RJ HOWSON
Fire branded in the Chicago blues circuit, roots rocker and bluesman RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa's Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead and many other clubs in the Windy City and playing countless shows all over the midwest. RJ continues to be steeped in the southern stews since moving to Florida with openers for Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Molly Hatchet, Buddy Guy and a host of legendary musicians.
Having played music since being a child, RJ has played everything from Chicago Blues to Funk, Soul, Rock, Gospel, Country, Salsa and World Music. "My goal is to use music to show that the roots of all people are the same and to play it forward while paying tribute to the past and my mentors".
RJ has studied many styles of finger picking techniques from various genres of music, instruments and cultures. "I was finally convinced to play exclusively without a guitar pick and just with my fingers by watching and being encouraged by Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Water's guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Modern Chicago Blues Treasure Lurrie Bell. I had also been inspired by many of the early Country Blues players like Skip James, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, West African Kora (21 string Harp) player Toumani Diabate, Sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jazz Guitar Legend Wes Montgomery, Jazz and world music banjo great Bela Fleck, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and many other great finger pickers.
Some of my key stylistic heroes are Albert King, Otis Rush, BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Mack, Jimi Hendrix, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman and many others. Since moving to Florida, RJ has been blessed with encouragement from a new friendships with Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Damon Fowler, Berry Duane Oakley, and many other great Florida based musicians. "I love to speak with the strings and believe the tone is in the fingers."
He grew up as the son of a Vietnam Veteran/Musician and a farmer's daughter/poet and travelled the world as a child and teen giving him a wide view of the world. Having been blessed with the gift of music as the common thread throughout his life, RJ moved to Chicago and made friends with many Chicago Blues Legends and up and coming musicians. It was a challenging road to say the least, but also quite magical and has been a very rewarding journey leading RJ back to the heart of who he is as a Musician, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and band leader.
Since relocating to Florida, he has been busy playing a steady stream of shows at Festivals, Theaters, and Clubs all over Florida including performances at the Giving Hunger the Blues Festival 2015 & 2016 (main headliner with 20 bands), the Camping with the Blues Festival 2015 and 2016, Suncoast Blues Festival 2015, Bradenton Blues Festival 2015, Thunder By the Bay festival 2012 (20,00 people in attendance), Atlanta Rhythm Section opener at the Englewood Event Center 2016 the Allman Brother guitarist Dan Toler Benefit with Dickey Betts headlining, Jannus Landing, the Save the Gulf Festival, the Rock the Park festival, BLUESAPALOOZA, Cottee River Seafood and Blues Festival (see below for an list). Catch RJ Live at one of his many shows !!!
The "RJ Howson- RAW" CD was self-released on September 21, 2013 at Bluesapalooza
after a blistering live set and an epic jam with the Damon Fowler Group and Berry Duane Oakley's Skylab. "RJ Howson-RAW" captures an emotional performance at Realize Bradenton's Riverwalk Park Amphitheater played to an enthusiastic crowd and has received positive reviews from the Herald Tribune (Wade Tatangelo of the Sarasota Ticket - see link below) and the Suncoast Blues Society.
The Follow-Up is an epic all original studio album entitled "SET IT FREE" which received glowing reviews from Deepjams.net. Both albums continue to receive radio airplay on Tampa's WMNF 88.5FM "Mo Better Blues" Show hosted by KBA award winner Larry Lisk, Sarasota's WSLR 96.5FM "Blues with the Velvet Hammer", the Tom Darby show and several other stations including deepjams.net. Check the website for his current schedule and come join the party ! JOIN THE MAILING LIST to KEEP UP !
For Bookings:
email: newsoulfood@gmail.com
or call 773-915-3886
also check out the Facebook and Twitter pages.
FESTIVALS and other Special Events (partial list) :
Bradenton Riverwalk Park Groundbreaking 2011
Maze Festival 2011
Art Slam 2011 & 2012
BLUES REVUE Magazine Grand Opening Bradenton, FL Aug. 2011
Dan Toler Benefit Festival 2011
Bradenton Courthouse Concert Series 2011
Grace-FX Grand Opening 2011
Critterfest 2011
Thunder By the Bay 2012
Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival Blueswalk 2012, 2013, and 2014
Suncoast Blues Society Magic Slim spring concert 2012 (opening)
Sun King Festival 2012
Rock The Park Festival 2012
Sarasota Craft Beer Festival 2012
American Craft Beer Festival St. Petersburg, FL 2012
Cottee River Seafood and Blues Festival 2012
Sarasota Blues and Brews 2012
Chicago Blues All-Star night at Skipper's Smokehouse 2012
Bulls, Blues and BBQ USF 2012
Countdown to the Blues - Bradenton Blues Festival 2012
AMI Radio Program co-host with Damon Fowler 2012
Manatee Chamber of Commerce Retreat Bonita Springs 2012
Festival of the Skeletons 2012
Frostfest 2012
Slick's Garage 3rd Anniversary Festival 2012
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise 2013 and 2014 (including several jams with Tab Benoit, Big Head Todd, Southern Hospitality, Chris Cain, Sista Monica, Damon Fowler, JP Soars, Tommy Castro, Tony Coleman from the BB King Band, and many others)
Realize Bradenton Riverwalk Park Concert Series 2013
DeSoto Seafood Festival 2013
Berry Oakley's Skylab Blues Service special guest 2013
Florida Blueberry Festival 2013
Myakka Blues Festival 2013
Suncoast Blues Society Anniversary Party opening for John Nemeth 2013
Tropicana Field Rays Game Suncoast Blues Society's BLUES in CENTERFIELD 2013
Energy Music Festival 2013
https://www.facebook.com/RJHowsonMusic/
BLUESAPALOOZA 2013 (Sept. 21 release date of "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD)
RICHEY SUNCOAST Theater opening for BOBBY MURRAY 2013
WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, FL "Blues with the Velvet Hammer" radio appearance promoting "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD 2013
WMNF 88.5FM Tampa, FL "MO' BLUES MONDAY" radio appearance with KBA award winner Larry Lisk promoting "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD 2013
OPERATION CO-EXIST BLUES FESTIVAL 2013
Suncoast Blues Society's SOUL FOOD SUNDAYs at Ella's Folk Art Cafe Tampa, FL 2013-2016
B.B. King New Year's Eve pre and post party at the Capitol Beer House Dec. 2013
Aces Live Music Venue Bradenton, FL Blues Jam host Wednesdays 2011-2014
Ocean Blues Tuesdays Sarasota, FL Blues Night host with Mike Kach (Dickey Betts keyboardist) 2011-2012
Straggler's Bikes and Blues Nights Sarasota, FL (with Mike Kach, Dickey Betts keyboardist) 2012-2014
Blue Rooster Blue Mondays Sarasota, FL host (featuring a different special guest each week) 2014
Bonita Blues Festival 2014
Lived in Chicago and played guitar with several Chicago Blues acts at Buddy Guy's
Legends, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead, Rosa's Lounge, Bill's Blues, Wisconsin Dells, Linda's Lounge, The Blues Bar, House of Blues, For the Good Times Lounge, Checkerboard Lounge, and many others. 2005 - 2010
Goldcoast Eagle Brewing Concert 2014
Venice Blues Festival 2014
Bradenton Courthouse Concert Series 2014
Winner of the Southwest Florida Blues Challenge 2014
International Blues Challenge 2015
Sarasota Music Half Marathon 2015, 2016
Naples Grande Ballroom 2015 (multiple shows)
Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band opener at Aces in Bradenton 2015
Buddy Guy concert after party at the Capitol Beer House (with BG band members) in Clearwater, FL 2015
Camping with the Blues Festival 2015 and 2016
Giving Hunger the Blues Festival 2015-2019 (2016 Grand Finale headlining act with 20 bands, 3 stages)
Blues in the Schools, Blues in the Library 2013 until present with the Suncoast Blues Society
Tropicana Field (season ticket holder club multiple shows) 2014-2016
Pigs-n-Zhills Blues and BBQ Festival 2016-2019
Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival 2016, 2017
Sunset Kia Radio jingle still running in 3 cities on 4 stations 2016
Summertime Blues workshops (Suncoast Blues Society) 2016
1548365411
Fire branded in the Chicago blues circuit, roots rocker and bluesman RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa's Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead and many other clubs in the Windy City and playing countless shows all over the midwest. RJ continues to be steeped in the southern stews since moving to Florida with openers for Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Molly Hatchet, Buddy Guy and a host of legendary musicians.
Having played music since being a child, RJ has played everything from Chicago Blues to Funk, Soul, Rock, Gospel, Country, Salsa and World Music. "My goal is to use music to show that the roots of all people are the same and to play it forward while paying tribute to the past and my mentors".
RJ has studied many styles of finger picking techniques from various genres of music, instruments and cultures. "I was finally convinced to play exclusively without a guitar pick and just with my fingers by watching and being encouraged by Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Water's guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Modern Chicago Blues Treasure Lurrie Bell. I had also been inspired by many of the early Country Blues players like Skip James, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, West African Kora (21 string Harp) player Toumani Diabate, Sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jazz Guitar Legend Wes Montgomery, Jazz and world music banjo great Bela Fleck, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and many other great finger pickers.
Some of my key stylistic heroes are Albert King, Otis Rush, BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Mack, Jimi Hendrix, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman and many others. Since moving to Florida, RJ has been blessed with encouragement from a new friendships with Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Damon Fowler, Berry Duane Oakley, and many other great Florida based musicians. "I love to speak with the strings and believe the tone is in the fingers."
He grew up as the son of a Vietnam Veteran/Musician and a farmer's daughter/poet and travelled the world as a child and teen giving him a wide view of the world. Having been blessed with the gift of music as the common thread throughout his life, RJ moved to Chicago and made friends with many Chicago Blues Legends and up and coming musicians. It was a challenging road to say the least, but also quite magical and has been a very rewarding journey leading RJ back to the heart of who he is as a Musician, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and band leader.
Since relocating to Florida, he has been busy playing a steady stream of shows at Festivals, Theaters, and Clubs all over Florida including performances at the Giving Hunger the Blues Festival 2015 & 2016 (main headliner with 20 bands), the Camping with the Blues Festival 2015 and 2016, Suncoast Blues Festival 2015, Bradenton Blues Festival 2015, Thunder By the Bay festival 2012 (20,00 people in attendance), Atlanta Rhythm Section opener at the Englewood Event Center 2016 the Allman Brother guitarist Dan Toler Benefit with Dickey Betts headlining, Jannus Landing, the Save the Gulf Festival, the Rock the Park festival, BLUESAPALOOZA, Cottee River Seafood and Blues Festival (see below for an list). Catch RJ Live at one of his many shows !!!
The "RJ Howson- RAW" CD was self-released on September 21, 2013 at Bluesapalooza after a blistering live set and an epic jam with the Damon Fowler Group and Berry Duane Oakley's Skylab. "RJ Howson-RAW" captures an emotional performance at Realize Bradenton's Riverwalk Park Amphitheater played to an enthusiastic crowd and has received positive reviews from the Herald Tribune (Wade Tatangelo of the Sarasota Ticket - see link below) and the Suncoast Blues Society.
The Follow-Up is an epic all original studio album entitled "SET IT FREE" which received glowing reviews from Deepjams.net. Both albums continue to receive radio airplay on Tampa's WMNF 88.5FM "Mo Better Blues" Show hosted by KBA award winner Larry Lisk, Sarasota's WSLR 96.5FM "Blues with the Velvet Hammer", the Tom Darby show and several other stations including deepjams.net. Check the website for his current schedule and come join the party ! JOIN THE MAILING LIST to KEEP UP !
For Bookings:
email: newsoulfood@gmail.com
or call 773-915-3886
also check out the Facebook and Twitter pages.
FESTIVALS and other Special Events (partial list) :
Bradenton Riverwalk Park Groundbreaking 2011
Maze Festival 2011
Art Slam 2011 & 2012
BLUES REVUE Magazine Grand Opening Bradenton, FL Aug. 2011
Dan Toler Benefit Festival 2011
Bradenton Courthouse Concert Series 2011
Grace-FX Grand Opening 2011
Critterfest 2011
Thunder By the Bay 2012
Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival Blueswalk 2012, 2013, and 2014
Suncoast Blues Society Magic Slim spring concert 2012 (opening)
Sun King Festival 2012
Rock The Park Festival 2012
Sarasota Craft Beer Festival 2012
American Craft Beer Festival St. Petersburg, FL 2012
Cottee River Seafood and Blues Festival 2012
Sarasota Blues and Brews 2012
Chicago Blues All-Star night at Skipper's Smokehouse 2012
Bulls, Blues and BBQ USF 2012
Countdown to the Blues - Bradenton Blues Festival 2012
AMI Radio Program co-host with Damon Fowler 2012
Manatee Chamber of Commerce Retreat Bonita Springs 2012
Festival of the Skeletons 2012
Frostfest 2012
Slick's Garage 3rd Anniversary Festival 2012
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise 2013 and 2014 (including several jams with Tab Benoit, Big Head Todd, Southern Hospitality, Chris Cain, Sista Monica, Damon Fowler, JP Soars, Tommy Castro, Tony Coleman from the BB King Band, and many others)
Realize Bradenton Riverwalk Park Concert Series 2013
DeSoto Seafood Festival 2013
Berry Oakley's Skylab Blues Service special guest 2013
Florida Blueberry Festival 2013
Myakka Blues Festival 2013
Suncoast Blues Society Anniversary Party opening for John Nemeth 2013
Tropicana Field Rays Game Suncoast Blues Society's BLUES in CENTERFIELD 2013
Energy Music Festival 2013
BLUESAPALOOZA 2013 (Sept. 21 release date of "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD)
RICHEY SUNCOAST Theater opening for BOBBY MURRAY 2013
WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, FL "Blues with the Velvet Hammer" radio appearance promoting "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD 2013
WMNF 88.5FM Tampa, FL "MO' BLUES MONDAY" radio appearance with KBA award winner Larry Lisk promoting "RJ HOWSON - RAW" CD 2013
OPERATION CO-EXIST BLUES FESTIVAL 2013
Suncoast Blues Society's SOUL FOOD SUNDAYs at Ella's Folk Art Cafe Tampa, FL 2013-2016
B.B. King New Year's Eve pre and post party at the Capitol Beer House Dec. 2013
Aces Live Music Venue Bradenton, FL Blues Jam host Wednesdays 2011-2014
Ocean Blues Tuesdays Sarasota, FL Blues Night host with Mike Kach (Dickey Betts keyboardist) 2011-2012
Straggler's Bikes and Blues Nights Sarasota, FL (with Mike Kach, Dickey Betts keyboardist) 2012-2014
Blue Rooster Blue Mondays Sarasota, FL host (featuring a different special guest each week) 2014
Bonita Blues Festival 2014
Lived in Chicago and played guitar with several Chicago Blues acts at Buddy Guy's Legends, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead, Rosa's Lounge, Bill's Blues, Wisconsin Dells, Linda's Lounge, The Blues Bar, House of Blues, For the Good Times Lounge, Checkerboard Lounge, and many others. 2005 - 2010
Goldcoast Eagle Brewing Concert 2014
Venice Blues Festival 2014
Bradenton Courthouse Concert Series 2014
Winner of the Southwest Florida Blues Challenge 2014
International Blues Challenge 2015
Sarasota Music Half Marathon 2015, 2016
Naples Grande Ballroom 2015 (multiple shows)
Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band opener at Aces in Bradenton 2015
Buddy Guy concert after party at the Capitol Beer House (with BG band members) in Clearwater, FL 2015
Camping with the Blues Festival 2015 and 2016
Giving Hunger the Blues Festival 2015-2019 (2016 Grand Finale headlining act with 20 bands, 3 stages)
Blues in the Schools, Blues in the Library 2013 until present with the Suncoast Blues Society
Tropicana Field (season ticket holder club multiple shows) 2014-2016
Pigs-n-Zhills Blues and BBQ Festival 2016-2019
Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival 2016, 2017
Sunset Kia Radio jingle still running in 3 cities on 4 stations 2016
Summertime Blues workshops (Suncoast Blues Society) 2016
Performing with Keyboard legend Neil Larsen in Sarasota 2016
Atlanta Rhythm Section opener at the Englewood Event Center 2016
Rock the Block Party Festival in Clearwater (multiple bands) 2016
Michael Allman opener at the Englewood Event Center 2016
ABC7 Sarasota TV solo performance on the “Suncoast View” for Giving Hunger the Blues 2016
Release of a brand new, all original studio album “RJ HOWSON - SET IT FREE” Oct. 2016 (getting great reviews and radio play)
Radio appearances on WMNF Tampa Live Music Showcase, WMNF Mo Blues Show, WSLR Happy Hour show 2016 - present
Molly Hatchet opener 2017 (with 3 encores)
Summer Jam Watkins Geln Revival with Berry Duane Oakley 2017
Bradenton Blues Festival Brunch 2017
Ft. Meyers Freedom Fest 2017, 2018, 2019
Seven Seas Blues, Boats & Beer Bash 2017, 2018, 2019
Special performances with Duane Betts 2017, 2018, 2019
Very Berry Christmas with Berry Oakley, Micahel Allman, Grant Tyler, memebers of the Dickey Betts Band Dec 2018
Music Ranch special performance Duane Betts, Berry Oakley Jr, RJ Howson and Friends including Michael Allman, Johnny Stachela (Allman Betts Band), Shaun Oakley and memebers of the Dickey Betts Band Jan 2019
3rd Annual Phoenix Radio Blues Bash with member of the Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman Bands Feb 2019 also on the bill Poppa Chubby, Frank Bang, Sean Chambers
Clearwater Sea Blues Festival Feb 2019 - Festival Main stage and mutiple other related events including the Blues Brunch and After Parties
Mutiple Private Events 2010 - Present
RELIX MAGAZINE selected the RJ Howson song "Make A Joyful Sound" to be on their Sampler alonf with the Tedeschi Trucks Band in print/CD and in digital format Jan/Feb2019
RJ Howson
Data de publicació: 5 de febr. 2019
Live from the International Whiskey Obsession April 2018
RJ Howson - Vocals, Guitar, &
Songwriter of “Set It Free”
Mike Kach - Keys (Dickey Betts Band)
Pedro Arevalo - Bass (Dickey Betts Band)
Berry Duane Oakley - Slide Guitar (son of founding Allman Brothers bassist)
Frankie Lombardi - Drums (Dickey Betts Band)
Pat McDonald - Drums (Charlie Daniels Band)
our friends Thomas Wynn & the Believers we’re also on the bill that evening : )
Good times !
RJ Howson
Data de publicació: 5 de febr. 2019
Live from the International Whiskey Obsession April 2018
RJ Howson - Vocals, Guitar, &
Songwriter of “Set It Free”
Mike Kach - Keys (Dickey Betts Band)
Pedro Arevalo - Bass (Dickey Betts Band)
Berry Duane Oakley - Slide Guitar (son of founding Allman Brothers bassist)
Frankie Lombardi - Drums (Dickey Betts Band)
Pat McDonald - Drums (Charlie Daniels Band)
our friends Thomas Wynn & the Believers we’re also on the bill that evening : )
Good times !
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