Michael Osborn and the Drivers

Michael Osborn was John Lee Hooker’s lead guitarist for 13 years. After his tenure with Mr. Hooker, one of Michael’s songs, Spellbound, was featured on John Lee’s 1997 Grammy Award winning “Don’t Look Back”! Mike has also backed such musical luminaries as Robben Ford, Mark Ford, The Charles Ford Band w/Gary Smith, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Brownie McGee, Bill Rhoades, Sista Monica and so many others. Mike presently resides in the Portland, Oregon area and has been nominated three times by the Cascade Blues Association for best guitarist and once for best recording for his CD release of “Touch Tone.” As a member of Bill Rhoades and the Party Kings, he taken home 5 awards for best traditional blues band and was inducted into the CBA Hall of Fame as a member of that band!
K.G. Jackson has 25 years of professional experience and has been playing music in the Northwest since 1990. In 1997 his band “K.G. Jackson and Shakin’ Ground” was a Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award nominee for Best New Act. In 2006 he did a short stint in the band “Double Deuces” which was then nominated for Best New Act. He was also nominated in 2006 by the Cascade Blues Association in the Best Vocalist category in a final field of three that included Curtis Salgado. He has the ability to give a song what it asks for, what it needs, while at the same time putting his own indelible stamp on it making it his own. K.G. is also a prolific songwriter and writes many of the songs the band performs. These first class compositions are among the many things that set this combo apart from others in their field.
Dave Mathis has long been a Portland mainstay of the blues with 30 years of professional experience. Dave has most recently fronted “The Blues Police” with Steve Cameron. He also had a long stint playing with Kelly Jo Phelps and is featured on Kelly’s recording entitled “Traditional Blues” as well as one cut on “Shine Eyed Mister Zen”. Dave is also a two-time Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award Winner in the Traditional Blues Act category with the band “Sheila and Backwater Blues” for the years of 1996 & 1997. Dave is often a featured artist at Bill Rhoades’ yearly “Harmonica Blow-Off” which brings together the best harmonica talent the Northwest has to offer. Dave can blaze on the harmonica or play sweet and low with the best of them, and he is also a heartfelt true blues singer.
John Moore has been a mainstay of the Portland/Eugene Blues scene for more than 20 years. He has backed Albert Collins, William Clarke, Bill Rhoades and even George Harrison! He is the heartbeat of the band!