Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The Covina Playhouse is a very small theatre - just the right place to see and hear J. Darrell Bell.
Darrell would not be at his best in a noisy bar, as one needs to listen intently to what he is doing. Just like the old time blues records labeling "Vocals with Guitar Accompaniment," Darrell stresses the songs over guitar slinging. Bell's singing was more moving than his amplified acoustic playing. Many great blues guitarists do well strumming, which is just fine, but are not as outstanding as vocalists. Bell has an original vocal style and interesting arrangements of standards that make them his own. Some of the songs he covered were Sam Cooke's "Long Time Comin'", Robert Johnson's "Crossroads Blues", Marshall Tucker's "Ramblin'", Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride & Joy", and Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child". Darrell has a fun joking stage persona. Later that day Darrell and his wife briefly talked and found to both be very nice people. This author plans to hear more of J. Darrell Bell and so should you.
- Delta Snake Daily News-Char Ham & Mike Williams
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Blues Prophets
The "Blues Prophets" is a fresh new group based in eastern San Gabriel Valley in southern California. The band's line up of musicians is from Texas, Washington and California and has musical influences that range from Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical and Country.
Blues Prophets, Gene Wagner and Lowell Ronglien are the rhythm specialists of the band. Wagner is a veteran drummer/percussionist from Houston and has worked with The 5th Dimension, Roger Williams, Rita Moreno, Steve Allen, Jerry Van Dyke, Vic Damone and Shields & Yarnell just to name a few. Gene has also kept the beat for Jim Curry & Friends, a tribute to John Denver at venues in Nevada and southern California.
Ronglien is the bands bassist hailing from Seattle where he worked with many local Seattle/Tacoma bands holding down the bottom end with his 5 string bass. Lowell has toured up and down the west coast club circuit from California to Canada with brother Lyle Ronglien a well-known rock guitarist in Seattle.
Bill Manning, also known as Doc Keys plays keyboards and provides backup vocals and is the youngest member of the Blues Prophets. Manning began lessons at the age of 7 and has been influenced by many of the classical greats. He also has worked with Jim Curry & Friends, a tribute to John Denver at venues in Nevada and southern California.
Kevin Shore plays harp, guitar and provides backup vocals for The Blues Prophets. From Covina, California, Shore is a multi-instrumented musician. In addition to the afore-mentioned, he plays banjo, mandolin and has recently added the concertina to his many talents. However, its Kevins intense harp solos that spearhead The Blues Prophets like a freight train coming at you!
J. Darrell Bell is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band. Bells soulful vocals and original material help provide The Blues Prophets with their unique sound. Also from California, he has lived in Colorado and Texas where he toured the hotel circuit with various groups and as a solo act. In 1998, Bell appeared at the inaugural Bluesapaloosa in Covina and was given a flattering review by Char Ham and Mike Williams of the Delta Snake Daily News.
The Blues Prophets is 5 distinctive musicians joining forces to create a solid driving band with a sound that is truly their own. The Blues Prophets captivates audiences wherever they perform and are sure to get your attention too!
Keep your eyes and ears open because The Blues Prophets are headed your way!
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