RAE GORDON BAND
Rae Gordon
LEAD VOCALS
Rae began her singing career in the piano bars and comedy clubs of Los Angeles, where she honed her ability to relate to any audience – from a small wine bar with a few people sipping libations, to a big festival attended by thousands. Rae’s approachability and onstage charisma are as well-known as her multi-octave range. She has won the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award for Best Female Vocalist five times, landing her in their Hall Of Fame. Her first recording, Blue Lemonade, hit #10 on the Billlboard Blues Chart; her second offering, Dirty Flowers, has enjoyed extensive airplay in the U.S. and beyond. In 2017 the Rae Gordon Band released its third recording, the award-winning Better Than I Was, produced by RGB guitarist Kivett Bednar and featuring songs co-written with RGB keyboardist and musical director Pat McDougall.
Kivett Bednar
GUITAR & VOCALS
Originally from Austin, Texas, Kivett has made a name for himself in Portland and beyond for his passionate solos and dynamic onstage presence. Kivett arrived in Portland about six years ago but has been playing blues guitar for decades. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Kivett has also turned heads in the Portland metro area with his projects The Kivett Bednar Band, The Pining Hearts and Land of the Living. This versatile guitarist is also an accomplished painter who has had his artwork displayed in various galleries and shows around Portland and Austin; he was named Best Visual Artist in Willamette Week’s 2017 Best of Portland reader poll.
Joseph Conrad
BASS
Originally from Ohio, Joseph loves to play in many styles – from blues to funk, from rock to jazz. He has played for years with Northwest blues icon DK Stewart, and in Stewart’s Etta James tribute project. Joseph brings a muscular but thoroughly musical touch to the band’s low end, and his joy of playing is evident at every gig.
Scott Franklin
SAXOPHONE
Scott studied music at Mt. Hood Community College, Marylhurst University, and ultimately Portland State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Music. Over the years he’s performed and/or recorded with Dub Debrie, Ants in the Kitchen, Midnight Blue, The Coasters, Papa Salty, The Fabulous Farelanes, Franco Paletta and The Stingers, The Arnold Brothers, Smokehouse, The Jazz Pinheads, Luminos, The JC Rico Band, Billy’s Brass Band, and of course the Rae Gordon Band. Scott was nominated for a Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award for Best Saxophone in 2017.
Allan Kalik
TRUMPET
Allan is one of the most active and in-demand commercial players in Portland, and also one of the busiest private teachers. He has been teaching for over 30 years and was on the faculty at the University of South Florida. He has been a clinician at dozens of schools throughout Oregon, Washington and Florida. Allan has performed with Ray Charles, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, B.J. Thomas, Lew Soloff, George Adams, Jon Faddis, and locally has performed with Uncle Phunk, Bob Miller's Almost All-Star Band, Caramel Chocolates, Deep Blue Soul Revue, Ants in the Kitchen, Dept. of R&B, Return Flight, The Swingline Cubs and Thunderfunk. Allan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at the University of South Florida.
Pat McDougall
KEYBOARDS, MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Pat has performed with a long list of bands and artists, including his own blues/R&B outfits Runaway Train and Tall Static. He was the musical director for the Portland-based band supporting Tony Coleman (B.B. King’s drummer for many years), and a member of the Muddy Award-winning lineup of Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings. These days, in addition to the Rae Gordon Band, Pat can be heard playing with Fenix Rising, the Dept. Of R&B, Lisa Mann and others. Pat has composed music for commercials, independent films, theatrical productions and corporate presentations; his compositions have won recognition from the Portland Music Association and Keyboard magazine.
Ed Pierce
DRUMS
When you hear Ed Pierce play the drums, you hear the results of a fierce dedication to his craft and a widely-recognized ability to kick any piece of music into high gear with his immaculate time and killer technique. Ed is one of those rare musicians who derives satisfaction from serving the song rather than drawing attention to himself. He grew up in Eureka, California, and started playing percussion at the age of 11. In high school and college he played drums in a variety of rock and jazz groups, as well as playing steel drums in the Humboldt State University Calypso Band. After college he moved to the Portland area, where he has played drums with countless jazz, blues and R&B groups over the last 20 years. In addition to the Rae Gordon Band, Ed’s been the go-to drummer for local legends like DK Stewart, Johnny Martin, Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, Terry Robb, Geno Michaels, Roger Woods and many others. Ed was nominated for a Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award for Best Drummer in 2017.
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