Bill Rhoades and The Party Kings

By Kurt "Swingcat" Johnson

They're going on a Journey to Memphis! That's Portland's and the Pacific Northwest's 2005 winner of the 2005 Cascade Blues Association Journey to Memphis Competition, Bill Rhoades and The Party Kings.

As winners of the Journey to Memphis Competition at Portland's famous Waterfront Blues Festival, The Party Kings will be representing Portland and the Pacific Northwest at the prestigious International Blues Challenge (IBC) Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. An annual event sponsored by the Blues Foundation, the IBC spotlights blues acts and performers from around the world at venues in the home of the blues; Memphis, Tennessee.

The Party Kings are Bill Rhoades on blues harp and lead vocals, Michael Osborn on guitar, Tom Szell on bass and Johnny Moore on drums. The band specializes in traditional Chicago and Texas blues. A long-standing fixture on the Portland blues scene, Rhoades has led the band for over thirty years and originally formed it in Eugene. Moore has been with the band for over twenty years, Szell for eight and Osborn for four. Each member brings decades of experience and has played with some of the biggest names in the business. Osborn was band leader for the great John Lee Hooker for over 11 years, Szell has played with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chaka Kahn and Ted Nugent. Moore has played with Albert Collins and Rhoades with Big Daddy Kinzie, Jimmy Rogers and Luther Tucker.

Each brings a unique style and addition to the band. Rhoades is often called "The Godfather of Oregon Blues". He's a founding member of the Cascade Blues Association and one of the original founders of the Portland Blues Festival which later became the Waterfront Blues Festival. He's a 30 year volunteer DJ on KBOO-FM hosting his own radio blues show. He also hosts the Bill Rhoades Harmonica Blow-off each year at the Waterfront Blues Festival. He has helped and influenced countless blues musicians in Oregon over the years. Osborn brings his years of sizzling guitar and professionalism to the show. Szell lays down an unbelievable groove on either electric or upright bass and Moore anchors it all with rocksteady beats and rhythms. Add in Rhoades' gritty vocals and hammering harmonica and it all comes together in an unbelievable rockin' party pocket. Listeners can't help but get up and dance, holler and whistle for more! It all comes together on stage when you see and hear them play. Make sure you catch one of their shows when you're in Portland and a copy of their new CD "Voodoo Lovin". And for you bar and venue owners, you absolutely need to book this band!

You can see more of Bill Rhoades and The Party Kings at thier website www.billrhoadesandthepartykings.com.

Bill Rhodes	Bill Rhodes	John Moore	Tom Szell
Michael Osborn