Johnie B. Sanders

I remember when I was three years old, my dad would have me play the piano while he played the guitar. My dad gave me a 1960 Fender Jaguar and showed me 12 bar and 8 bar progressions. The first two songs I learned were B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Everybody Wants To Know Why I Sing The Blues". I also learned some James Brown songs.

When my mother's birthday came in the year of 1970, I sold my guitar to buy her a gift. Since I did not have a guitar, I did not play for a long time. At the age of 20 I took interest again. I played around, but could not get anything together playing rhythm guitar.

I went to Las Vegas in 1994 and it was there that I made the decision to change to lead guitar and vocals. There weren't many opportunities there, so I went back home to Chicago. I began appearing at The Checkerboard where Harmonica Hines took me on as his guitar player on Mondays. On Fridays, Lindsey Alexanders took me on to play at Red's Lounge. Vance Kelly had me call on Willie D. who took me on as lead guitar and vocals. One Sunday at the 290, David G. White, a writer for the "Livin' Blues Magazine", asked to do an article about me in "R & B Juke Blues Magazine".

I would take the band to different places to do gigs. I've played at The New Dating Game Lounge, Club Mycasa Lounge, Great Lakes Lodge, Bracey's Caribbean Jerk Center and The Doggie Inn. I've gigged with Mary Lane at the The Blues' U.S.A., with the singing bass player, Nate Turner in Milwaukee, Detroit and Indiana, vocal and lead guitar player, Johnny Dollar, and "Sax Man", Al Block who loves my guitar style. I've also played rhythm guitar for Johnny B. Moore at The Blue Chicago Lounge as well as at The Chicago Blues Festival.

My kids were growing and our Chicago neighborhood was bad. My wife and I decided to move to Minnesota where we lived in Burnsville for one year. We then moved to Farmington where we live now. I started playing guitar after five years of not playing. I was hanging out at Famous Dave's one night and met Big Walter Smith. I heard on KFAI 90.3 FM that he would be at Schuller's. I went there and met Percy Strother who took me on as rhythm guitar. I've appeared at Famous Dave's, Arnellia's and The Break Away. I've met players and have started my own band. I've also appeared at The American Legion Post #189, V.F.W. #7662, B & B Pizza, the Soul City Cafe', the Star Dust as well as at the Viking.

Iretta Sanders

Blues Singer and Performer

  My singing career started over 40 years ago as a Gospel Soul singer.

  I have also appeared onstage with other Blues female entertainers such as Nora Jean Brusso, The Dee Miller Band and Mary Lane to name a few. I have also appeared at Lee Unleaded Blues in Chicago.

  Since 1993 I have been traveling and appearing with the Johnie B.Sanders Band based in the Twin Cities. Our shows are mesmerizing and contain an excitement, setting a trend that most female performers would love to have the opportunity to be a part of.

  It has been a great blues experience, and I'm loving every minute of it.

 Thumpin' Butch Baker

  On Bass Guitar from Annapolis to Minneapolis.

  Thumpin' Butch Baker has played bass for various bands in my early years. 1969 thru 1978 in the DC area. For 28 years I have worked in the distribution side of the music industry for Capital, RCA and Columbia Records. I am now employed by Ameriprise Financial in their Minneapolis' home office.

I currently have a music set featuring original blues numbers, also The Beatles, Dylan, The Doors, The Nazz, Traffic, Lee Michaels, CCR and Cream. Features include music from the late 60s to 72 with focus on deep tracs from well known albums. I like to surprise the audience by "Twisting" the arrangements.

I am currently working with The Johnie B. Sanders Band.

Arnold L. Scott (Gypsy)

 I was born on the east side of the Bronx, New York City, were I lived for thirty-eight years. I started drumming at the early age of four, banging on tables, pots, drinking glasses, putting water in them, breaking a few with spoons, forks, knives, sticks, I still remember some of the hot tails I got for that!! I then moved onto garbage cans, light poles, etc. By the age of eight, I got my first pieces of a drum set, a snare and a high hat. I started out with songs of the forties, fifties and the sixties. At twelve, I started my first drumming lessons, learning the rudiments that helped me capitalize my talent.

I've played piano, bugle, guitar, bongos, congas, timbales, steel drums, but my love was always playing a drum set. I had my own band in the early 70's called "The Motorcycle Club Band". At that time I was a motorcycle club member, my club name was "Gypsy Man", (that was BEFORE the band War came out the the song of the same name). That lasted until 1976, I then put the sticks down. I moved to Minnesota in 1990. In 2000 I picked up the sticks again and started playing the blues, I didn't realize how much I missed it until I got back into it.

 It seemed to be easy playing at that time, what I didn't realize is how much work I needed to get back up to par. It took some work and patience to build it back up and I'm still working at it. Since I've started back, I've been playing the Blues, Country, African, Rapp as well as the R & B, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Disco that I used to play in the 70's. I've been asked to be part of "The Johnie B. Sanders Band', and loving it!!!