MUSICIANS' CORNER
...The first and second place winners of the 6th Annual 2010 BSWPA Blues Challenge
The 1st place Band Winner
The members of this Erie based band are: Ron Yarosz on keyboards, organ, harp and vocals; Ron Sutton on drums; Jason Lewis on bass and Eric Brewer on guitar. Ron splits his time between the Hammond B3 and fronting the stage playing High Energy electric harmonica. Ron and his band specializes in doing modern versions of blues standards...always putting their own spin on the song. Ron has independently released two albums: "The Vehicle" in 2003 and "What It Is." Ron Yarosz and the Vehicle won the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania's Blues Challenge in 2006 and again in 2010 in Pittsburgh. They will be representing the BSWPA at the 2011 International Blues Challenge that will be held February 1-5, 2011 on historic Beale St. in Memphis, Tennessee. Ron's thoughts on being a musician, "although we are broke we are among the richest people in the world."
The 2nd place Band Winner
Jill West and Blues Attack were third place winners at the 2006 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. This Pittsburgh based blues band plays their own style of hard edged blues with a guitar blast, in the tradition of the Vaughn brothers, B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Lead by the dynamic vocals of Jill West, Blues Attack has been igniting audiences all over the tri-state area for over ten years. They have gotten their blues education from playing the steel city's smoky bars, road travels and sharing the stage with greats like Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley and B.B. King. The members that back Jill West are: Gregg Kruppa on lead guitar, Hank "the Hammer" Raffetto on bass, Nicky "No Shoes" Crano and keyboard master, Steve Binsberger. Theirs discography include: Faceful of Blues, Code Blue and Headline Blues.
The 1st place Band Winner
When asked about his music, Gary stated, "I am a self-taught musician from Pittsburgh, PA. I have been playing the music scene here for over 25 years. While primarily playing solo acoustic gigs, I also enjoy singing and playing electric lead/slide guitar with my band, KPG. I love writing and performing as well as recording my own music. My most recent compositions are blue-influenced pieces. The live audiences seem to connect with them the most. I hope to have an acoustic Blues CD out in the next year entitled, "Bare Bones." Gary draws his music from the likes of: Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Cory Stevens and Santana.
2nd Place Solo/Duo Winner
This solo performer specializes in the finger picking Delta and Piedmont styles of the pre-war blues musicians. He first became interested in this music many years ago when he stumbled upon Fruteland Jackson playing an afternoon set at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Since this introduction, Chris has been inspired by the music of Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Bill Broonzy, and many others. As a guitarist, harmonica player, and vocalist, he can be heard covering many seminal acoustic blues tunes as well as writing his own material.
