The BAND
was formed in 2006 by seven Gainesville Florida area musicians to
develop a musical identity reminiscent of the horn-driven Rhythm and Blues and "Jump
Blues" bands of the late 1940's and 1950's. Among many others, we are
influenced by Louis Jordan, Louie Prima, Professor Longhair, Ruth
Brown, and "Roomful of Blues".
The BAND has
also developed a "book" of well-known popular standards, suitable for
dancing and listening, made popular by such artists as Diana Krall and
Nat King Cole.
We DON'T play front porch
, my dog died, my woman done left me, my jug is empty, and I forgot to put my teeth in this mornin' blues. We favor happy uptempo New Orleans and Chicago-flavored songs ala
Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Toni Lynn Washington and the Chicago
Rhythm and Blues Kings. To add to the New Orleans flavor, some of our
songs will remind you of the hard driving, butt-rockin', dueling
saxophones, "Big Easy" blues bands.
We are being recognized for what we are,
an entertaining, fun, danceable group:
The
Gainesville Sun newspaper has written about us HERE
We were featured on WUFT-TV's "Gallery" series (episode 20) HERE
6th Street won
the North Central Florida Blues Society's battle of the bands challenge
to represent the Society at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis in January of 2010. We went to Beale Street!!
The competition was strong, with bands from Cleveland, Philly, Texas
and the Pacific Northwest, but we "done good"and had them dancin',
clappin' and screamin'.
6th
Street entertained a large crowd at Gainesville's annual "Fanfare and Fireworks"
concert , Bandshell at the University of Florida. July 3.
Back To Beale Street!! 
6th Street won the North
Central Florida Blues Society's local International Blues Competition
on September 19 2011, and represented the Society at the IBC in Memphis
in February, 2011. We Had the New Daisy Theater Rockin'.
6th Street was featured at the Daytona Beach Blues Festival, October 9, 2010.
6th Street opened for Tommy Castro on November 5, 2010.
6th Street followed in the
footsteps of Bobby "Blue" Bland, and others ( James Cotton, Bobby Rush, the late Carey Bell,
Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Honeyboy Edwards, Magic Slim, Charlie
Musselwhite, Johnny Winter, Maria Muldaur, Duke Robillard, Kenny Neal,
Tommy Castro, Tab Benoit, Big Jack Johnson, Little Charlie & The
Nightcats, Mark Hummell, Kim Wilson, Lee Roy Parnell, The Amazing Rhythm
Aces, E.C. Scott, Eddie Kirkland, Johnnie Marshall ) when
we played the legendary Bradfordville Blues Club in
Tallahassee on November 27,2010 after the Gator-FSU game. Our 90 minute
first set was broadcast live on "Hank", 99.9 radio.
6th Street headlined the Amelia Island Blues Festival on September 17, 2011. Here is a review from the Festival Committee:
“Gainesville’ 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Review is a
remarkable group of outstanding “second career” musicians, but when Dani “Boss
Lady” Danielle deCosmo, takes the microphone, they become energized beyond the
point of a spontaneous heart attack. I hadn’t heard Ike and Tina Turner’s “River
Deep Mountain High” in years; when it came it floored me like a tsunami. A
perfect interpretation of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, with a voice that rose
beautifully above it and delivered note for note.”
Link to the quote is here:
http://ameliaislandbluesfest.com/see-you-on-the-third-weekend-of-september-2012/
6th Street has
opened for, or shared the stage with, numerous touring acts, including
Janiva Magness,Debbie Davies,Chris Cain, Graham Wood Drought, IKO IKO, The
Mighty Lester Band , John Nemeth and Tommy Castro.
Each band member brings his and her unique musical background to the BAND. Individual Bios can be found HERE.
Samples of our Music can be found HERE.
We look forward to performing at your next club date or event. For booking information go HERE.
