|
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 17, 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 5 member band, which consists of drums, bass, keys,
sax, and Kevin on the guitar. As a solo artist, and
with his band, Kevin has performed over 150 shows and festivals throughout
Arizona, Minnesota, Florida and Colorado, and has done numerous benefits. He
has also won numerous awards. In January of 2006, 13-year-old Kevin won
2nd place in the “Chandler Center for the
Arts Teen Competition”. In November of 2006, Kevin made it to
the finals with the KC Blues Band in the “Arizona Blues Showdown”,
at the famous Rhythm Room in Phoenix. In December of 2006, Kevin won
Alice Cooper's annual "Proof is in the Pudding" solo contest, and as
a result he was invited to do a solo
performance at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, AZ in front of
6,000 people. The KC Blues Band was named “Performer of the Year” for 2008
at the Phoenix Music Awards. And most recently, Kevin
was declared the winner of the 2008 “Arizona Drug Free Super Star Search
Competition”, sponsored by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Kevin continues to improve
musically and lives by the motto "The Blues are the Roots, the Rest are
the Fruits". The KC Blues band also released their debut
album “Perfectly Toasted Blues” in early 2008. The sky is the limit
for this promising young artist.

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, The Jerry
Lewis Telethon, The Sally Jessie Rafael Show,
Robin Leach - New
York At Night, and the Miss Teen USA Pageant. 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.

David
Davis
was born in 1958 to a Big
Band Jazz Piano player and a Piano Teacher. Yet with all this
exposure, he couldn’t play the piano to save his life.
At 5 years of age he saw his Dad’s best friend
setting up and then playing the drums and was hooked. The
child simply sat down and began playing. Shortly after, the family moved to Arizona and
David played the drums all through Grade School. Growing up in
a very musical home, there was constant exposure to many great artists. There
was constant exposure to the likes of Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson, Tommy
Dorsey, buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Although he had no background
or training in Jazz, David’s Father insisted he audition for the High School Jazz
Band. David knocked a senior out of his chair because of his talent.
He played for 4 years in an ‘AAA’ Competition Jazz Band. Then
in 1985 he returned to Phoenix, started his own
business and had 3 children, trying to fit music in this
mix the best he could.

Rob Estrada I began playing bass in high
school garage bands with an old bass my drafted brother left behind.
No one had a bass back then so I was in big demand. During my
college days I formed or joined several bands and eventually became
a full time musician playing 7 nights a week all over the Phoenix
Area. Later I moved to New Mexico to help
run a recording studio and stayed for 14 years, and eventually moved back to Phoenix. The whole time playing
all kinds of music from jazz to rock, country to salsa and reggae and blues. Now a days I am on call for various bands in need of an old school bass player. For me live music is still the best.
Peace
.
PRESS ARTICLES:
Sunday, January 20, 2007 - Arizona Republic Newspaper; Area
teen guitarist wowing fans
|