Blues Society of Western PA - Newsletter

I saw the line-up for the Tommy Castro show at the Rex Theater and wondered what to expect from the Castro Band, Magic Dick, Deanna Bogart and Ronnie Baker Brooks. As Tommy Castro took the stage to start the show, I was puzzled…Tommy was opening? I noticed Deanna Bogart sitting at the keyboards. After a couple of Castro tunes, he filled us in on what was to come. He introduced Deanna. He said that after a few tunes Magic Dick would join them. After a few more tunes Ronnie Baker Brooks would then follow. It was not what I was expecting! It sounded like (and was) a full night of Tommy Castro, which I sure did not mind. They started at 8:00 and played until after midnight with only a thirty-minute intermission. During the intermission, all of the performers came out, signed autographs and talked with everyone. We even got a few pics with them. I was always a big Magic Dick fan, going back to the J. Giels Band days. I spoke with him for quite a bit and asked whether they were having as much fun as it appeared. He assured us that they were. Ronnie Baker Brooks blew me away. I was not familiar with him as I was with the others. He made a fan here, starting with great guitar riffs on “Born in Chicago.” There was almost four hours of music that night and everyone in the place had a smile. It was also a nice night for the Blues Society of Western PA. The band all migrated to our table and some people met us for the first time. A lot of old friends visited also. It was a great night and I hope to get to attend more like it.

- Don Vecchio