Award winning Original Traditional Blues Soul band with versitle, ruby throated female vocalist, style laden guitarist, in the pocket drummer and thumpin' Bass a-holic. Cohesive sets with a rich repertoire and grooves a-plenty. Has opened for Taj Mahal, Bernard Allison, Denise LaSalle, & Mac Arnold. Each member of the group contributes and commits fully to the sound. Voted best Blues Band in Western North Carolina 2007-08. Our calendar is a mixed bag of concerts, festivals, clubs, private events and benefits. Our philosophy is to play it and pay it forward. The groove is where it's at in this band, and the duty of layin' in down is in very capable hands. Blues-infused Originals, Rockin Blues, Funky Blues, Soulfilled Blues, Country Blues, Traditional Blues...we love and we play it all.
Peggy Ratusz
Way under the radar is where I’ve been for many years. It’s made me street smart and broke, but still doing what I love to do. Perform with my voice.
“Everything” has been the answer to the question when people ask me, “What kind of music have you performed?” To that end, you’ll find this CD to be a crazy-wonderful hodge-podge of “adult contemporary” blues, jive, jazz, pop and soul.
It all started out in Columbus Ohio where I came up listening to everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Rock Operas, from Jackson Browne to the Jackson Five, from Jefferson Airplane to Mel Torme, from Ray Charles to Linda Ronstadt. In the late 70’s I moved to Tucson Arizona where I found and then later lost myself in the wonderful harmonies and strums of folk music.
Austin Texas beckoned me in 1985 where for the first time, I performed with an electric guitarist and a rhythm section! I fell in love with the blues, baby. And now, it’s Asheville North Carolina where I shake rattle and roll my way around hot buttered blues, cheezey popcorn songs, sultry sonnets and juicy jazz tunes.
Western North Carolina gives me; the one they call “blues mama” and "ruby throated" a platform to dip into all the musical styles from my inspired past while incorporating my own material influenced by it, as I come around full circle with a full-bodied repertoire.
I hope you’ll welcome me into your library of music. I’d be honored if you did.