New England's Reigning Blues Jam/Party Band
Peter Giftos and The Blues Party reigned in the '90's as New England's hottest Blues Jam/Party band, hosting countless sold-out Sunday jams, headlining numerous shows and festivals and often featuring special guests such as Shirley Lewis, Mighty Sam McClain, R.L. Burnside and the legendary Earl King, as well as having had the privilege of being selected to open the very first House of Blues in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA on Sunday November 29, 1992 with a gala 6-hour long standing-room only blues-party-extraordinaire!
During 1996 and 1997 while Peter teamed up with Sam McClain as his guitarist and band leader, The Blues Party took an "extended vacation." But, the band reunited March 26, 1998 to headline WHEB-FM's annual Redhook Concert Series at the Redhook Ale Brewery, Portsmouth, NH. Special guests John Gary Putnam (Used Blues) and Little Jimmy (The Homewreckers) joined original Blues Party band members Peter Giftos (vocals, guitar), Cheryl Renee (vocals, keyboards), Dave Wakefield (vocals, harmonica, sax), Teddy B (bass), and K.D. Bell (vocals, drums) for a raucous standing room only reunion celebration. (Sound courtesy Wayne Sanborn; MC'd by Chris Garrett, WHEB-FM's "Blues Doctor").
Though The Blues Party is still on "extended vacation", band members are actively pursuing their individual careers. Dave Wakefield is still tearing up the club circuit on his sax and harp in various New England blues bands. Cheryl Renee recently released "I Believe You Know The Blues" (available at http://cherylrenee.com and http://cdbaby.com/cherylrenee), her follow-up CD to "Sugar Coated Love" on Chickenbutt Records after packing up all her gear and moving to Tennessee (and recently back to Ohio). Teddy B joined K.D. Bell and hooked up with the incomparable guitarist Bobby B. Keyes who recorded and released K.D.s very hot self titled CD on Bobbys Thrillionaire label. (Check out other Thrillionaire CDs at http://thrillionaire.com: "Amyl Justin"/Amyl Justin and "Lucky Stereo"/Bobby Keyes - all 3 are "killer!"). As for Peter . . . well, lets just say Eric Clam is alive and well.
The Blues Party was a regular weekly fixture at various MA/NH/ME clubs (The Grog, Rosa's, Luka's, Raoul's) and opened the first House of Blues in Cambridge 11/29/92 with several special guests (e.g., Shirley Lewis, Mighty Sam McClain). Throughout the '90's, The Blues Party hosted similar shows (e.g., Morganfield's Grand Opening backing R.L. Burnside, Sam McClain and Earl King) or 6+ hour gala events (e.g., Market Square Day, 1993 w/ Rod Price, Shirley Lewis, Sam McClain, Little Jimmy, John Putnam, others). WHEB's Redhook Reunion Concert was our last - more reunions were planned, but K.D. Bell's untimely death put an end to the band.
Each other...
Check out Cheryl at CherylRenee.com. Anything goes there . . . well, almost anything.