BOBBY JONES (JANUARY 2ND)
Vocals

Born in Farmerville, LA, Bobby Jones was initially raised on the Country music stylings of artists such as Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff and Little Jimmy Dickens. At the age of 16, Jones forged his own documents in order to pass himself off as a 20 year old, so he could join the army in an attempt to get away from home. Jones caught his first taste of the blues on WLAC, a radio station in Nashville, TN, that featured late night blues programming and would spin music by Buddy Ace, Ivory Joe Hunter, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Junior Parker and B.B. King, but it wasn’t until after relocating to Chicago, IL, in 1959 that his real blues education truly began. Upon his arrival, Jones quickly immersed himself in the thriving blues scene amongst legendary artists Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Hound Dog Taylor, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Fenton Robinson, and soon found himself performing at the many popular establishments of the day including Pepper’s Lounge, Teresa’s and the Trocadara, all located on the South Side of Chicago. Jones was backed by many of the blues elite including Jody Williams, Lonnie Brooks and Syl Johnson, and even replaced Junior Wells in The Aces when Wells gave up his spot after landing a big hit with “Messin’ With The Kid.” Jones issued his first single “Sugar Baby” backed with “Lonely Bedroom,” and later enjoyed relative success in the charts with “I Am So Lonely” peaking at #3 in Chicago, and also held the #1 spot for 6 weeks in Florida. The flip side of the single featured “Talkin’ ‘Bout Jones” recorded with Syl Johnson, who also instructed Jones on how to approach his vocals for the song. In 1999, Ace Records issued two recordings; “In the Mood For Love” and “Sneakin’ & Freakin’”, both distributed by Malaco Records in Mississippi. Jones’ career had remained relatively quiet until 2006 when he was brought to the attention of Delta Groove CEO Randy Chortkoff, and invited to join in for the recording session of the Mannish Boys release “Big Plans.” Jones will appear on two new Delta Groove projects in 2008 including an all new Mannish Boys release, in addition to his very own solo record debut. 

A SELECTED DELTA GROOVE DISCOGRAPHY:
Mannish Boys “Big Plans”

FRANK “PARIS SLIM” GOLDWASSER (JANUARY 6TH)
Guitar / Vocals

Born in Paris, France, Frank Goldwasser’s initial blues inspiration came from Hound Dog Taylor’s “Natural Boogie” LP. Upon relocating to the Bay area in his early twenties at the invitation of Sonny Rhodes, Goldwasser became deeply immersed in the area’s still vibrant blues scene. He racked up three years touring with Jimmy McCracklin, as well as positive reviews for appearances at most of the prominent local venues with a distinguished roster of blues talent including Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield and Charlie Musselwhite. Four years after his first single was issued in 1984 on San Francisco’s Backtrack label, his debut CD “Blues For Esther” appeared, and received a nomination by the prestigious W.C. Handy Awards. Its follow-up, “Bleedin’ Heart” was co-produced with Joe Louis Walker, who guested along with Sonny Rhodes. Goldwasser moved down to Southern California in ‘98 where he eventually crossed paths with Randy Chortkoff. In 2001, Goldwasser headed into the studio to record “Bluju,” one of the first official projects under the guidance of Randy Chortkoff for Delta Groove Productions, and it was later licensed and issued on Crosscut Records in Germany. These days Goldwasser resides in Portland, OR, where he performs locally and he also a featured member of The Mannish Boys, appearing on all three recordings available on Delta Groove Music and tours regularly with the band.

A SELECTED DELTA GROOVE DISCOGRAPHY:
Frank “Paris Slim” Goldwasser “Bluju”
Mannish Boys “That Represent Man”
Mannish Boys “Live & In Demand”
Mannish Boys “Big Plans”
V/A – “Road Tested, Vol. 1”

KID RAMOS (JANUARY 13TH)
Guitar

Born in Fullerton, CA, David “Kid” Ramos grew up in a musical household. Both of his parents had been opera singers-his mother had a singing scholarship to USC while his step-father had toured with the New York Metropolitan Opera. As a teen, Ramos practiced daily along to records by B.B. King and T-Bone Walker, diligently learning the fundamentals of blues guitar. A chance encounter witnessing the Fabulous Thunderbirds in a small club in 1978 further inspired his musical direction. In 1980, Ramos replaced guitarist Soup Bradshaw in what is often considered the classic lineup of the James Harman Band featuring Willie J. Campbell, Stephen T. Hodges and the late Hollywood Fats. After countless gigs and appearing on many classic Harman recordings including “Those Dangerous Gentlemens,” “Strictly Live…in ’85!,” and “Extra Napkins, Vol. 1 & 2,” Ramos left the band in ‘88 to begin a family. Ramos held down a day job for several years delivering bottled water and remained partially active in the blues circuit by performing weekend dates with Roomful of Blues and The Blue Shadows, an early incarnation of Lester Butler’s Red Devils. In 1994, Ramos teamed up with Lynwood Slim and issued a recording under the Big Rhythm Combo, following it up a year later with his debut solo release “Two Hands One Heart.” It was Kim Wilson who eventually coaxed Ramos back into music full time in ’95 as a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, a band that had inspired him some 17 years earlier. Ramos has since released three successful solo recordings on Evidence Records, was the musical director on Floyd Dixon’s posthumous release “Time Brings About A Change…” and is currently a member of the critically acclaimed all-star revue, The Mannish Boys, as well as local Tex Mex/Roots music sensations Los Fabulocos. 

A SELECTED DELTA GROOVE DISCOGRAPHY:
Mannish Boys “Live & In Demand”
Mannish Boys “Big Plans”
Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers “For The Chosen Who”
Lynwood Slim “Last Call”
V/A – “Road Tested, Vol. 1”

AL BLAKE (JANUARY 26TH)
Vocals / Harmonica / Guitar

Born on a Marine Corps base in Klamath Falls, OR, Alan Blake Eliel’s earliest memories of music date back to the early 50’s in Oklahoma City. The young Blake would often take trips to the house of his black nanny, Ruby Anderson, and located just down the street was a small general store, which in addition to selling groceries; also had a big hi-fi speaker out front on the street that loudly played deep southern blues. Blake later began buying 45 records and absorbing the sounds of Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and Lightnin’ Hopkins, and also had the opportunity to see Freddy King, one of his biggest influences, numerous times in the black clubs of Oklahoma City. In 1964, Blake relocated to California to seek a better life and frequented local venues such as the Ash Grove in Los Angeles and the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, and later established relationships with many influential blues artists including Taj Mahal, George “Harmonica” Smith, Louis Myers and James Cotton. Blake’s association with Hollywood Fats came by way of Freddy King one night at the Ash Grove upstairs in the dressing room whereby King introduced Fats as “the greatest blues guitar player that you’ll ever hear.” Upon hearing Fats play that night, Blake made it his goal to establish a relationship with him that ultimately led to the formation of the Hollywood Fats Band. They released their one and only self titled LP in 1979 on PBR Records and held residency at the White House, a beachside restaurant located in Laguna Beach, CA. After Fats’ sudden and unexpected death in ’86, the band lay dormant, each member going their separate ways, until they reformed 10 years later to record Blake’s solo debut “Mr. Blake’s Blues” on Blue Collar Music. Blake has since recorded numerous CDs including his independently released recordings “Dr. Blake’s Magic Soul Elixir” and “Est. A Long Time Ago...,” in addition to his work with the Hollywood Blue Flames featuring the young guitarist Kirk “Eli” Fletcher on Delta Groove Productions.

A SELECTED DELTA GROOVE DISCOGRAPHY:
Hollywood Blue Flames “Soul Sanctuary”
Hollywood Blue Flames “Road To Rio”
Phillip Walker “Going Back Home”
V/A – “Road Tested, Vol. 1”