|
For the last several years, the Blues Bullies have been Southern Colorado’s blues band of choice for many discriminating Colorado blues fans. The band has delivered a distinct and powerful stage presence with good energy, influenced by a wide variety of blues and rock styles, producing heavyweight tunes such as “Blue Man”, “Runnin’ Scared”, and “Tonight” on their CD “Beatin’ up on the Blues”, released in 2003. The band also plays good traditional blues on the CD, and serves up tasty versions of better known blues cover songs, from old to new. The group focuses on playing concerts and festivals, plays private events in the area, and is also a hot nightclub act.
Founder Mark Litton (vocals,bass), Dano (Danny Weston,vocals,drums,harp), Pete Leri (vocals,keyboards), Sonny Theis(guitars.vocals,), veterans of the Colorado music scene, drive the group as the new sound takes shape and develops for the new CD project that’s in the pipe. The Bullies sometimes feature Carlos Crull, top sax player, and ace harp man, Dan Treanor.
“We bully the blues to push the edge and keep current, but it all comes out of blues stylings. We want to keep classic American Blues alive, and be relevant in today’s music scene also. I think we do that as well as anyone around.” says Mark Litton.
The Blues Bullies actually has it’s roots in a previous group, the “Blues Tones”, who played the Pueblo music scene and got goods reviews from the Colorado Blues Society. The Bullies will focus on more guitar work in the concert environment.
|
Mark Litton
|
Mark is a singer-songwriter and plays bass. His forty years in music includes venues of Classic Rock, Christian and Blues. He has opened shows for Starship, Nazareth, Johnny Paycheck and Christian heavy East-West. Also working as a sound tech, he has worked with Wayne Newton, Bobby Vinton, Frankie Avalon, The Four Seasons, Doug Stone, Bobby Rydell, Mark Lindsey, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Asleep At The Wheel, Mitch Ryder and many more. To date, he has released 2 CD’s.
|
At the age of 13, Dano knew he wanted to play
drums and be in a band. With parents who were
ranchers, his musical influences range from Bob Wills
and Hank Williams, Sr. to the great R&B artists, like
Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, and James Brown; and of
course, Blues Heavyweights such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy
Waters, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Sonny
Boy Williamson.
Dano played in Top Forty Pop and Country cover
bands from 1975 to 1994, and it was during this time
that he realized all his favorite songs had a "Blues"
feel to them, irregardless of style.
Strictly an acoustic player, Dano says " I just
like the feel of real wood drums, especially maple".
Dano is very excited about having a new Blues
C.D. - "Beatin' Up On The Blues". "It's great to
finally record our own music".
|
Dano Weston
|
Pete Leri
|
Pete grew up listening to his father playing accordion and his mother playing blues piano. Music was part of growing up so he took classical piano lessons, mastered some Beatles songs, and finally learned to play by ear. He was influenced by the blues chords his mom played, and started developing a style around old blues and boogie. Other influences include Dorsey, Errol Garner, G. Gershwin, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and anyone else he could get exposed to. He's played with a variety of cover bands since the mid- 70's and is now performing original material with the Blues Bullies. Pete is most comfortable with older style blues and enjoys working with this group developing a wide range of blues material. |
Sonny Theis was raised by a family of musicians and was singing Rock & Roll at the age of four. He's been a two time co-winner of the CCMA's Country Rock Duo of the year. Sonny has opened for Mickey Thomas and Starship, Vixen, Holy Soldier, East West, and The Coasters. He has Jammed with Members of Chicago, Def Leopard and Dio. Sonny also won somg Co-writer of the year for the North American Country Music Association. He's appeared in a weekly Monster Movie series "Attack of the Killer B's" on Rocky Mountain PBS. He also wrote and performed the Rock Soundtrack to the feature length movie "Curse of the Blue Lights." released world wide by Magnum Entertainment. Sonny has a BA degree from CSU in music, but he is more at home playing Rock rather than Classical music. |
Sonny Theis
|
Carlos Crull plays tenor sax and sings. His background includes contracts with Disney World, Universal Studios and several luxury Cruise Lines. In his 30 years of playing professionally he has opened for Smokey Robinson, Johnny Winter, Asleep At The Wheel and Sheila E. |
Carlos Crull
|
|
