The Lady A Band
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The Lady A Band

Marathon, Florida, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2019

Marathon, Florida, United States
Established on Jan, 2019
Band Blues Acoustic

Calendar

Music

Press


"merrick music festival"

"Lady A....The A stands for AWESOME !!"
Sally B., merrick festival
- verbal


"blues train review"

"Lady A is a pleasing vocalist and has a solid release in Blues Train"

Tom Hyslop Blues Revue - blues revue mag


"Key west solaris performance review"

Hayward Mckee 5/24/98 Lady "A" Blues Band Sometimes The Blues Are A Lot Of Fun Key West is blessed with many fine musicians, but it is always nice to find something new and different. While Schooner Wharf has its steady acts, it also frequently takes chances on some great (to Key West) unknowns. About a month ago it was the phenomenal British high school big band AD JAZZ, (The only place in town that even considered them) This past week it was the Lady "A" Blues Band from the upper Keys. We are not talking the dreary depressing stuff here, really much more the post blues "I'm going to boogie on out of this" attitude of blues with a decidedly funky edge. The core of the band is Lady "A" who's strong and somewhat raunchy blues vocal style, can carry off a wide variety of blues artists from Koko Taylor to Tracy Chapman, and she can blow a mean harmonica too. Guitarist and partner Ric Arra can make a guitar really cook and soar. In addition to blues classics, they also have some great memorable original tunes, and will soon be recording a new CD. Unique to this style of blues regardless of what band, is that it tends (especially for early shows) to start off a just a bit disjointed. An audience trying to wind down and a band trying to wind up. But with a good band they always come together, and in this case it came toward the middle of the first set, when the audience was very willingly encouraged by Lady "A" to participate with the "Ride Sally Ride" refrain to Mustang Sally. From there on out both the band and audience let loose. For the past several years they have given their time and talents to Bay Jam on Plantation Key, an annual all day music festival each April to raise money for student music and arts scholarships. This is the first place I ever saw them four years ago. It is a great treat and pleasure to have them right in our backyard for a change. (2) Both are very accomplished musicians that have worked with a number of greats in their careers. They are very capably complemented by versatile drummer Jim McGuirl and W.C. Handy Award winning bassist Willie Jackson The crowd mostly stuck around to the very end. The few who left early missed a wonderful last set that really cooked, and culminated with an encore of the late 60's psychedelic era rock/blues band Cream's 'Sunshine Of Your Love' A song I don't think I have heard done live and as well in a very long time. Starting as a vocal solo by Ric, it ended as I had never heard it before, a duet with Lady "A". Eric Clapton is a self admitted influence of Ric's and tunes like this and others show why many in the business, with respect, call him E.C. Jr.. The crowd loved it and were reluctant to let them get off stage, but all good things must come to an end. They will be back at Schooner Wharf though, on Fri/Sat June 19-20 and hopefully monthly or so for awhile. If you missed them, this time around, be sure not to next time. Should you like to know more about them and current schedule info, you can check out their web site at http://members.aol.com/bluesfuze/laweb.html, which also features samples of their music. Look for them too, when you are in the upper Keys.

- Hayward Mckee


Discography

Blues Train Remix
Keys Heat
Lady A Live
Songs are streaming on soundclick.com/ladya

Photos

Bio

Florida Keys resident, Lady A with her strong, earthy blues vocal style and harmonica playing has made a place on the florida map from the pan handle to key west. Some of her influences are Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Robert Plant to name a few.She has worked with K.C and The Sunshine Band as well as various other touring and recording pros.

Lady "A" was host to a top radio show in the florida keys, which helped her fellow musicians by giving them exposure.She has also done some vocals and voice overs for major radio and tv shows

Lady A is one of Lee Oskar Harps preferred players

Ric Arra has been playing Blues guitar for many years in bands. His main influence is Eric Clapton along with Peter Green,Albert Collins,Albert King And B.B. King. Ric's ability to forge his blues style with finesse and raw passion is quite legendary all over So.Florida. He is called E.C.jr (eric clapton jr) by his friends and peers for his ability to not just mimic but actually improvise a guitar solo as if he were the legendary axe man. Ric has recorded and gigged with many Pro blues acts and had the honor to play at B.B. Kings place on Beale Street in Memphis,Tennessee.
Ric has won #19 in blues category for 1999 on Mp3.com for his free mp3 download solo piece "BluesBreaker" a john mayal and eric clapton tribute

Ric and Lady "A" call the Florida Keys home
The Lady A Blues Band has shared the billing or opened up for the following:

Bonnie Raitt,Rick James,War,Pine Top Perkins,Coco Montoya,Walter Trout,Little Charlie and the night Cats,Ana Popovic,George Thorogood, Keb Mo, Los Lobos, Randy Newman, GooGoo Dolls, B-52's, Al Jarreau, Edwin Mccain, Issac Hayes, Hootie and the Blowfish, Kenny G., Deborah Coleman, Shemika Copeland, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Bob Margolin, Charlie Musselwhite, Bernard Allison, Rod Piazza, David Honey Boy Edwards, Donnie Walsh, The Built for Comfort Blues Band and The Roach Thompson Blues Band