teaching music. This is one versatile cat. Don't let Jeremiah's smooth brush work fool you; this man can let loose with raw blues just as well!
Vickie Mortensen rounds out the group with her backing vocals. A fan of folk and roots music, she lends her sweet harmonies to most of the songs in our repertoire.
These are talented musicians indeed! Kim, Ted, Michel, Bernie, Jeremiah and Vickie - but their true strength is witnessed when they appear on stage as the expressive and soulful Kim Adams and the House Cats.
CONTACT:
Kim Adams
Kim Adams and the House Cats
kimhousecats@gmail.com
Instrumentation
Kim Adams - Lead singer
Ted Phillips - Vocals, Piano
Michel Dansereau - Bass, background vocals
Bernard Yeo - Guitar, background vocals
Jeremiah Mitchell - Drums, background vocals
Vickie Mortensen - background vocals
Discography
Kim Adams and the House Cats can be heard on Internet Radio at www.RadioIndy.com and at www.jango.com.
Links
Photo Gallery
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BandatMariposa-BadGirl
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Performing at the Montreal Art Centre
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Awards at Pierrefonds Community Center
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Vickie, Ted, Kim, Michel
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Back in the day at Smoke Meat Pete's
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At Upstairs - one of the best venues!
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House Cats at Upstairs - February 2011
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Ted Phillips - keyboards and vocals
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Michel Dansereau - bass
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Bernie Yeo - guitar
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Jeremiah and Bernie
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At Bistro L'Etranger - one of the hottest days of that year!
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Bernie and Ted at Ste-Anne's Jazz Fest
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Vickie - backing vocals and Ted - keyboards
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Bernie at Bistro L'Etranger
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The House Cats during warm-up
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The Boys Clean Up Pretty Good!
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Ted, Kim, and Michel
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Bernie
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Cocktail Hour
Press
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RadioIndy Review of Kim Adams and the House Cats
[+ Show ]
Kim Adams and the House Cats. This CD has a great list of music and talent. Kim’s voice is bright a...
Setlist
Our repertoire includes covers of blues, jazz, soul, gospel (and sometimes a little country blues), and would be suitable for outdoor venues, as well as indoor, soft-seater venues.
A typical repertoire would include covers of songs by Big Maybelle, Patsy Cline, Irma Thomas, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Benatar, Lou Ann Barton, BB King, Susan Tedeschi, Koko Taylor, Bill Withers, and Emmylou Harris.
Depending on the event and venue, typical sets are anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour in duration. We can offer one, two, or three sets, and are quite adept in tailoring our sets for your particular event and venue.

