Earl Seratte & The Blues Kings When Earl Seratte plays the blues, people listen. They often assume they are hearing the voice of a mighty big man, because he's got such a mighty big voice. And when they hear him play the harmonica, they're often unsure what they're hearing, because his is such a unique sound on the blues harp. Borne out of thirty years of playing, it's a soulful sound based on the foundation of traditional blues but with an electric edge created by the use of effects that add a rich and colorful depth to his tone. Earl Seratte started singing and playing harmonica as a child, following in the footsteps of his father, who also played harmonica and sang country music. Influenced by blues legends such as Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, and Paul Butterfield among others, Seratte soon developed a style all his own, a potent amalgam of traditional blues with the dynamic intensity of rock & R&B. By the age of 19 he was already on the road, touring with Johnny Otis, sitting in with John Lee Hooker, and having such blues luminaries as Big Joe Turner and Elvin Bishop seeking out his talents. Over the next several years, Seratte played with many different incarnations of the Blues Kings before the ideal combination of musicians was realized. First on board was Billy Salisbury, who Seratte discovered at a Sunday open jam at a club in Riverside, California. Impressed by the soulful and fluid precision of his playing, Seratte invited him to join the band. Salisbury, a New York native was a veteran of numerous rock, jazz, fusion and Top-40 bands. Seratte had the perfect bass player for the band, but needed the right drummer and guitarist to complete the puzzle. A few players sat in with the band but the Blues Kings remained essentially incomplete until they teamed up with singer-guitarist-songwriter Dan Kirkpatrick and drummer Steve Gaynor. Kirkpatrick, raised in Leavenworth, Kansas, was a veteran of many touring rock bands in the Midwest before moving to Hollywood where he led his own bands for years and had been a bandmate previously with Salisbury. Kirkpatrick was the missing link for the Blues Kings, bringing a mainstream blues-rock feel that is the ideal counterpart to Seratte's earthy blues. Seratte suggested drummer Steve Gaynor to fill the final role. Gaynor, a Southern California native, had worked with Seratte in the 70's and 80's and had shared the stage with the likes of Curtis Salgado, Etta James and Tommy Castro to name a few. The result is an entirely distinct niche in the world of blues that few have been able to equal. Now playing with the new and improved ensemble featuring the multi talents of singer-guitarist Dan Kirkpatrick, bassist Billy Salisbury and drummer Steve Gaynor, Earl Seratte and The Blues Kings are on the cutting edge of the new power-blues resurgence presently sweeping through America.  Earl Seratte and The Blues Kings have just finished their first album "Verite¢", mixing traditional blues with originals written by the band and performing throughout the Southern California area. For interviews and booking information, please call Blues Kings Productions at 661/252-8024 or 909/361-3137.