Pete Galanis – Guitar
Rocco Calipari – Guitar
Howard McCullum – Bass, Vocals
Jim Christopulos - Drums

In their hometown of Chicago, a city steeped in blues history, Howard & the White Boys have established a reputation as one of the city’s favorite attractions. Regular appearances at Buddy Guy’s Legends has afforded them an opportunity to display their wares before locals and out-of-towners who come to Legends to hear the best the city has to offer in blues entertainment. Indeed, Buddy Guy has been their unofficial mentor. Guy’s support for the band has been instrumental in exposing them to a wider audience. In 1995, he took them on a tour of ten midwestern cities as his opening act, and he often jumps onstage to jam with them when they appear at Legends. He also gave them the ultimate endorsement by making a rare guest appearance on their 1999 release The Big $core. He plays some scorching guitar and sings a duet with Howard on a remake of the Sam & Dave classic “I ThankYou.”

The members of Howard & the White Boys first met at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb where they were all students pursuing different academic disciplines. They started jamming together in 1988 just for fun, but their fast-growing popularity soon convinced them they could make a career of it. After only a few months, they got their first big break by opening for B.B. King. After their opening set, King took the time to pass on some words of encouragement to the fledgling group – a gesture that made a lasting impression. The band soon made the move to Chicago and began performing with the biggest names in blues: Koko Taylor, Albert King, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry.

Between 1994 and 1997, the group made two highly acclaimed recordings, Strung Out On The Blues and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?, for Los Angeles based Mighty Tiger Records. During this period, the band won a “National Blues Talent Search” where they competed against hundreds of blues bands across the U.S. and Canada. The finals were held at the famed House of Blues in Los Angeles and the event was sponsored by Southern California radio station KLON. As a result, they returned to Los Angeles to perform at the 16th Annual KLON / Long Beach Blues Festival with such legends as Dr. John, Booker T. & the MGs, Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mavis Staples, and many others.

The band began traveling extensively across the United States and their growing popularity captured the attention of Philadelphia based Evidence Records. The Big $core was the first of two successful discs released by Evidence, and the band wasted no time in promoting it via the first of many trips to European countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, and England. Riding the ever-growing wave of popularity both at home and abroad, the group then released a well-received live CD for Evidence entitled Live At Chord On Blues in 2001.

Long time band members Howard McCullum, Rocco Calipari, and Jim Christopulos have recently been joined by 26 year old guitarist Pete Galanis. Galanis’ tight blues chops—coupled with his natural versatility at handling the funk, R & B, and rock styles that have become Howard & the White Boys trademarks—have magnificently slotted right in with the group’s signature sound and has also lent it an exciting, youthful exuberance. The band is now focusing on touring and working on material for their next CD.

Booking: Rocco Calipari @ (219) 916-5445 Evidence Records: (610) 832-0844
Publicity: Doug Deutsch @ (213) 924-4901 Mighty Tiger Records: (800) 724-2730

Add as favourites (9) | Quote this article on your site | Views: 2900

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

powered by AkoComment Tweaked