ABOUT THE ARTISTS

JOHNNY A., lead guitar

Often referred to as a “musicians’ musician” Johnny A. is an internationally recognized Grammy Nominated guitarist/songrwriter/producer.  As well as having a very successful 20+ year career as a solo artist, he anchored J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf and his Houseparty 5 Band for eight years acting as musical director, lead guitarist and co-producer (Peter Wolf – “Long Line” Warner/Reprise four stars Rolling Stone Magazine), and was the touring lead guitarist for iconic British band The Yardbirds (2015-18), musical director/lead guitarist for Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominos, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie).

As a solo artist, Johnny has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia. Major festival performances include: Fuji Rock (Japan), Leverkusen Jazzstage (Germany), Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, SF Jazz and others. He has shared stages with such artists as: BB King, Aerosmith, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, JJ Cale, John Hiatt, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Etta James, Dr. John, Leon Russell, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and many, many more.  He wrote and had a #1 hit on AAA radio for the song “Oh Yeah” from “Sometime Tuesday Morning”, has four solo releases, has been Grammy nominated, voted 2010 “Blues Artist of the Year” (Boston Music Awards) was inducted into the Boston Music Hall of Fame 2014, he has appeared as a featured guitarist on recordings by Peter Wolf, Jimmy Webb, Jim Peterik, Stuart Kimball (Bob Dylan) and others. Johnny A. has been honored by Fender Custom, Gibson Custom and Epiphone Guitars with no less than 5 “Signature” models designed to his specifications.

DEAN CASSELL, bass

Highly regarded amongst his peers and in addition to being the current bassist for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, some of the artists Dean has played/recorded with include, in no particular order, Susan Tedeschi, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Four Piece Suit, Bo Diddley, Johnny A., Robin Lane, The Radio Kings, Nicole Nelson, Tony Lynn Washington, Andy Pratt, Super Genius, Laurie Mckenna, Michael Tarbox, amongst others. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, every province in Canada, and 23 other countries. Major festival performances include Lucerne Jazz Fest (Switzerland), Glastonbury (UK), Roskilde (Denmark), Montreal Jazz Fest, Winnipeg Folk Festival (Canada), Chicago Blues Fest, Bumbershoot in Seattle. In addition, Dean has also written and recorded music for television and film. Shows featuring his music include Sex In The City, Nurse Jackie, America’s Got Talent, America’s Next Top Model, Run’s House, Along came Polly, Our Lips Are Sealed, The Real Housewives. Dean Cassell is a Grammy Nominated Artist, has four Boston Music Awards and has been inducted into Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame.

MARTY RICHARDS, drums

Drummer Marty Richards is nationally known as a “go-to” player for any setting. His innate sense of swing and unerring sense of time have graced hundreds of stages and one hundred fifty recordings, behind a list of artists that reads like a “who’s who” of American popular music. After Berklee College of Music, his professional career launched with a ten year stint in the Gary Burton Quintet, He has performed and recorded since with many jazz, rock and blues acts including Duke Robillard, Joe Perry Project, J. Geils Band, Pete Francis, James Montgomery Band, Airborne, Peter Wolf, James Cotton, Jay McShann, Jimmy Witherspoon, The Blues Brothers, The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones, John Hammond, Johnny A., Kim Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Makoto Ozone, and Tommy Flanagan. In 2015 Marty Richards was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, and was recently recognized by Zildjian for his thirty year association with the brand.