Zacharias & the Blue Devils

Zacharias & Magic Mike constitute the core elements of their band Zacharias and the Blue Devils.
Left to their own devices they are a pretty hard driving duo playing old time blues, boogie, ragtime and zydeco-mall under 'one hat' and without missing a trick!
Zacharias' roots in this music come from his love of the music of Ray Charles, Elvis, Otis Redding, the Sons of the Pioneers,Little Richard, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash, Lightnin' Hopkins, Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker and etc.
Zacharias is a widely traveled musician/raconteur and blessed with an effusive personality and his love for life and people comes shining through his music. He presents a fine mix of his original compositions.
Zacharias has a gift for weaving his words into music and creating lively, upbeat and interesting short stories that often touch the heart!
Magic Mike has been the anchor
of the Zacharias sound, whether just the two of them or- with the Blue Devils! Mike is an excellent musician- a talented vocalist who maintains sweet vocal harmonies while his great sense of rhythm keeps the music percolate to an infectious beat!

People often ask, "How can just two people make so much music? "

- Rip Ciy Productions -

HOME FROM HIS PILGRIMAGE TO MEMPHIS, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST ZACHARIAS RETURNS TO REUNITE WITH THE BLUE DEVILS AND LAUNCH INTO RECORDING THEIR FIRST CD, BACKSLIDER! ZACHARIAS RETURNS FROM THE EUROPEAN 'MOTHERLAND TOUR' THAT TOOK THE BAND ALL ACROSS NORTHERN EUROPE INCLUDING LONDON, BRUSELS, PARIS, COPENHAGEN, BERLIN and AMSTERDAM!
THEY LOOK TO RECORD ALL NEW ORIGINALS WRITTEN BY ZACHARIAS!
WE'LL BE WAITING TO HEAR THE NEW RECORDING!
- Willamettee Week News-1994

This recording is a culmination of years of travel and experiences from performing the streets and market places to the back alleys, bars and bistros and high class blues and jazz clubs of Europe, the Orient and the Americas. Here is an an artist who has truly paid the cost for his music. ZACHARIAS was
first discovered by MARVIN GAYE
while playing with a street band in Brussels and asked to record harmonica tracks on MARVIN'S last album, SEXUAL HEALING!
From the Spirit of the Mardi Gras where the street band flourished in New Orleans through the Torture Tour '81 Europe, ( Berlin, Paris Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen), and infused with the words of encouragement and inspiration from the late Marvin Gaye comes at last the recording we proudly present to you! You'll LOVE it! - Rip City Productions, Music Review

This recording is a culmination of years of travel and experiences from performing the streets and market places to the back alleys, bars and bistros and high class blues and jazz clubs of Europe, the Orient and the Americas. Here is an an artist who has truly paid the cost for his music. ZACHARIAS was
first discovered by MARVIN GAYE
while playing with a street band in Brussels and asked to record harmonica tracks on MARVIN'S last album, SEXUAL HEALING!
From the Spirit of the Mardi Gras where the street band flourished in New Orleans through the Torture Tour '81 Europe, ( Berlin, Paris Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen), and infused with the words of encouragement and inspiration from the late Marvin Gaye comes at last the recording we proudly present to you! You'll LOVE it! - Rip City Productions, Music Review

Zacharias & the Blue Devils play every Thursday night at the Woodshed at 160th & Stark! This is an outstanding lineup of road seasoned veterans.
Lou Soloman is a keyboard master who is a superlative soloist with and has impeccable rhythm.
Magic Mike Neeley on drums has the unique ability with the syncopated rhythms and diverse beats that characterize and set this band apart!
John 'the Baptist' Pounds hails from Louisiana and infuses the music with plenty of that 'southern fried soul' and has been overheard accusing Zacharias of having 'his heart in the swamps'!
Justino 'the Great Franzino' plays accordion and kicks in to the zydeco and secondline passages that help create a joyous and exuberant sound!
Zacharias started playing bass in Houston with the WILLY STOUT ZYDECO BAND in the vast 3rd Ward ghetto of Houston! Zacharias brings to the music the good-time Jump Blues/R & B/
Zydeco/ New Orleans-Mardi Gras atmosphere as he fronts the band playing sax, harmonica and is a passionate vocalist. This band is about having big fun !!
Don't miss them!! - Cascade Blues Association

Zacharias' first album is a culmination of years of travel and experiences from performing the streets and marketplaces to the back alleys, bars, bistros and high class blues and clubs of Europe, the Orient and America.
Here is an artist who has truly paid his dues to play his music.
Zacharias was discovered by Marvin Gaye playing with a street band in Brussels and asked to record harmonica tracks on his final album!!
From the Spirit of the Mardi Gras, where his street band flourished in New Orleans through the Torture Tour Europe '81(Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and London)and infused with inspiration and personal validation from the late great Marvin Gaye comes at long last the album we proudly present to you! ---Rip City Productions--- - Rip City Productions, Music Review