Biography Of
Stella Blue & Friends
WWW.STELLABLUEANDFRIENDS.COM
With a voice and story resonating a thunderous soul & drive to change the world, Stella Blue carries with her a talent not to be ignored.
Having come from a humble countryside farm in the hills of Missouri, Stella Blue set out to see the world & took to traveling at as a teenager to find her place and purpose in this life. Stella first became enamoured with guitar while observing the street musicians on Ocean Beach in San Dieago, California. Stella, at the age of 18 finally got her first guitar and taught herself to play. Songwriting came naturally to her as she belted out hundreds of songs over the next few years. In 2004 stella was recruited into the group "Wooden Ships" and found the stage for the first time. Rapidly becoming polular in the midwest, Stella started her first band, "The Stella Blue BAnd" and began touring in 2005. Over the next two years Stella Blue toured and played with such acts as "Jim Dandy's Black Oak Arkansas", "Andy Tanas of Krokus", and The Zak Perry Band.
In 2007 Stella Blue fled her home base of Cape Girardeau, Mo due to a violent, attack after coming home from playing "TheTommy Bolin Fest" in Sioux City, IOwa. Little did she know that this was to be the blessing that would bring her to new heights.
In 2007 after relocating to Southwest Missouri, Stella met Steve "Maddog" Call and hope was a little closer. Steve hails from the 60's and 70's era of Tulsa, Oklahoma's music scene. This is where he cut his teeth playing for such greats as : Leon Russell, Pure Prarie League, Quicksilver, Gap Band, Taj Mahal, David Allen Coe, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker's Maddogs and Englishmen. The list goes on with, Dave Riley, Delany & Bonnie, and J.J. Cale. Maddog spent the entire decade of the 70's infiltrating rock history in the shadows of Shelter Records and A&M Records as a studio musician and performer.Steve also known for his ax work in the Branson, Mo concert halls; playing with such acts as Chisai Childs, Box Car Willie, and many others. Steve “Maddog” Call is a vital versatile part of the bang, that is, Stella Blue. Steve and Stella began to play as a duo in 2008 while they searched for their perfect band.
There was only one drummer that Steve and Stella knew would fit the broken mold from which this band was to rise from. After some persistance and patience, percussionist B.J. Rossi joined the folds in the late months of 2010.
B.J. Rossi Turned professional at age 9, He later became a performance major at Metropolitan State College, Denver, CO , and also The University of Colorado, Denver, CO.
B.J. brings to the table over forty years of performing professionally. B.J. has performed with acts such as: Sons of the Pioneers, The Denver Symphony Orchestra, Tanya Tucker, Michael Grear, David Frizzell, Dave Dudley, Dean T. Hall, Nelson Riddle, Pat Williams, Bo Diddley, Sarah Baker, & The Coasters. B.J. Rossi's talent didn't stop at the stage. Yes, B.J. could also shine in the studio. His Studio experience began at 16 years of age and includes the following: In House Productions, Obie Jones in Hollister, Missouri, Kevin Morris, Barbara Last, Bill Haller, numerous demos for various other artists, Jeff Cook (of Capricorn Records) and lyricist for Tommy Bolin, Allain Toussaint, Randy Handley (Currently in Nashville, Former staff writer, CBS Records, LA.) (Recorded album with Randy in conjunction with John Mellencamp.), Recording session in New York City with Simon Kirke of Bad Company & Free. With a musical background not to be challenged, B.J. Rossi helps define this now apparent "Super Group".
No recipe can be complete without the final ingredient. Bassist, Mike Williamson is that ingredient. Along with B.J. Rossi, Mike Williamson was poured into the mix in Late 2010. Mike Williamson brings in a downhome vibe with an eclectic musical nature. Proffieient at many instruments and styles of music, Mike brings essential vibrance to the folds in whatever styles or instrumentations he generates. Mike has over 36 Years of professional experience in live performance and studio work, encompassing many styles, including: Blues, classic rock, folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, big band swing, dixieland, classic jazz, German band, & pit orchestra/show band styles. He is at home with many instruments including: Electric bass, upright bass, tuba, vocals, Cornet, trombone, mouthbow, harmonica, banjo uke, rhythm guitar, & percussion. He carries an education from New Mexico State U. in Las Cruces, NM,
College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO, & The University of Missouri in Columbia, MO with an
Emphasis in music performance. Mike has a rich musical history having been an Instrumentalist, vocalist, arranger, & producer for the group big smith, as well as playing with such acts as Cindy Woolf (original folk/americana), Randle Chowning(folk/rock), Carney and Guinn (20's - 40's jazz), The Magnatones (jump blues),
The Fabulous Unexpected (soul, rock, blues),
Lost Hill (bluegrass), & Belladonna (jazz). Mike Williamson brings pure zeal to this movement that is
"Stella Blue & Friends".
Fans of Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, 4 Non Blondes, and Melissa Ethridge will Love Stella's powerful voice and soulful originals as well as the stage show. Real talent, Real People. Catch them LIVE this year!
www.stellablueandfriends.com
