MEET THE BLUE NOTES

BLUES WITH AN ATTITUDE

KEEPING WITH TRADITION

MEET THE BLUE NOTES

Robert Riggs, Harp/Vocals He was also the drum major for the OU marching band. 2 years later he dropped out to go on the road playing drums for a 15 piece jazz troupe named 'The Rythmaires.' I took a group harmonica lesson in Santa Monica at a studio/stage called McCabes. Later, i took a few private lessons in La Habra from a former bass player from a defunct group called ""The New Christy Minstrals". Both basically taught straight harp songs & rock & pop. My interest was in blues, boogie & rocked up blues. But, my ability and the secrets of cross harp playing remained out of my grasp. Someplace along the line I moved to Oklahoma (probably my love for cowboy hats) and I went OU as a motion picture/history/photo journalism major where I got the degree! While there I played in a goth-metal-blues band where I perfected harp, rhythm guitar and congas. The band, with between 5-8 members I started looking for blues music and musicians and soon discovered Otis Watkins and after several attempts played (weakly) but discovered how to develop chops. Also occasionally with Billy Paul's band (Right Field?) on Stormy Monday. Also discovered the Blues Society Jam sessions and Danny's Blues Saloon jam nights and Doc Blue's bar in the French Market Mall. I also lived in San Diego for 6 months where I would go to "Croce's" (Jim Croce's ex-wife or sister's club) and go play with amazing players. I later moved to Las Vegas where I would play at the "Las Vegas Blues Society" jams at the Jockey Club and even a blues/reggae club at the Freemont Street Experience with scary good players. Real eye opening jams! But ya learn stuff from other players. Later, after many embarrassing nights of wanting to throw my harps in a river after playing, I met Chris Henson and we started "The Snakeshakers" starting out in small clubs holding 50 or less to large venues and festivals and opening for major acts like Leon Russell, Dickie Betts, Canned Heat, etc. We played in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas., Tennessee & Arkansas. I stayed for 4 years, later joining "Sweet Brenda and Sour Mash" for a year or so until the band went on a sort of hiatus. I still play jams and with various bands such as Otis Watkins, Dr. Greg Parker and his Shadowman Project and hopefully learned better chops and someday, someday .................blues triangle and blues Tuba! Contact Robert

Benny Richardson- Bass Guitar

As a teenager, Benny cut his musical teeth on the Tulsa music scene, having "Played every dive, bar and honky-tonk in town at least once," beginning at age fifteen. Benny performed with two all-original-music Tulsa bands - Bliss, and the Benders - with whom he opened shows for such bands as the Police, Black Oak Arkansas, Blue Oyster Cult, Badfinger, REO Speedwagon, and others at various concert venues, including the legendary Cain’s Ballroom and the short-lived Appollo Delman. As a member of the Benders, Benny often jammed with Tulsa favorite-son, bluesman Bill Davis, at his south Tulsa nightclub, Sweet William’s. Benny admits to having an affinity for the early British blues bands like the Animals, Cream, and the Yardbirds from an early age. The music of those bands profoundly affected his playing style, as did that of past rock groups Jimi Hendrix Experience, Grand Funk Railroad, James Gang, et al.

Benny owns a home in Edmond, Oklahoma and has resided there with his lovely wife, Carol, for the past twenty years.

Ron"Lightin' Fingers" Harmon, better known for his country roots, has been performing with Miss Blues for the past 5 years. He moved here from California with a minor in Jazz Theory from the University of Arizona. Ron played in several acts in California including the Zobo Blues Band and Ronnie Lane and the Texas Twisters. In 1999 Ron left California to follow his dream to Branson, Missouri to pursue a career in music. There he played bluegrass piano six nights a week with the fabulous Rickey Wood and the Wood Brothers. He also was fortunate to play for Jeanie Kendall of the Kendall’s, famous for her hit “Heavens Just a Sin Away”. When Ron arrived in Oklahoma he immediately took to following the Blues. He played regularly for Sweet Brenda and Sour Mash in Bricktown. He has played the Oklahoma Dusk til Dawn, Arcadia Blues Festivals with Miss Blues and has also hosted Oklahoma Blues Society Jams. “ I wanted to create a niche for myself and Blues was what I felt in my heart and soul at the time. It really felt natural for me to play the Blues."
-“I feel blessed to have found Miss Blues. It is a true joy to play for a living legend whose soul and spirit defines the blues with her voice and her washboard. As I listen I can really hear her heart when she sings.” Contact Ron

Robb"Senor Fret" Hibbard started playing guitar at 15, and got into the blues after hearing a K-Tel blues audio cassette that included tunes by B.B. King, Slim Harpo, Percy Mayfield, Ray Charles, Guitar Slim and others. Hibbard continues to learn what he can from the recordings of Mike Bloomfield, Jesse Ed Davis, Tom Ware, and Otis Rush. Hibbard has played various venues in the Oklahoma City area since mid-2006, and has played guitar for Miss Blues since August 2007. "All I've ever cared to play is blues," Hibbard says, "and I feel tremendously blessed to be playing for Miss Blues. Contact Robb

THE ORIGINAL BLUE NOTES