BLACKDOG HISTORY
In the beginning
there was MYRDDIN (Merlin Music)
Greg Farmer and Scott Debo began writing and
recording.
Named by Jayson Tipp, This project
evolved into Raynes Park
Blackdog evolved from
the1986 RAYNES PARK who's members included (left to right) Greg Farmer, Lee
Bowers,
Scott Debo. Jayson Tipp, Bill Hesskamp and
eventually Ken Kase, Mark Huth, and other
local
was the focus. In
1987 much of the group moved out to other projects. Myself (Scott) and Bill
Hesskamp decided to seek
out a third man
and try a power blues trio. Blackdog's first fruition was Bill on drums, Scott
on guitar - vocals, and
Carl Caspersen on bass. We were
soon joined by our former sax man Mark Huth, and began taking gigs around the
bi-state area.
Our first blues
show was at the old Cardinal tavern on second street in
On the way to the
gig, one of the guys asked, "What is the name of the band"? Realizing
we had passed over
this small detail,
and not wanting to seem unprepared I spit out "The Blackdog Blues
Band". Unlike most band naming
sessions, the guys
went for it, so it stuck.
Soon we would
loose Carl and regain Greg Farmer on bass. Then in fall of 1990, the day
Stevie Ray Vaughn died,
we met Kirby Kelley, who joined on
slide guitar. At this point the focus of Blackdog shifted to showcase
Kirby and his
extreme blues prowess. Later Mark would move on, and Kirby.
That's when we met
Jerry
Dean and the Mojo Tooth Band, and the
most colorful new
member of Blackdog, Blind Willy. Again the focus shifted to
showcase this
avant-garde sax and trumpet powerhouse.
Pamela Devine joined after
sitting in on a magical evening at Union Station. Pamela was sharing the
spotlight with
Willy and covering
a good part of the vocals from a new perspective, total soul. Billy moved to
nights on his day job, and in comes
Kent Stone, first as a sub,
then full time and Lee Bowers on guitar and vocals, and we were set for
a while.
This was the line-up
that recorded Blackdog's first CD, TAKE YOUR TIME, YO PARALYZEN ME. Recorded at
Smith Lee Studios
and engineered by Steve Higdon, a digital
picture of what we sounded like in 1995.
After building an
annual invite
to Boomer's V.P
Fair and Blues Festival summer shows outdoors, appearing LIVE on the air on KSHE radio's
"Blue
Monday" show, and the release of our first album, the 1995 season was
capped off by opening the
5000 seat Regal
Riverfront Ballroom on the New Years Eve bill with the "Queen of
Blues" . . .
Alligator Records
star, Koko Taylor. It was around this time that we felt Blackdog Rhythm
and Blues would
better describe
the show, and so we developed a new look and logo.
A couple of years
of pushing the CD, playing around the bi-state area, some good airplay, and
suddenly a horn section is born. . .
enter Ben Henderson on trumpet. Ben
and Willy blended instantly and we begin to shift our sights to a more brass
oriented sound.
Not long after,
Ben brings in Kurt Silver on trombone, now it's clearly a mutiny. Lee Bowers also blew
trombone with the section
The horns are here
to stay. One summer night on
Mike Dreyer sat in on
percussion and soon to share drumming duties with
we are moving
toward something big, we can feel it. Now as we are set up in our studio
working on a new
self produced
album it's late 1997. We are nine pieces strong, many tracks have been laid . .
.
We have an idea: Let's fill the house with people, open all the studio
doors, bring the
fans in the room, mic the
whole house, and record a LIVE but in the studio album"
LIVE AT THE JACKSON
STREET HOUSEPARTY was recorded March 28, 1998 and for all of us, it was magic.
As soon as it was
released, we were honored to be "Album of the Week" on KCLC FM 89.1 Blues
from the Basement
show on a Sunday
night. More airplay from the classiest stations in town, WSIE 88.7, KDHX 88.1,
and now, thanks to
the internet being heard in many countries around the world. Blackdogs
schedule
grows longer each
year now, and with the horns and Pamela, we play upwards of nine years in a row
at the
All this and something
is still missing. Good keyboards.
A very experienced
honkytonkbarrelhousestrideridetwofistedivoryslammin piano man
Ed Synan. Just off the road with recording artist Moe Bandy show, living
locally
and needing a
rhythm and blues fix. What a great addition Ed and Karen Synan made to the group,
Two nicer people
you will NEVER meet. After about six years in the band, The Synans
moved back down
to Branson where Ed
can be seen once again at the Moe Bandy show six nights a
week.
We sure did miss
them, but now they are back and Ed sits in from time to time when he can.
During this time,
as Ed worked in on keys, we met another wonderful addition to the group...Susan Conner.
She has added a
vocal element that takes the band to new areas in music.
Harmony and lead
vocals are no challenge for Susan. She is a great musician, guitarist,
and a magic
personality! Susan is featured on our Acoustic Trio album.
She is working her
way into the very heart of the show adding many new songs to our list.
Now as the Hot Ho Horns began to phase
out of the show and we have moved toward a classic rock and
much more guitar
oriented sound, we would again change the name to BLACKDOG and the RAINMAKERS.
An accurate
moniker considering the years of bad weather we have endured at our outdoor
shows.
Another recent
addition has the band moving in new directions...and audiences in amazement.
Tom Smith has finally made
it into the band. Tom has sat in many shows over the years, but now he
has made the leap
to a full time Dog. You cannot believe the screaming sounds of this guitar
slinging giant.
Not since Kirby Kelly has there been a
guitarist so monumental in the band. Tom lays out lush tones
that haunt the
likes of Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Jonny Lang, Stevie Ray, Tommy Bolin, Gary
Moore,
Ritchie Blackmore
and others. We have to dip his Stratocaster into a bucket of water to keep it
from melting.
Our longtime THUNDER on the drums, Kent Stone had a job
commitment that will took him out of town for a while and
so we welcomed
original Blackdog drummer Bill Hesskamp back to the fold. Bill and his wife Denise
helped to start all of this back in the
Eighties. Bill has a funk pocket deeper than a coal mine.
Billy is a rock solid and very creative
percussionist that makes the band so solid and tight. Welcome back Billy.
With Tom, Susan
and Billy and a new sound to the band, it is time to make a new CD.
2006 was the year
for our next album:
WE JAM MORE LIKE WE DO NOW THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE
Featured on the
new album is a great friend and harp player that we met along the way from
And a harp style
that congers up the sounds of James Cotton, Little Walter and Charlie
Musslewhite.
Zach played a
couple years regularly with the band until we moved to a primarily ROCK song
list.
Now Zach plays
with an incredible group, Brown Bottle Fever in
Bob Mc Keown has returned on vocals and is
taking a bigger role than ever singing lead on some great classics and
great harmony to round out the ever
expanding sound of Blackdog.
Lee Bowers holds the record for the most
positions in the band. Lee is playing keyboards, guitar and singing
with Blackdog now and has expanded our
sound even more. Lee helped form the original Raynes Park
in the middle Eighties playing trombone
and awesome jazz rock guitar.
In 2010 Greg and
Scott reunited with two players from high school years,
Terry Melton on drums and Ben
Tisckos on bass, keys and vocals. The band
was VANTAGE
and the year was
1982. VANTAGE has reformed and plays a few shows a year now and
Terry and Ben can
be seen on stage with Blackdog as well.
It's actually a
much longer story than that, and all the dozens of musicians that stay just out
on the
fringe of the
regular show, so lets not forget all of the great players who we've had the
great pleasure to
share the stage with in
26 years of evolution (I may never be able to name them all
)
Carl Caspersen
Greg Farmer - Mark Huth - Bill Hesskamp Bill Dineen
- Jerry Dean Kent Stone - Tom Smith
Bob Mc Keown
Kurt Silver - Pamela Devine - Kirby Kelley - Jim Cook Ben Henderson - Big
Mike Villasenor Mike Dreyer
Steve Winter -
Mike Parrett James Riggins - Don Van Gels - Terry Melton Lew Winer - Matt Pence
Dave Farver Randy Biggs - Rick Davis Kevin Rausher Daryl Whited Ken Kase
Jayson Tipp Lee Bowers
Travis Hesskamp
Charlie Hankins - Zach Pemberton Ed Synan Susan
Connor Bob Mc Keown Ben Tisckos Pat Liston
We also recognize
those who have given their time to help with booking, photography, bouncing,
and roadie - ing. . . Jason Hampton - Dave "Hot Horse" and Pam Couch
Gary Brown - Karen Synan Jerry and Carol Dean - Wes Searcy - Danny Hommes
Jim "The
Whales" Whaley and Al Pritchet John and Judy Meixner so many more
Over the years Blackdog has come to be so much more than
just a band.
Blackdog is an idea.
Blackdog is sound. Blackdog is a
commitment.
The people that have given their energy and sweat for over
25 years to make these shows happen are a piece
of every note that is played at the next show. The
commitment I have seen over the years from the players,
the fans, the families is unmatched and undying. It is a
joy to be a part of this team week after week and see
all of the effort and talent pull together and pour out on
stage with new life and new passion.
Blackdog is a FAMILY and
that is a success that cannot be undone.
Come
see a show. Youll love it. I guarantee it.
