Blooze Brothers

THE BLOOZE BROTHERS: this high­powered, choreographed 11­-piece show band covers music from the ‘40s to today, Swing, Motown, Soul, R & B, Classic Rock, and of course the music and crazy antics of the famous original Blues Brothers!  Contact Chuck Little at blooze1234@aol.com

MEET THE BAND

Every musician you see performing brings their own talents and backgrounds to the band. Each has their own way of making us sound the way we do. Our unique sound and the way we bring back the feeling of those songs we love comes from the diversity of the players.

CHUCK LITTLE as ELWOOD BLOOZE

Elwood Blooze drives and maintains the Bloozemobile (a 1974 Dodge Monaco). He plays smokin’ Blues Harp, books the band, herds the band members, and has been singing, dancing his butt off and keeping this incredible show band together kicking ass and taking names for over 25 years!  In real life, he’s Chuck Little: business owner, black belt, and the hardest working bandleader in the business.

NORM BOUCHER as JOLIET JAKE BLOOZE

Norm is about as Chicago as it gets; he's played Al Capone, Joliet Jake, and probably said something unkind about your mother when he worked at Ed Debevic's. He's got an impressive list of stage and screen credits, a library of corny jokes to challenge Mr. Zero's, and a briefcase full of blues. We had him on loan from Chicago's other top Blues Brothers tribute act and are proud to have him join us full time.

KIMBERLY “HOT SAUCE” JOHNSON – LEAD VOCALS

Dubbed "Hot Sauce" for her tasty vocal magic that spices up any tune, Kimberly Johnson is a musical sensation like no other. Drawing inspiration from legends like Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin, Kim's vocal prowess knows no bounds. Her vibrant stage presence and unmatched style have made her a sought-after sensation around the globe. When Kim takes the stage, it’s a delight for both the audience and fellow musicians, turning every performance into a memorable masterpiece.

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“BROTHER” JOHN KATTKE – KEYBOARDS, GUITAR, and VOCALS

 An incredible versatile musician, Brother John does it all! With our band Brother John plays amazing keys, but he is also a killer guitar player well known in Chicago. A staple in the Chicago blues scene, Brother John’s authentic riffs and smooth vocals “make it easy to move your feet”.  When you hear his take on “What’d I Say” and “Who Drank My Beer?”, you’ll understand why he’s on Buddy Guy’s speed dial.  Visit John online at JohnKattke.com.

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JAY OLASZEK – BASS GUITAR

They call him “Mister Zero” because of his ice-cold grooves and his cool wit.  The life of the green room, Jay is a mild-mannered educator by day and motorcycle-riding wild man by night.  When he’s not invoking the riffs of the late great Duck Dunn with us, he can be seen at some of the city’s top music venues.

ROB McDOUGLE – GUITAR

From old school country (and western), jazz standards, and rock classics to a briefcase full of blues, Rob’s diverse talent as a guitarist is in high demand all across Chicagoland.  Rob is the modern day “Master of the Telecaster” with some of the most tasty guitar licks you’ll ever hear. He has a list of credits a mile long and we’re honored to have him share the stage with us.

 

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DANYA THOMPSON – DRUMS

During his first gig with the band, Danya got a call to do a session for Kelly Clarkson.  
Sheila said, "That's very cool."  Jake said, "Can I come with and get a selfie?"  Elwood said, "Kelly who?"  Needless to say, we're honored to share the stage with this world-class drummer, producer and all around cool dude.

BRIAN “FINNBALL” FINN – TRUMPET

The captain of the horn section, we call him Finnball Wizard and/or Mr. Fabulous with good reason. Brian Finn’s crystal clear, powerful trumpet tone and amazing range defines the horn section’s signature sound.  His solos on “Beginnings” and “Long Train Runnin'” get crowds on their feet and screaming for more.  Brian is also one of the Chicago area’s most respected music educators. And everybody knows teachers are the hardest working people around which is why one lady wrote us to say “get that man some help!”

KEVIN CLINE – TROMBONE

One of the most versatile musicians in all of Chicagoland, Kevin is an accomplished pianist, composer, singer, and one of the best damn trombone players on the planet.  He is a rhyming genius that adds his musings on stage during the show. His critically-acclaimed solo album, Make Up Your Mind, is available on iTunes and at select Blooze Brothers shows (if he isn’t sold out).

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“SOUTHSIDE” JIMMY METZ – SAXOPHONES

Originally hailing from just outside Kokomo, IN, Southside Jimmy picked us up and transported us to safety in his conversion van after an unfortunate incident at Bob's Country Bunker. Since then, he's been living in Elwood's laundry room, honing his saxophone skills. His in-your-face, take-no-prisoners bari and tenor playing have made him a familiar face in the Chicago area blues scene and we’re lucky to have him with us.

ANDY BLANCO – TENOR SAXOPHONE

Andy once crafted a working internal combustion engine out of stuff he found in his saxophone case. His saxophone playing is known to cure spattergroit, brain clouds, and the Hawaiian cat flu. He stores his musical equipment in a hidden compartment in his custom Bugatti Chiron and is responsible for updating this website.

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DADDY-O DAVE PICCO – ALTO SAXOPHONIST EMERITUS

We almost lost Daddy-o a few years ago. He dropped his Triumph motorcycle and went down hard racing in the Daytona 500 Musician’s division and tore up his knee. Fortunately, our friends at Budweiser melted down a beer keg and the horseshoes off a Clydesdale and built a new knee for him. Part bartender, part choreographer, part cheerleader; for over 27 years Daddy-o is truly the heart and soul of the band.
Daddy-O has officially retired from the band and moved West but don’t be surprised if you see him show up at a summer show from time to time.

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