Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings

Bill Rhoades - Harmonica and vocals Michael Osborn - Guitar and vocals Franck Goldwasser - Guitar and vocals Jim Miller - Bass and vocals Eddie Clark - Drums Bill Rhoades has been called the "Godfather" of the Northwest Blues scene. Growing up in Eugene, OR., Bill became interested in the Blues in the mid 1960's thru listening to the British Invasion groups who were covering Blues songs by American Blues artists. Bill sought out recordings by these artists and began playing harmonica at this time also. Read more on Last.fm …read full bio

Bill Rhoades - Harmonica and vocals Michael Osborn - Guitar and vocals Franck Goldwasser - Guitar and vocals Jim Miller - Bass and vocals Eddie Clark - Drums Bill Rhoades has been called the "Godfather" of the Northwest Blues scene. Growing up in Eugene, OR., Bill became interested in the Blues in the mid 1960's thru listening to the British Invasion groups who were covering Blues songs by American Blues artists. Bill sought out recordings by these artists and began playing harmonica at this time also. By the end of the 60's Bill was starting to perform with a small group of friends and in the early 1970's had formed his first band "The Rhythm Kings." By the mid 70's the opportunity came up to host a radio show on KLCC 89.7 FM called "Blues Power". Bill was on the air for almost nine years. Also at the time, Bill started the Oregon blues Society with longtime friend Ray Varner. By the mid 70's his band had dissolved so he formed a new group called the Bill Rhoades Blues Band, which later became the Party Kings. This band had a two year stretch as the house band at Taylors in Eugene. Also during this time the "Kings" had the honor to back up Albert Collins, Louisiana Red, Sonny Rhodes, J.J. Malone, Troyce Key, and Michael Bloomfield. A young Robert Cray would also come sit in with the band. They also opened shows for Son Seals, James Cotton, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells and Bill had the pleasure to sit in with Buckwheat Zydeco and Queen Ida. During this time Bill also played in a quartet with vocalist/organist Chris Coltrane. By the mid 1980's the Blues boom in Eugene had pretty much dried up, so Bill made a move to Portland, OR. At this time he formed Blues Deluxe but went back to the Party Kings name. Also at this time Bill began doing a radio show on KBOO 90.7 FM called "Blue Monday" which he is still doing today. His radio show can be heard every Monday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Pacific time on www.kboo.fm With renewed public interest in the blues, Bill, Miles Ward, and Mark Goldfarb created the Cascade Blues Association. In the early 1990's Bill played for a couple years with Jimmy Lloyd Rea and the Switchmasters. During this time The band received "Muddy" awards from the Cascade Blues Assoc. for Best Blues Act (twice) and Best Northwest Blues recording. Reforming the Party Kings, Bill once again had the honor to back up many great Bluesmen including Jimmy Rogers, Luther Tucker, Big Daddy Kinsey, Smokey Wilson, Fillmore Slim and Lurrie Bell. Over the past 15 years, Bill has received the "Muddy" for Best Blues Harmonica 6 times (most recently 2007). He had also received the "George Paige- Back What You Believe In" Award, and the band has received "Muddy" awards for Best New Band and Best Traditional Blues Act (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008). In an acoustic Blues duo with Alan Hager, Bill and Alan received Best Traditional Blues Act awards (twice). In the mid 1980's Bill was featured on a national TV/ Radio ad for Lipton Tea. Bill was also the founder and organizer of the Blues Harmonica Blow Off (20 years) and the Blues Harmonica Summit (14 years). Bill Rhoades remains committed to playing "Good Rockin' Down Home Blues". Michael Osborn on guitar and vocals (formerly with John Lee Hooker and Robben Ford) Franck Goldwasser on guitar and vocals (formerly with Jimmy McCracklin, Troyce Key and many others) Jim Miller on bass and vocals (formerly with Taj Mahal and Albert Collins) Eddie Clark on Drums (formerly with William Clarke and Lester Butler) Influences: Muddy Waters, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Clifton Chenier, Louis Jordan, Elmore James, Tampa Red, Hank Williams, Billy Boy Arnold, Slim Harpo, Otis Spann, Junior Wells, Big Walter Horton, Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, James Cotton, George "Harmonica" Smith, Luther Tucker, J.J. Malone, Flatt & Scruggs, Earl King, Roy "Good Rockin" Brown, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rogers, Cecil Gant, Little Johnnie Jones, Guitar Slim, Big Maceo, Little Willie John, Junior Parker, Papa Lightfoot, Son House, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Esther Phillips, Jimmy McCracklin, Magic Sam, Franck Goldwasser, Troyce Key, and many, many others. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

…shrink me down again