The Rockin’ Johnny Band has been one of Chicago’s most loved blues bands since 1995. Their music has been played on WXRT’s “Local Anaesthetic” and “Blues Breakers” radio shows, the band has often been featured at The Chicago Blues Festival, and they regularly work in Chicagoland’s best blues clubs such as Buddy Guy’s Legends. Their CDs and live performances have drawn great reviews in Living Blues, The Chicago Sun Times, Pioneer Press, and National Public Radio’s “848”.

Guitarist Johnny Burgin came to Chicago from South Carolina to attend the University of Chicago, and earned the name “Rockin’ Johnny” as a DJ at the college radio station WHPK. Rockin’ Johnny began playing in the ghetto clubs of Chicago’s West Side with blues singer Taildragger, and then began touring nationally as a sideman with former Howlin’ Wolf drummer Sam Lay and blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins.

After learning from the masters, he put his own band together. Things started happening for the Rockin’ Johnny Band after they took a Monday night residency at The Smoke Daddy in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Their original, energetic approach soon made them a strong local draw week after week and year after year, bringing in blues aficionados, every musician in town, and a younger crowd that normally didn’t go to hear blues bands. The atmosphere the band generated was so electric, that Delmark Records offered them a contract after hearing just one set. This was especially exciting because the prestigious Chicago label is revered by blues aficionados as the home of Junior Wells and Johnny’s idol, Magic Sam!

Since those days, they’ve regularly toured Europe, played festivals and headlined clubs all over the Midwest. The Rockin’ Johnny Band has recorded five CDs including “Grim Reaper”, released in April of 2012. A true “musician’s musician”,Rockin’ Johnny has been one of Chicago’s most in-demand blues session men since the 90s, contributing his incisive playing to over a dozen CDs by artists such as Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Burns, Tail Dragger, Little Arthur Duncan, Paul DeLay and many more.

The Rockin’ Johnny Band plays vintage Chicago blues, but also is known for a wide repertoire which ventures into Stax style soul, swing, and lots of originals that are harder to classify. On stage, the band performs with spontaneity and fun, always showcasing fantastic guitar playing. Living Blues states: “top notch ensemble work, with power, drive, and a keen sense of dynamics”. The band consists of true veterans: Rick Kreher (rhythm guitar) played rhythm guitar with Muddy Waters for four years; John Sefner (bass) was formerly with Studebaker John and Eddie Kirkland; and Steve Bass (drums) also plays with Chicago blues legend Eddy Clearwater.

Lee Gates was born in Mississippi and moved to Milwaukee as a teenager where he has been playing his brand of down home blues for the past 50 years. Blues legend Albert Collins is his first cousin and you can hear the family influence in Lee’s fluid guitar style and tone. In 1959 Lee migrated to Milwaukee where he found work performing with the house band at Wilson’s Club at 10th and Center Streets for 15 years straight. It is not until 1974 that he met his legendary cousin Albert Collins. “My daddy’s brother had a lot of kids out there in Texas. I never met them a s a child, but we all knew of each other. When Albert came to Milwaukee I showed him around and we did some gigs together. Every time he came to town we would go out and eat supper together, he was a good friend to me.” In October of 2003 Lee called me up and announced that he was coming to Hillsborough. I asked him what for and Lee replied, “To make a CD.” I asked Lee if he wouldn’t mind going down to Alabama to record. Two days later Lee caught a Greyhound to Huntsville, he missed a layover in Nashville and got in early the next morning and went straight to the studio with Ardie Dean. Lee proclaimed the record done in three hours and was soon on a bus heading back home. One must rejoice in the “happening” of this CD, especially the glorious tone of Lee’s guitar. After performing for 52 years, I have a feeling that Lee is just beginning his recording career.

Charles Hayes learned blues while his dad played guitar with neighbor Washboard Sam. From his first pro gig backing up Sonny Boy Williamson, Charles has been hitting the jukes laying out hard edged guitar blues from Mississippi to California to Illinois. This is blasting 50s styled blues that’s smokin’ hot and juicy!

Peewee Hayes is an experienced professional entertainer, musician, performer, and businessperson. He has reached legendary status as a Blues musician and entertainer. Born in Alamo Tennessee, shortly after the great depression in America, and raised in the dust bowl cotton fields of Tennessee he has, by all rights, paid his dues to become one of the best and most true Blues musicians around today. Peewee Hayes originates from a strong Blues environment and lineage. In the early days of his life he grew up around some of Americas greatest Blues musicians such as Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell, Washboard Sam, Montel Cox, B.B. King, Little Milton, the original Sonny Boy Williamson, and his father, the late Roland ‘Blue Dad’ Hayes. Many of the Blues greats mentioned above used to have musical get-togethers right in the Hayes family back yard in Alamo, Tennessee. His entire family lineage, going back to the 1800s contains many musicians. Today, Peewee and his brothers Charles and Jojo Hayes are continuing the family tradition of being Blues and Jazz musicians. Peewee has participated in many Blues events and performed with many of Chicago’s popular musicians, including Junior Wells, Lefty Diz, Buddy Scott and the Scott Brothers, among many.