Described by one reviewer as “those electrified blues masters”,
Dicky James and the Blue Flames is one of the
hottest blues bands touring the Midwest. They have been captivating
audiences everywhere with their superb brand of smoking’ Chicago
style blues.
The band is comprised of a group of tremendous players who hail from
various locales. Dicky James, guitarist and chief vocalist, is the
main song smith and has proven that he knows the blues inside and
out. He finds his inspiration in everyday experiences and depends on
the Blue Flames bring that vision to life. He learned to play
listening to blues and Motown records and from age of 18 has played
across the nation in various rock and blues bands. Through the years
he has taken the stage with such notable acts as
Rod Piazza,
Big Daddy Kinsey,
Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, and
Koko Taylor. Harp wizard Bob Freeze
has studied the playing of the greats and has developed a nuanced
and seamless style which has become the “horn section” of the Blue
Flames.
John Beeson who, ironically, owns one of the nation’s premier guitar
shops, plays the Hammond organ and has rubbed shoulders with some of
the biggest names in music.
Mark Ford is a jazz trained bassist whose many years experience in
big bands adds an unmistakable swing feel to the band.
Will Cox started drumming to music of the British Invasion and,
after many years on the road, has transformed that rock sensibility
into the perfect blues driver.
Their first album, ‘The
Blues Taste Good’, called “brilliant and timeless” in one
review, put the world on notice this band was for real. But the
breakthrough came in 2011 when they released their second record, ’Hard
Rain’. Taking it’s title from a rainy pilgrimage to Memphis by
motorcycle, in September 2011 this record shot to #1
in the nation on
the blues roots charts and has garnered rave reviews throughout the
industry including one from the Nashville Blues Society which
described it as “A major step forward in the heady playing field of
contemporary blues”. The band is currently beginning work on their
third, as yet untitled, cd.
Having said all that you really can’t grasp the power of Dicky James
and the Blue Flames until you hear them live at such venues as the
Slippery Noodle, Crossroads Blues Fest., the Players Pub, or at the
Kickapoo Kick Festival where they won the battle of the bands. Dicky
is an unparalleled performer who never fails to mesmerize the room
as he glides through the audience displaying his showmanship and
stellar guitar playing.
For booking contact:
812-533-9486
812-870-9726
Meet The Band
Dicky James
Richard “Dicky James” Wagster was born in 1956 in Gary, IN and
raised in Calumet City, IL. As a boy Dicky watched his older brother,
Bear, play guitar and immediately fell in love. At age 12 he got his
first guitar, a Stella acoustic, and began learning by ear from whatever
blues and Motown records he could pick up. He was finally on the way
when his brother brought him his first electric from the px in Vietnam.
Around age 18 he began performing in clubs from coast to coast and
opening for numerous major recording artists. In 1994 he relocated to
the Wabash Valley where, in 2008, he and rest of the boys formed Dicky
James and the Blue Flames.
Mark Ford
Mark Ford was exposed to a wide variety of music from an early
age, largely due to the radio station owned by his father, WPFR-FM. “We
had that station playing all the time at home to make sure the DJ ran
the right commercials and such.” Classical, easy-listening, country,
album rock, and finally top-40 rock were played on the air. “I had
access to all the records and did a lot of listening. I also began to
accompany some of the country musicians who came in to do live radio
shows.” Mark played upright bass in the high school orchestra and in the
college orchestra while working with a number of garage bands. He also
played bass in a pentacostal church for several years. “I became very
good at fitting my playing into any style of music.” In the early 1980s
he travelled the Northwest with a rock band for over a year, gaining
more valuable experience. After returning to the midwest, he began to
seek out the best local musicians in hopes of finally getting it right.
Along the way, jazz became very appealing, and it opened his ears to a
whole new world of bringing musicto life. “I guess all my musical
experiences have helped me learn how to express my emotions musically,
instead of just playing technically.” “With Dicky James and the Blue
Flames I can really let my music flow. Everything in my life has led me
to this point in time with this wonderful group of fellows. It feels
right.” Mark currently lives with 2 cats and an assortment of basses.
Robert Freeze
Robert played his first gig in the summer of 1964. The band was
the “Silvertones, and yes, the name came from the Sears amp of the same
name. After a two year run, the band changed some members and evolved
into the “Vikings”. As is often the case, the same scenario repeated
itself and a number of bands followed over the years.In the mid 70′s
Robert dropped out of the world of live music to raise his family. On
occasion he would join his musician friends to do special events and
band reunions. The desire to perform never subsided, and when he was
asked to join the “Take a Turtle to Dinner” band to do a CD project in
Nashville, he could not resist the urge. When his youngest child
approached the age when she could care less if he was around, he was
given the chance to join his long time friend and remarkable guitar
player, Kenny Hays, in the Jam Band. Over the following 15 years Robert
sang and played congas with the Jam Band. During this time, he was
introduced to the harmonica by Steve “Elwood” Elder, and Robert became
fascinated with the tiny instrument.In the late summer of 2008 Robert
was approached by Will Cox about the possibility of playing harmonica
with a new blues band that Will, Dick Wagster, John Beeson, and were
forming. Since playing the harp was his main focus, it turned out to be
the perfect opportunity. Robert will tell anyone who asks that he has
enjoyed every minute with “Dicky James and the Blue Flames” and looks
forward to many years of, as Dicky would say, “getting to play the
blues”.*Will, I did this in 3rd person because that is usually how a
biography reads. If you think autobio form is more appropriate I can
change it or you can just make it first person.
Robert “Ice House” Freeze played his first gig in the summer of 1964.
The band was the “Silvertones”, and yes, the name came from the Sears
amp of the same name. After a two year run, the band changed some
members and evolved into the “Vikings”. As is often the case, the same
scenario repeated itself and a number of bands followed over the years.
In the mid 70′s Robert dropped out of the world of live music to raise
his family. On occasion he would join his musician friends to do special
events and band reunions. The desire to perform never subsided, and when
he was asked to join the “Take a Turtle to Dinner” band to do a CD
project in Nashville, he could not resist the urge. When his youngest
child approached the age when she could care less if he was around, he
was given the chance to join his long time friend and remarkable guitar
player, Kenny Hays, in the Jam Band. Over the following 15 years Robert
sang and played congas with the Jam Band. During this time, he was
introduced to the harmonica by Steve “Elwood” Elder, and Robert became
fascinated with the tiny instrument. In the late summer of 2008 Robert
was approached by Will Cox about the possibility of playing harmonica
with a new blues band that Will, Dick Wagster, and John Beeson were
forming. Since playing the harp was his main focus, it turned out to be
the perfect opportunity. Robert will tell anyone who asks that he has
enjoyed every minute with “Dicky James and the Blue Flames” and looks
forward to many years of, as Dicky would say, “getting to play the
blues”.
Will Cox
After watching Ed Sullivan that Sunday night the kids in the
neighborhood drew straws to determine who got to play drums. Will won.
After moving from coffee cans to a real kit he played in several bands
until one day he decided to quit so he could have a real life and make
babies. After a few years reality got boring so he picked up the sticks
once again. He played in a few local bands but eventually got the itch
to go on the road. Years of living in hotels (some quite odious) and,
occasionally out the back of the truck, gave him a whole new
perspective. When he’d finally had enough he settled back in Terre
Haute. In 1987 he managed to talk his way into Eddie and the Motivators
who enjoyed 15 years of success and excess. After the demise of the
Motivators and a couple other efforts, in 2008 he helped form the Dicky
James and the Blue Flames. The rest, we hope, will be history.
John Beeson
John was born in Indiana, but grew up in Maywood New Jersey,
nine miles out of New York City. John got his first guitar right before
the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, and that was all it took.
The mid 60′s brought John to Indianapolis, where he started playing
parties and dances during high school. In 1969 he moved to Terre Haute,
Indiana for college, and started playing keyboards in the mid 1970′s.
During all this time, he has been playing club dates throughout the
Midwest. For almost two years John and Dicky talked about putting
together a blues band. Finally in 2008 with the addition of Will, Bob,
and Mark, Dicky James and the Blue Flames was born.
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