Billy Dunn: Singer, Songwriter, Arranger. Sings in Five Octaves, was born in Longview, Texas and raised in San Francisco – bandleader for 45 years and in the music industry for 50 years. The early years began in Junior High School as first chair sax and high school drums. At the age of 13 he played the piano and realized he didn’t like sitting down. From the age of 12-15 he began singing in different groups with voice ranges of bass, baritone, tenor and falsetto. He appeared on TV shows - Dick Stewart Dance Soul Boat, Dance Party, Ben Alexander Talent Show and many local shows.
At 15 ½ he began singing with Big Mama Thornton. He has opened for many great artists such as Nancy Wilson, Clarence Carter, Richard Pryor, Grady (Sanford & Son), Grover Washington, Bobbie Freeman, Larry Graham and many more. He has written over 100s of songs and has produced records for Big Mama, Jimmy McCracklin, Sugar Pie, Curtis Lawson and others including himself. He has backed-up for artists including Carla Thomas, Albert King, Chuck Berry, Little Milton, Rufus Thomas, JJ Malone, T-bone Walker, Dottie Ivory, Jackie Wilson, Solomon Burke, Johnny Rawls, Sakia Hooker, John Lee Hooker, etc…. Sit-ins with Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, Mongo Santamaria – these are just a few, there are too many to name.
He has played for Steven Spielberg, President Clinton, and Ray Taliaferro, several mayors and politicians, many festivals including the Monterey, Rustle City, SF, Marin, Chicago, Sacramento, and Thailand blues festival, etc.
Mr. Dunn hosts the Monday Jam Session at the Sausalito Cursing Club. His “recipe for the blues” evolved from 10 different schools – 16 different houses (by age 15) and over 60 fights (to date). Band Leader 18 times as of the latest count.
Steven Gannon: Born in London, England (or was it Liverpool?), guitarist Steve Gannon came to Oakland, California in 1982 and soon became active on the local blues scene, initially playing at after-hours clubs and jam-sessions and then working with the bands of J.J. Malone, Eddie Ray and Sonny Rhodes with whom he co-produced the critically-acclaimed 'Just Blues' album. For six years he was guitarist in Troyce Keys' houseband at Oakland's 'Eli Mile High Club' where he accompanied artists such as Lowell Fulson, Jimmy McCracklin, Buddy Ace, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Charlie Musselwhite. For almost fifteen years he hosted the popular jam-session at Larry Blake's in Berkeley. Artists who dropped by and sat in included Ike Turner, Irma Thomas, Joe Louis Walker, Harvey Mandel and many others. In recent years he has toured the U.S. with Sonny Rhodes and Lady Bianca and has played many festival and concert-hall dates with both Jimmy McCracklin and Sugar Pie DeSanto (including this years' San Francisco Blues Festival). For the last four years he has been a member of the Craig Horton Blues Band with whom he has recorded and toured extensively in the U.S.A. and Europe. Recording credits include albums by Jimmy McCracklin, Sonny Rhodes, Sugar Pie DeSanto, J.J.Malone, Craig Horton, Jimi Mamou and Freddie Hughes as well as two albums under his own name, 'Oaktown' and '52 Ford'.
Tom Bowers: Tom plays the bass guitar in the San Francisco Bay Area and anywhere else they'll have him. He also does some great singin'. In addition to being in the Blue Monday House Band, Tom plays in a bunch of bands - Tia Carroll & Hard Work, Craig Horton, Throwing Roses, Pat Wilder, Barrie Hart, Dual Core, Phil Berkowitz & The Dirty Cats, etc, etc. He's played with Johnny Nitro and the Doorlammers, Jackie Payne and Steve Edmonson, Roy Gaines, Lisa Kindred, Rusty Zinn and many others.
Michael Skinner: drums and vocals
Donny Kountz: drums
