Charlotte Blues Society - Michael Wolf & D.B.A.

Overview

Songwriter of the Charlotte based New Orleans Funk/Blues Band Michael Wolf and the Voodoo Brothers, Winners of the 2011 Charlotte Music Awards for Best Blues Band. Michael Wolf & D.B.A is a return to the Blues roots that informed and nurtured Michael’s music. Michael also occasionally plays with Gumbo Motion, a four piece band that pays tribute to New Orleans Funk. Through his 45 plus years as a performer, Michael has shared stages with such American Legends as Mac Arnold, Bob Margolin, Willie ‘Big Eye’ Smith, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Kenny Neal, Johnny Copeland, Wilson Pickett, Allen Ginsburg, Tinsley Ellis, among many others. Drums: Rick Kausch was met the blues in a juke joint in Tallahassee, Florida at the age of 12. The boogie disease would not let him rest until he applied a pair of sticks to to a set of drums. After playing in several Rock-Blues cover bands he played drums with Michael Wolf and A Side of Blues. Rick was encouraged greatly by the drummer Willie ‘Big Eye’ Smith and that influence is felt in his solid meter and swinging drumming style. Bass: Ray McClelland Jr was born and raised in Concord NC. His bass playing was influenced by The Isley brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stanley Clarke, George Duke,The Brothers Johnson,Parliment-Funkadelic. When not playing with D.B.A. Ray plays with the Golden Eagle Blues Band and The Unique Ones. His funky style of bass playing solidly anchors D.B.A. Keyboards: “Crazy Al” Lee – Keyboards, backup vocals. Al has been in the music business for more than 20 years. His first band, The Epsilons, was a five piece band that became a local favorite all across Pennsylvania, his home state. They opened for some great bands back then like The Kingsmen (Louie, Louie), The Newbeats (Bread and Butter), and others. He was also in a four piece show band, Visions, that toured the north east coast and another called The Northbrook Gang that toured all over the Midwest. Along with several other very successful groups, he also made his mark in music by becoming one of the top DJs in Charlotte, NC at a local hotspot known as The Cellar. This is where he got his nickname “Crazy Al”. The owner called him this, saying, “I never know what you are going to say or do next!” He plays both Roland and Hammond keyboards. His influences are Allman Brothers, Grand Funk Railroad, Rare Earth, Van Morrison, and Gov’t Mule, just to name a few. Favorite keyboardists: Booker T, Jimmy Smith, Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, Billy Preston, Joe Zawinul…..again, just to name a few! Originally from Philadelphia, PA, he currently resides outside of Rock Hill,