Jamey and Dave met around fifteen years ago at a blues jam, clicked immediately, and became the core of the group which has seen many good players come and go in that time. Bill signed on about a decade ago, Steve is a world traveled blues powerhouse and brings a seriously powerful presence to the stage, and Rob has just joined the group on vocals, harp and guitar- making the group a vocal and guitar powerhouse. Our most recent addition, Frank, adds a dimension long sought by the group with his rich and soulful tenor sax - with soaring solos and taseful fills and accents. Musically, they are first rate, combining the raw edge of traditional electric blues with polished musicianship. Their sets feature a mix of beloved standards, modern covers, originals and obscure relics that only a music historian would recognize. True to their music-first ethos, the group has never sought fame or fortune, and indeed has never even recorded an album together. Like so many other blues artists before them, you need to go hear them live if you want to hear them at all. You can find them performing for their loyal fans every Sunday except second Sundays at their home base, Jamey's House of Music, where they are the house band. The Sunday Blues Brunch is a Philly institution and features local, national and international blues artists who jam with PBK at the club. Philadelphia has long been known for "The Philly Sound" with numerous world beating soul and R&B groups, it has since established itself as a nexus for top jazz and blues artists and a strong supporting community. The Philly Blues Kings is honored to take its place alongside these giants, and contribute "The PBK Sound" to the world of blues! |
Dave was a regular sideman at east coast festivals for several years, including the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland Maine, the Pocono BF, the Hudson River Park BF in Manhattan, Blues & Microbrews in Wilmington, and the annual BF in Monkton MD. Dave contributes a distinct jazzy feel to the blues, which gives PBK a sound all its own. Indeed, he is one of the finest jazz musicians in Philadelphia. While humble in nature, he is a true renaissance man with a wide ranging mastery of many fields, and can easily give Wikipedia a run for its money with an exhaustive knowledge of blues and jazz. |
Keyboardist/7 string guitarist and vocalist David "Bluesman" Reiter is a consumate multi-instrumentalist and has been backing national acts for many years, including Sydney Ellis, Frankie Lee, Sista Monica Parker, Chris Cain, Larry Garner, Kenny Neal, and a very young Shemekia Copeland (at the original Warmdaddy's). He also backed many local blues and jazz greats including Jeannie Brooks, Zan Gardner, Ron Kraemer, Greg Underwood, Frankie Alston, and our own Georgie Bonds.
Steve started his musical career in 1969, playing with his band Stockyard. Performed for crowds as large as 15,000. Lived and performed London in 1972 after befriending members of Mott the Hoople during a show in NJ. Played in the London Based Brunning Hall/Sunflower blues band featuring former members of Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac. Turned down invitation to join Chrysalis Records artists UFO due to prior commitments. Returned to USA for 1973 with one trip back to London for consideration of membership in formation of Bad Company. Performed in "Buff" (formerly Patti LaBelle's band) with renowned bassist Carmine Rojas (Rod Stewart/Joe Bonamassa/David Bowie, many others). Returned to his blues roots playing with Jukerockers in the early-mid 1980's. Member of the Dukes of Destiny from 1986-98 and 2011 to January 2018, and went on to form his own outfit, AC Steel and the Galvanizers, producing some fine recordings in the process and establishing himself as an elder artist of note in the blues world. Running a band was not high on his list of favorite things, and after dissolving the group, Steve remained on the scene as a solo artist and hired gun for other bands, before joining forces with the Philly Blues Kings. PBK is a natural fit for a player of Steve's significant talents, where he fronts the group on most tunes and shares guitar duties with Reiter, bringing a deliciously raw British blues style to his work. His vocals are second to none, and trades singing with the other vocalists which keeps things lively and interesting for patrons. The band has found its sound with the addition of Steve and audiences regularly applaud and whistle when the group executes a tight and tasteful tune under Steve's lead. |
Steve "AC Steel" Solotist is a 50 plus year veteran of the Blues, having started out as a guitarist and singer in Great Britain rubbing elbows with many of the top bands there.
Rob delivers a soulful tone and an innate ability to express deep emotions through his harmonica and singing. Reminiscent of his musical influences, Rob plays from the heart keeping the Blues legacy alive. |
Harmonicist and vocalist, Robert Hamilton, is a life-long blues lover, devoted
student, and harmonica player since 2011 when he studied under Seth “The
Rocket” Holzman. With a shared affinity for the connection and nuance the
harmonica delivers, Rob takes influence from artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson,
Little Walter, and Albert Collins. His intrinsic motivation has allowed him to share
the stage and recording studios with local Philadelphia artists such as: Tom Pinto,
Greg Davis, Larry Goetz, David Copa, Dennis Conlan, Sister Blue, Mark Furman,
Shakey Horton, Mikey Jr., Mark Margolies, AC Steel, Ben Arnold, Dan Reed, Jesse
Lowey, Richard Busch, Jene Lenke (Jean Therapy), Three Fourteen, North Lawrence Midnight Singers, Brown Sugar, and The Philly Blues Kings. Robert’s love for music has motivated him to expand beyond harmonica and vocals to include guitar and ukulele. He is also a member of Swarthmore Ukulele Orchestra.
Frank’s performance experience includes venues; Birdland, the Iridium, the Kat Club, the DuPont/Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Chris’ Jazz Cafe and the premiere of an original composition at Merkin Hall, New York. Since relocating to the Philadelphia area, Frank has been active in the Blues scene working freelance and as a regular with “Kitty Mayo and Venom Blues” appearing on their new release “Jamland” (2024) and being inducted into the Delaware Rock & Roll Society Hall of Fame in 2023. Additionally, until 2020, Frank was teaching Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet and Oboe privately. In 2023 Frank released his self-produced album “Praxis” available on all of your favorite streaming services. Frank has jammed with the Philly Blues Kings for several years, and recently joined as a permanent member. |
Saxophonist Frank McKitty grew up in Queens, NY. After receiving a Bachelor Music, Saxophone and Flute in New Orleans, Frank returned to New York where, while working as a teamster and later in Special Markets and AP/AR for New Line Home Video during the day, had the opportunity to work with groups including, The Lynn Oliver Orchestra, The Stan Rubin Orchestra, Los Tremendos de Colombia, Los Chevres de Columbia, Las Chicas and other latin and jazz groups in addition to his own small group.
Bill has studied drumset with Jeff Hamilton, Greg Bissonette and Armand Santarelli among others. He has studied with world percussionists Tony Vacca, Randy Crafton and Ustad Mohammed Lutfi. Bill also has extensive classical experience having been Principle Percussionist and Timpanist for 7 years with The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey. He has also done stints with The Haddonfield Symphony, Bridgeton Symphony And the Whitewater Opera Company. He can be heard on the 2002 Trio Nova release “Parallel Lines”, and Adam Berenson's 2002 release, “ Stand In The Corner And Breathe.” and the Bamboo Jazz Quartet cd,”Breath” Bill can also be heard on 2 duo recordings with Adam Berenson , “A Way Out”(2009) & A Codex of Silent Voices”(2010). A trio album wad released in 2010, ”Jnana”, featuring Adam Berenson on Piano, Scott Burnam on bass and Bill on Percussion. Bill provides a steady and rhythmically complex drive to the blues.
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Since completing a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance, drummer Bill Marconi has pursued a wide range of teaching and performing experiences including: The Jimmy Bruno Trio, The L.A.Jazz Workshop Big Band, Trio Nova, The Magic Casino Orchestra (Zurich) and various orchestras and opera companies. Bill has also performed with The Bamboo Jazz Quartet, fusing jazz rhythms and Indian ragas, The Mighty Little Big Band & City Line Swing. He recently has performed with Jazz Volcano. He is currently on the teaching faculty at the Settlement School.
Jamey has done gigging around the east coast and has backed some well known national blues names. His playing can be found on a number of CDs by various artists. He spent several decades in numerous roles in the professional audio engineering and live music industry. He pursued a degree in Physical Therapy after two separate accidents with a car and a power saw left his right hand partially paralyzed. After spending many years on the road and living in various parts of the country, he finally set down roots in Philadelphia and joined the vibrant Philly music scene. Jamey opened the popular Jamey's House of Music, Livehouse, restaurant and bar in Lansdowne PA where PBK is the house band, hosting the Sunday Blues Brunch and Jam. Jamey enjoys an old-school pocket-playing style with melodic embellishments (no bass solos please), and provides a solid bottom to the music on his extra long scale fretless 5 string Modulus and Fender basses. He fell in love with the low end while growing up listening to the great bass players of the '50's on his parents hi-fi, and spent a life-time seeking the holy grail of flawless bass reproduction during his many years in pro-audio. His current self-designed and built (8 foot tall!) bass rig is the apotheosis of his efforts and can be heard/felt and marveled at at his club. An hour long BLUES DELUXE interview may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3hjBigBGg. |
Bassist Jamey Reilly was trained on accordian, piano and guitar at a young age, and has held down the low end since 1965 when he joined the pop group, "The Abstract Design." He has been an avowed blues lover since 1970 when he did a stint with legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker, and tried to coax Son House out of retirement. It was a reunion performance at Boston's Fenway Theatre that Jamey pulled together, with Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield that cemented his life long addiction to the blues.Contact Jamey Reilly at jamey@jameyshouseofmusic.com |
