Guitar

Born and raised in New York City, Arthur Neilson taught himself to play guitar on an electric Teisco Del Rey at age 15. After purchasing a Harmony acoustic, he honed his folk repertoire and finger picking skills. One night, he heard Albert King. Arthur got goose bumps from head to toes, and has been hooked on the blues ever since.

Arthur developed his dynamic guitar style by playing along with every blues record that he could find. With a longing to play the blues, but unable to find the right situation, Arthur worked in rock ‘n roll bands —he also loves Chuck Berry. Then, in the early seventies, he responded to an ad in the Village Voice, seeking a blues guitarist. He formed the A Train Blues Band with Felix Cabrera. This propelled him into the burgeoning New York blues scene, which gave Arthur the opportunity to back up the late Victoria Spivey and jam with James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin.

In 1979, Arthur caught the attention of Blue Angel with his rootsy, aggressive guitar playing. After joining the band, whose lead singer was Cyndi Lauper, they recorded an album for Polydor, which garnered much critical acclaim. In the eighties and through the nineties, Arthur’s phone was always ringing, as his guitar work was in much demand. Not only was he playing the blues, but rock ‘n roll, rockabilly, and country too. In fact, at one point, he was gigging in seven bands, including Oxford Blues, Kid Java, Felix & The Havanas and The Guitar Guys From Hell. Some memorable moments were working with guitar great Otis Rush, as well as Ronnie Spector, Benny Mardones & The Commitments.

Arthur was schooled in New York City bars and clubs, such as Dan Lynch Blues Bar, Lone Star Cafe, Manny’s Car Wash and Tramps. This has led to sharing the stage with many of his influences, most notably B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, and Albert King, who upon hearing Arthur said, “That boy sure can play!”

In 1998, Shemekia Copeland found Arthur to be the guitar player that she was looking for to complete her touring band. Arthur has been performing with her across the globe and can be heard on several of Shemekia’s records, Wicked, 33 1/3, and the latest Outskirts of Love, as well as numerous other recordings (Popa Chubby Presents New York City Blues, Popa Chubby’s Black Coffee, Doña Oxford’s Raw and Rowena Said, and his own Moan and Cry, and A Piece Of Wood, Some Strings & A Pick).

Guitar

Originally from San Diego, California, Willie Scandlyn now resides in Portland, Oregon. He started the guitar at age 14, and began playing in working bands at age 15. “My love of music came from my grandfather, who would take me to Southern Baptist churches during my summer visits, experiencing black gospel music. I then heard Mississippi John Hurt on a local L.A. folk FM station, and was hooked on the blues!” recalls Willie.

In the early 80’s, Willie began working with one of the Coaster’s groups on the West Coast, where he met Terry Evans. He has now been working and recording with Terry for over 20 years. This association afforded Willie the opportunity to record with Ry Cooder on Puttin’ It Down, one of Terry’s releases.

Willie’s main guitar influences are Albert Collins, Albert King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Mike Bloomfield, to name a few. “One of my new favorite guitarists is Arthur Neilson!” he adds.

Bass Guitar

Originally from Boston, Massachussetts, Kevin moved to New York City while still a teenager to pursue his dream of being a professional musician.

Kevin has worked with Cyndi Lauper, Taylor Dayne, Roberta Flack, Maxwell, Enrique Iglesias, Alana Davis and numerous other New York City singers and songwriters. He toured extensively with all the above and recorded with Cyndi, Taylor, Maxwell, Black 47, and Holly Palmer. Kevin has appeared with some of the artists noted above on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Johnny Carson, The American Music Awards, The Late Show with David Letterman, Soul Train, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and numerous other specials and awards shows. He has opened for Michael Jackson, The Police, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, B.B. King, and Joe Cocker.

Kevin is also an outstanding songwriter who was born with another amazing instrument: his horn-like voice, full of emotion, full of power.

Drums

Born in Greenpoint, raised on Long Island but matured in New York City, where his first gig was at Dan Lynch’s with Bobby Radcliffe. 

Playing with a variety of local and national acts over the years including, Joe Jackson, Joe Cocker, The B52’s, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Hector, They Might Be Giants, Joe Louis Walker, Deborah Coleman, Jon Paris, John Lee Hooker, Sarah McLachlan, Hubert Sumlin, Marshall Crenshaw…

Music is his first and best language, 

“People can hear what you’re feeling, if you’re happy, they know it and they feel it right along with you”.

“Joining this band feels like I’ve finally found my home and has reunited me with long time friends Arthur Neilson and Kevin Jenkins as well as introducing me to two of my new favorite people, Ken ‘Willie’ Scandlyn and the enormously talented sweetheart of a human, by the name of Shemekia Copeland.