The Backyard Blues Band
Watsonville, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
...In an extended blues free-for-all, Paul Shaffer cued guitar solos by Keith Richards, James Burton, Ronnie Robertson, Brian May and Aerosmith's Joe Perry. Johnnie Johnson hammered away on his keyboard, and Mario Ramirez dropped to his knees, blowing away the audience with a harp solo. As the clock struck one, Kid Rock emerged..... - Induction Concert 3/01
Cool sounds filled the hills. Backyard Blues vocalist Mario Ramirez and guitarist/vocalist Mike Baldwin got down at The Brownsville Blues Festival on Sunday. Ramirez is the younger brother of Ritchie Valens, and this popular band has been a regular at the festival over the years.... - The Appeal Democrat
Discography
See the 2009 release "Rock You Tonight" at
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/backyardbluesband
A new CD is in the works for 2011
Photos
Bio
The Backyard Blues Band is Mario Valens on harp and vocals, Mike Baldwin on Guitar and Vocals, Fred (Baldhead Fred) Rautmann on drums, and Sam Jellsey on bass guitar.
The combination of Mario and Mike have been the core of this band for over two decades and together have written dozens of songs derived from the stories, adventures, and misadventures from their lives and their backyard bonfire parties. When these stories are put to the energetic Backyard style of Blues and Rockabilly music you get some Backyard Boogie.
Over the years the Backyard Blues Band has had the privilege of sharing the stage with such greats as Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, the late John Lee Hooker Sr., John Lee Hooker Jr., Joe Louis Walker, Canned Heat, George Thorogood, Foghat, John Kay and Steppenwolf, Blue Oyster Cult, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, The late Link Wray, Tommy Allsup of the Original Crickets, and many others.
Take a minute and listen to the hard-hitting original music of the Backyard Blues Band, as well as their distinctive covers of Brother Ritchie's hits. You can feel the passion in the music that is so apparent in their energetic stage presence and showmanship.
Recent Backyard Shows include...
Iowa Rock and Roll Association Festival. Okoboji, Iowa
Native American Music Awards. Niagara Falls, New York
Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival…Monterey
The Foothill Blues Festival… Loma Rica, Ca
The Shasta Blues Festival….Redding, Ca
The Sacramento Music Festival
The Monterey Rock n Rod Festival…Monterey
The Yuba Sutter Fair, Yuba City, Ca
The Eureka “Bikes on the Bay” Festival
Blue Lake Casino… Blue Lake, Ca
The Watsonville Berry Festival
The Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival
Hansen Dam 4th of July Celebration
The Butte County Fair…Gridley, Ca
KTLA Morning Show…Los Angeles
The Catalyst with Los Lobos…Santa Cruz, Ca
Corbin Industries Festival Hollister, Ca
The Aztlan Music Festival Riverside, Ca
Links
