The Players....
John Parker, Guitar & Vocals - John was raised in the Santa Cruz area and started playing at age 14. He grew up loving the sounds of BB King, Django Reinhardt, Freddie King and Buddy Guy. Several bands later, he would up in the Atlanta, Georgia music scene where he found the‘blues calling’. Now he’s back in California playing what he loves about Georgia the most -‘the blues’.
John has had the good fortune to perform with Chicago Bob Nelson, Big
Joe Jackson, Butch Travette & the Alley Cats, the late Piano Red, Tinsley Ellis, Delbert McClinton and Doug Kershaw. He’s opened for The Beach Boys, Juice Newton, Eric Burdon, Bobby Bear and Coco Montoya.
John’s first cd, “Off the Clock” was released in early 2005 and has a little something for everyone: blues, rock and a little country gospel.
Jeff Jensen, Guitar & Vocals - Jeff’s charismatic performance demands the attention of all musicians and spectators alike, especially at his young age. In 2005, he was sponsored by the Pinetop Perkins Blues Society to compete in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge. While in Memphis, Handy Award winning artist, Deborah Coleman selected his band to play for her guest appearance performance. His tunes have the influences of Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King and T-Bone Walker.
Jeff has opened for Paul Osher, Cafe R&B, BB Chung King, Coco Montoya and the legendary BB King.
Steve Halter, Keyboardist Extraordinaire - Steve is better known as
“The Lord of the Boards”. He began playing at the tender age of five and has worked as a full time session player on numerous albums for every major label in the recording business. Steve grew up under the influence of Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and the old time rock & roll piano and organ players like Jimmy Smith. When it’s time for his solo he just closes his eyes feels the vibe and lets his soul take over.
Steve has worked performed with various bands and musicians in the LA area and has been the Keyboard player for “Forced Call” for the last four years.
Bill Ruffino, Bass - “Vampire Bill” as we call him, was raised in New
Jersey where he learned to play piano and drums at age 6. He recorded 2 albums at age 15 then became a very well rounded musician when he taught himself to pay guitar and then bass by age 16. He has opened for The Band, Blues Traveler and BB Chung King. In 1996, Bill was voted Best Bass Player by Rock City News.
Chris Collier, Drums - Chris has a lot of talent and ambition for his young age - not only is an incredible Drummer, he plays Bass, Keyboards and is the Singer, Songwriter and Lead Guitarist for his own Rock band “Weedeeter”, which is still going strong after ten years. His long anticipated cd “Stages of Resistance” is finally finished and will be released soon.
Besides being a very talented musician, Chris is a professional sound engineer at a local studio and engineered not only his own “Stages of Resistance” but also cds for many other Los Angeles bands including
“Off the Clock” for “Forced Call”.
Dennis Lucey, Harmonica - Dennis grew up in Massachusetts and began playing professionally in high school with various blues, folk and country rock bands. At age 19, he opened for The J.Geiles Band and began doing studio work. His early influences included Charlie McCoy and Lee Oscar. Before moving to California, He spent several years in Nashville and worked with various artists including Tracy Nelson, John Prine, Don Schlitz, Bobby Gray, and The Haggar Brothers.
John Parker
Jeff Jensen
