"The 8 Trax Throwbacks R&B R***e" is one of the greatest R&B bands to hit the Ottawa scene. It is made up of veteran musicians from different backgrounds but with a common love of great R&B both past and present. Most met each other first as part of "Sweet Home Chicago: Ottawa's Blues Brothers Tribute". Many fans loved the show and wanted more of the same and different at the same time. Back to back Classic R&B such as Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin, an 80's British homage of the 60's R&B by artists like Bowie, Cocker, and The Commitments to name a few, and moving to the music of more current artists like Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Jully Black, Elle King, and many more.
Just to keep things interesting they'll throw in other genres of music to keep everyone dancing to the sounds of Latin, Reggae, African, Surf, and 'Nawlins to name a few!
For your next event, fair or festival, party or club, enjoy a fantastic evening of music and dancing with "The 8 Trax Throwbacks R&B R***e"!
BIOS!
Miss Kathleen - lead vocals, small percussion: Miss Kathleen is from the Maritime provinces and has been living in Ottawa since 2003. She has been singing and performing all of her life. She's been across Canada, some of the US, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Japan. She's sung in choirs, performed in plays and showcases, and has even led a few choirs and directed productions herself. She met Mike, Don, Mark and Andrew P. through her past involvement with "Sweet Home Chicago". She has also sung with "Against the Wind", an Ottawa-based Bob Seger tribute band. She currently sings with Classic and Melodic Rock band, "Blind Aura". She's always had a love for R&B and always enjoys every opportunity to bask in the joy of the sounds of this amazing genre.
Andrew Galligan - lead vocals: Andrew has been a singer since before he can remember. No stranger to the stage, he has had a very long and active career doing Musical Theatre. When not singing Tenor ballads, he can usually be found singing blues, rock, and has been known to belt out some Opera from time to time. He hopes you have as great a time in the crowd as he has had getting to work with these incredible talents.
Mike Pelow - vocals, guitar: Mike's first gig was in the mid 80's playing Classic Rock. In the 90's, he played both Classic Rock and Country. In the 2000's it was back to Classic Rock. He's played close to 300 gigs from acoustic duo to power trio to four piece and five piece bands. Then an opportunity to play in a bigger band with a horn section doing a Blues Brothers Tribute scratched an itch for big R&B sound he never knew he had. Now he's found a new opportunity to showcase R&B classics and newer songs the way they were meant to be played: with great musicians playing that big sound to keep people on their feet dancing all night long.
Cliff Liem - vocals, keys, guitar: Ever since Cliff took Royal Conservatory piano lessons as a kid, he's actually been a closet rocker. He hails to us from the Maritimes, where he started his cringe-worthy high school garage band 'Ocean' and went on to jazz piano electives in university. He's played in the alt-rock band 'E-Farm', the rock original group 'Second Avenue', and the classic rock band 'Bytowne Shuffle'. Cliff is currently holding down the keys, vocals, and a dabbling of guitar with three bands: 'Rock and Roll Never Forgets', a Bob Seger tribute; 'Winds of Change', a Christian rock group, and 'The 8-Trax', a classic R&B r***e.
Don Hall - bass: Don was born in New York City. He grew up playing rock 'n' roll guitar but found his real passion when he picked up a bass. Most recently, Don played with 'Sweet Home Chicago', where he met Kathleen, Mark, Mike and Lou. Don has since enjoyed playing R&B hits with a wonderfully talented group of musicians.
Michael Purse - saxophone: Mike grew up a military brat moving from place to place. For just about every memory or event there was some sort of soundtrack. Upon his Dad's posting to Virginia Beach, Va., he discovered the saxophone and the great music that utilizes the instrument. It has been a long love hate relationship with music, but Mike always comes back to the sax for his inner spirit. Today he is a dad, a truck driver, and has developed a renewed interest in cycling, hiking, and whatever else you can do outside.
