THE ANDREW WHEELER BAND
The Andrew Wheeler Band (AWB) crafts new interpretations from American blues and roots music to shake your soul and touch your heart. Band membership has played blues on stages from bistros to festivals, and has toured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally in far too many states and countries to mention. Guitarist and vocalist Andrew Wheeler competed in the 2016 IBC Solo/Duo category in Memphis, Tennessee. The AW band features vocalist Donna Marie Tritico, keyboardist Sonny Speed, harmonica player Michael LaPorte, rhythm guitarist Peter Keller, bassist David Bacheldor and drummer Alexander Kash. Andrew is endorsed by Rare Breed Outpost guitar straps and teaches guitar through www.518guitar.com. Thank you for visiting www.bluesjourney.com.
The AW Band works and gigs where blues is welcome and sought after, and enjoys active membership in the Capital Region Blues Network. Booking info: info@bluesjourney.com, PH 518-878-5116
Read the 2017 ALT article about AWB here!
Photo l-r: Sonny Speed; David Bacheldor; Al Kash; Andrew Wheeler (seated); Peter Keller; Michael LaPorte and Donna Marie Tritico. Photo by Leif Zurmuhlen.
Andrew Wheeler hails from Albany, NY, and has been researching and playing blues and roots music for over 20 years. He has performed in all types of settings from large city/town stages to cafes and bistros. Wheeler is currently enrolled in the Berklee School of Music online, and has earned two of three available certificates in guitar. He was also the 2015 solo blues winner of the Capital Region Blues Network Blues Showdown, and played two engagements in January 2016 on Beale Street in Memphis, TN. His goal is to pay homage to often-overlooked blues originators while passionately crafting new, meaningful forms of expression to touch your soul. Wheeler also stays busy with his Blues Journey, an interactive blues performance and lecture. He holds a BA and an MA in history. Andrew is a 2016 Patty Larkin Scholarship Award Winner at Berklee College Online. 2016 saw Andrew playing in NYC, NJ, PA, TN as well as a few radio appearances. Check the homepage for links to the exclusive 518 WEXT radio interview! Photo by Leif Zurmuhlen. Andrew is endorsed by Rare Breed Outpost Custom Guitar Straps.
ANDREW WHEELER - VOCALS, GUITAR
Donna Marie Tritico is a native of Albany, NY. She has sung at such venues as The Egg, Upstate Concert Hall, Alive at Five and Rocking on the River. Donna is a respected teacher and troupe director of Middle Eastern Dance. She had the pleasure of dancing for rock music legend Sting when he performed with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
DONNA MARIE TRITICO - VOCALS
Michael Laporte saw the J.Geils Band in the late 1970s, and after seeing Magic Dick perform realized that he wanted to be a Harmonica player. He began absorbing and listening to old Blues while stationed in the Navy in Memphis, TN. After returning back to the Northeast, he played with many musicians associated with the Blockhouse Beef & Brew Jams of the early 80s. Since then, played with the Eat at Joe's band and Justus in Santa Fe, NM., and more recently, The Bent Rail Blues Band from the Capital District. LaPorte has too many musical heroes to cite, but he points out that Little Walter, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield and Mark Wenner are some of his favorite sources of inspiration.
MICHAEL LAPORTE - HARMONICA
Sonny is an accomplished blues artist and was inducted into the NY Blues Hall Of Fame in 2015. He’s played on stage with great musicians like Joe Lewis Walker, Murali Coryell, Slam Alan, Rhett Tyler, Taz Cru, Papa John Mole, Sonny Rock, Bill Sims, The Hoppen Brothers (Orleans), The Drifters, Chubby Checker, Bobby Lewis, and more. Sonny is also an independent record producer, multi-Instrumentalist and recording engineer that the NY Times called, "A musician and producer known for his professionalism". He’s the owner of Son Spot Recording Studio in Saratoga Springs and is credited with producing over 75 CD’s to date. Sonny hosts “Stormy Monday Blues” a blues radio show on WRPI 91.5 FM in Troy NY on Monday nights. .He’s the past Director of the “Island Songwriters Showcase” (ISS), Long Island’s largest songwriting organization which he served for 15 years. He currently serves on the board of the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society and hosts two monthly evenings at the world famous Café Lena in Saratoga, The Songwriters Workshop and SABS Acoustic Blues Night. Sonny has opened up for a diverse list of artists over the past 50 years such as The Zombies, Leon Russell, Susie Tyrell (E Street Band), Billy Joel (Hassles), Ricky Skaggs, Leslie West, Cactus, Toby Walker, Foghat, Jay and the Americans, The Coasters, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, 1910 Fruit Gum Company, The Crystals, and many others.
SONNY SPEED - KEYBOARDS, VOCALS
David has been playing bass and singing in Capital Region of NY bands since the 1970s. Most notably, he has played with the Bluz House Rockers (opening for Richie Havens, NRBQ, and Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, among others), and Men Without Heads. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, and drums, as well as a songwriter. He is currently with Sonny and the Suspicions, in addition to the Andrew Wheeler Band. He is also an actor, appearing in numerous local theater productions such as Oliver, Man of La Mancha, and the Sound of Music, and has played bass in a number of pit orchestras, most recently in Albany Civic Players’ production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ .
DAVID BACHELDOR - BASS
Al started playing drums in 1964 in Perth, W. Australia. A prolific player from the start, he moved to Sydney & toured/recorded "At the Mountains of Madness" with Blackfeather, who had a top 40 hit "Seasons of Change" from the LP which included guest musician Bon Scott of AC/DC. Al was a founding member of Fatty Lumpkin who opened for the Rolling Stones at Perth in 1973 and, around the same time, also backed blues great Bo Diddley for Perth dates. Al Returned to United States in 1976 and performed with Tiger Tiger, a Miccosukee Indian band in Florida. He was a founding member of Albany, NY band "Fear of Strangers" who played in "Fly to France" which became Canada's Blue Rodeo. Al returned to Australia 1983 & toured/recorded with Innocent Bystanders, played with longtime friend Dave Hole & toured with legendary blues singer Matt Taylor and Chain. He's been back in NY since 1989, played with Ernie Williams & the Wildcats,Toured with Ellen McIllwain, Billy C Farlow, Commander Cody. He's toured Australia, USA, Europe and Brazil with Alligator Records recording artist Dave Hole. Al toured USA, Europe and Hawaii with Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown. Al is currently active with numerous projects including the Andrew Wheeler Band, the Magdalens, & solo cd/video.
AL KASH - DRUMS
Peter Keller is a guitarist from just outside of Albany, New York who regularly gigs throughout the northeast. Peter first picked up his father's guitar as a small child and has had a musical instrument in his hands since. As a multi-instrumentalist, Peter teaches private lessons and also writes and performs with Rhode Island-based alternative band, Call Security. Having graduated from Hobart College in 2015 with a double degree in music and history, Peter has studied jazz, blues, rockabilly and rock styles on the guitar as well as music history. Peter is deeply interested in American music and how it has evolved and transformed since its earliest days. As a musician and a student of history he seeks to understand and play in a way that is both reverent of tradition and forward-thinking. Peter could not be more honored and humbled to be playing at the epicenter of the music he loves with such a phenomenal band.
PETER KELLER - GUITAR
