RICK WILKERSON

Rick Wilkerson has roots in two of America’s most significant states when it comes to music, Mississippi and Tennessee. The influence he received from the southern traditions of soul music blended with a continuous exposure to the NYC jazz scene (via his parents) created his diverse and widely well-received approach to jazz. Wilkerson is also a passionate songwriter and a prolific and diverse stage performer and drummer who has worked with well-known artists like Keith Urban, James Otto, Chris Janson, Dr. Ben Tankard, Ricardo Sanchez, Carmen, and The Wooten Brothers, just to name a few. Currently his debut EP, “Aspire” is available on iTunes.
 

"Rip Lee" Pryor

Richard "Rip Lee" Pryor didn't have to go far for his blues pass.  He was born into it, he is the son of the legendary Snooky Pryor.  Rip started at a young tender age blowing his dad's discarded harmonicas and mimicking his records.

Rip played guitar in several local soul bands while in high school. In 1994, he started playing blues guitar with his dad, netting a spot on Snooky's CD recording "Mind Your Own Business" and also a Japan tour.  Rip formed several blues bands in the Carbondale Il area, singing and blowing harmonica. In 1998, he recorded a CD "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" playing all instruments on 8 of the tracks.  Later he got into doing his solo act playing guitar and harmonica. With the hassle of music and a day job he got out of the music business in 2000. After retiring from his day job in 2008 and a bout with bone marrow cancer in 2010, Rip is back and very strong. He has been working steady with his One Man Blues Show touring South America, Europe, playing various local venues and blues festivals throughout the US.  Rip recorded a CD in 2014 with Electro-Fi Records "Nobody But Me". Rip plays Chicago '50's style blues with a vengence.