Music
Press
"Your new cd is great" Chip Eagle, Publisher, Blues Revue Magazine
"I had a great time with y;all. I still reminisce about our gig. I hope our paths cross again soon.
Take care!
Ann Rabson
"Great show at Mickey's last Saturday! Thanks for the Blues Society plug."
Adam Doede
GNBS
"Wow!! Your performance at the Old TownBlues Festival STILL has people talking!! It was awesome!!"
Queen B Stebbins, Old Towne Blues Society
"As always, it was GREAT having you Rev. We’ll do it again sometime"
Your friend,
John Hall
Bean Blossom Blues Fest
"Hi Rick i just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how much both and Chris injoyed you at Grafton. I forget what a great guitarist you are and how tight the band is. We never get tired of seeing and hearing you play. We both look forward to seeing you again soon. Until then be blessed and keep doing the good things you do"
Your friend John Lowery (Shadows of Night)
"They are very, very good. That's why I keep having them back" - Buddy Guy
"Standing ovation at Buddy Guy's Legends"
Joanna Gray (Jan 21, 2005)
"Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin¹ Altar Boys captured a smoking club set of uptempo blues numbers and put it on his own label. Most are well executed covers by names associated with the heyday of Chicago blues...Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Willie Dixon and other names from a little farther south, Howlin¹ Wolf and Frank Frost. The CD begins with a pair of Reverend Raven originals, I¹m your Honeyboy and Loving You. For the discriminating listener most of the covers are B sides and not the usual roadhouse fodder. Like the Raven says, ³we don¹t play Mustang Sally.² There¹s also another Reverend original, a fine tribute to Slim Harpo called Bee Hive Baby The Reverend handles guitar and vocals and Spencer Panosh and Andre Maritato, well traveled musicians themselves, are on drums and bass. The harmonica chores and a few vocals are taken by Madison Slim, a well known player with plenty of frequent flyer miles himself. They play like they¹ve spent plenty of time honing their craft in smoky dens of iniquity and next time you see them on their way to a local den you should check them out".
John Mazello/Suncoast Blues Society
"These guys are really good... "This is head and shoulders one of the
best homegrown CDs I've heard in a long time" Bruce Iglauer/Alligator
Records
"This is mighty fine blues with that feel-so-good Slow Burn, just as the
title says. Highly recommended" Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue
"The interplay between Raven's fiery guitar and Cadillac Pete's
luminescent harp playing can be breathtaking." Something else to
remember Milwaukee by besides, beer, brats and bad baseball teams."
Blues Access Magazine
"This is one of the most seasoned bands that I have had the pleasure
to hear in a damn long time. This CD is a must have, a 6 1/2 harp
salute." Steve Harvell, Bluzharp Magazine
"Harp CD of the Year 2OOO"
Bluzharp Magazine
"Klasse" Blues News Germany
"Traditional 195O's classic Chicago blues, great band" The Twin
Cities Blues News
They had the Kalamazoo crowd on their feet at the 2003 Festival"
Reviewer: Kalamazoo Blues Society
“Live at Blues on Grand” features three Reverend Raven originals and covers of Slim
Harpo, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Frank Frost, and more. This four
piece band puts out a big sound and I know they had the Kalamazoo crowd on their feet at
the 2003 Festival. Crank this one up and you’ll feel like your there. Definitely put this
onyour buy list which can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com
- Blues Media/Radio Stations
Discography
We have four cds out:
1. Slow Burn: Our first, features Bryan Lee harmonica player "Cadillac Pete Rahn" it has received great reviews ("highly recommended" Blues Revue) and airplay.
2. Little Milton, Blues is Alright "Live at Kalamazoo". This double cd is part of the Blues Highway production and has just hit the record stores. We are featured on the second CD for 6 songs. See Varese Sarabande Product Details
3. Live at Blues on Grand: This cd features former Jimmy Rogers harp player and singer "Madison Slim". "Outstanding" Bluzharp Magazine
4. Big Bee: Our new recently made the Nov 04 Living Blues Charts at # 23 and still receiving great radio support.
Photos
Bio
Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has
been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy
King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After 15 year
hitch in the Navy he moved to Milwaukee where he began a
long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long
time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has
opened for B.B. King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop,
Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy's Legends.
Locally he has performed with Billy Flynn, Perry Weber,
Piano Willie, Stokes, Jon Paris, Clyde Stubblefied, Bryan Lee and the Lamont Cranston band. The Reverend and band received the Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band
in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006 and again in 2008. A cd that the band appears on has been nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for best traditional blues album.
Links
