LJ Gates

Originally formed in 1984, The LJ Gates Band has been through many incarnations. Whether playing rock, blues, country or originals, the focus has always been on the quality of the music and musicianship.
2009 marked the 25th year performing as the LJGB and a total of over thirty years of writing songs and working in music for LJ Gates.
During the mid-eighties, LJ and the band had the opportunity to open for national acts such as Savoy Brown and Head East. Touring professionally in the mid eighties gave him a taste of the road.
In 1989, the band recorded an 8 song collection called “Fantasy”. It was distributed to ten major record labels, none of which took an interest. But that rejection never stopped it from selling at the venues they were playing.
Continuing up the time-line, LJ Gates was the first band to play at the now regionally famous Chenango Blues Festival in 1993.
Through the mid to late 90’s, (while working as a side-man with regional country bands), we opened for artists like The Kentucky Headhunters, Toby Keith and other major acts. One festival was said to have 10,000 people in attendance.
Busy playing with other bands while working a day job, a lack of time slowed the songwriting process through the nineties. Around 2002, LJ took a break from live performance and since then, has been writing and recording many new songs.
He is currently busy in the live music scene with the intent of showcasing this original music. The 2008 8 song CD is currently available along with “Workin” Slobs” released the fall of 09.