Kevin Casenhiser, (KC Blues), Was born on December 5th 1992, in Mesa Arizona. He has been playing the guitar since he was six years old and has been playing live since he was eleven. Kevin is now 15, and some of his musical influences include: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Walter Becker, Billy Gibbons, Freddie King, Oscar Peterson and his personal favorite, Eric Clapton. His favorite band of all time is Steely Dan. Kevin describes his music as a "Bluesy-Jazzy Funk-Rock that goes to "11"! Kevin performs solo or with his 6 member band, which consists of drums, bass, keys, sax, harp and Kevin on the guitar. Kevin has performed more then 100 shows and festivals throughout Arizona and also Minnesota, Florida and Colorado, and has done numerous benefits. In December of 2006, Kevin won Alice Cooper's "Poof is in the Pudding" solo contest. He then performed a solo act at the Dodge Theatre, in Phoenix, AZ in front of 7,000 people. Some of Kevin's favorite places to play include the Rhythm Room, Phx, Alice Cooperstown, Phx, Famous Dave's in Minneapolis, and his Friday gigs at NYC Mobster's Inc. in Gilbert, AZ which is his favorite hide out. Kevin has also been on the local news program "Good Morning Arizona, 3TV several times now.  Also in January of 2006 Kevin won 2nd place in the Chandler Center for the Arts Teen Competition.  In November of 2006, 13 yr old Kevin made it to the Finals with the KC Blues Band in the Arizona Blues Showdown, at the Rhythm Room, Phx.  Kevin continues to improve musically and lives by the motto "The Blues are the Roots, the Rest are the Fruits".
 
Jim Riccitelli was born into a musical family and has been playing piano for over 40 years. He has extensive touring experience as a keyboardist and vocalist with national acts such as The Monkees, Gary U.S. Bonds and Herman's Hermits and has appeared on numerous television shows including Star Search, Regis & Kathy Lee, the Rosie O'Donnell Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Jim is also a talented engineer and producer, having owned and operated a commercial recording facility in New York for many years.

Rich Arnold has been playing sax and bass on the local music scene since the mid '80's. He has performed professionally with Bo Wilson, Henry "Mojo" Thompson, Hot Ice, The Chico Chism Band, Bill Frain, Rhythm City Express, The Lynwood Flyers, the Rocket 88's, Tommy Dukes, The Chief, The Dave Greene Band, E-Train, and went to Memphis with Honeyboy Dupree and the Smoke House Players as the 2001 Blues Showdown Contest winners. He also plays on the worship team at his church. Rich retired after 30 years of teaching public school and has been married 24 years to his better half, Teresa. He now devotes much of his time to his second passion, music. 

Greg Blumenthal (aka 'Heavy G') was born & raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He got 1st bass guitar & amp for Christmas when he was 13 years old, and everyone who has played with him since has said that he is just one of those guys that was born to play the bass.  He majored in music at the University of Wyoming, but when he realized that path led to teaching violin & cello to grade school kids, he dropped out, got drafted and went into the army. (Duh.)  Upon his return, he picked up right where he left off playing in his first big band named 'Perseus', who headlined several times for ZZ Top, Blue Oyster Cult and REO Speedwagon. Perseus enjoyed moderate regional success in the 70's.  In the late 70's / early 80's, he played in a group called 'Salt', which, depending upon the week, included anywhere from 6 to 9 members that played mostly funk and R&B music (cover songs by the Commodores, Tower of Power, etc.) in bars, clubs, fraternities & sororities along the front range of the Rockies.  He stopped playing for a few years in the late 80's & early 90's and focused on getting the kids raised. He & his family moved to the valley in 1992, and now call Phoenix their home. He played bass for 'The Blueshounds a couple of years ago, and his latest project is providing the bottom end & back-up vocals for local blues guitarist phenom Kevin Casenhiser (aka 'KC Blues'.)

Pete Avelar, a native Arizonan, comes from a musical family from the Copper Basin in Kearny, Arizona. Pete played accordion at the age of 4 and played trombone from elementary school through high school. He played his first "Pro gig" at the age of 13 playing drums at a local pub with some "older guys" who were about 20 years old. The guys in the band had come and asked Pete's parents if they'd come to the pub, so that he could play in the band with them. The Avelar's also had some neighbors who would have "jam sessions" in the neighborhood. the neighbors often came a knockin' to ask if Pete would play drums during the session. the sessions consisted of mostly old country music classics and an occasional rock n roll tune.  After high school Pete joined his first country band; "Back Pocket Money". At the time, he was too shy to sing and only played drums. A few years later as the band dissolved, Pete was provided an opportunity to play drums and sing when the back up vocalist left the group. Pete has been singing and playing drums ever since. He is very familiar with many music styles including Latin dance, Tex Mex, old school funk as well as good ole Rock n Roll and country music. He has opened for Rock n Roll Hall of Famers "The Lovin' Spoonful" and "The Coasters" as well as Freddy Fender and Tex Mex Superstar, and Grammy Award winning artist "Little Joe". Pete's years of musical experience are one of the driving forces behind the rhythm section of "Nathan Dean & NQH".

PRESS ARTICLES:  
Sunday, January 20, 2007 - Arizona Republic Newspaper; Area teen guitarist wowing fans