 Tony Rivera, Jr., Charley Cazares, Rick Del Carmen, Mike Taylor, Bobby Waite, Mike LaVoie
They have been described by reviewers alternately as “a band that knows what they were doing, one that could get me stomping my feet and slapping the table” who plays “some solid, old fashioned down and dirty blues.” Formed in the fall of 1992, the L.A. Bluescasters is a six-piece blues/rhythm and blues band from the Pasadena area. The band’s music includes traditional and contemporary blues as well as rhythm and blues, swing, and original compositions. While the Bluescasters’ music has included forays into other genres over the past 15 years, it never strays too far from its blues roots. The band’s musical influences include Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Peter Green, Albert King, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, the Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton. The L.A. Bluescasters have recorded two albums and have played numerous blues festivals, clubs and concert venues throughout the Southland, including House of Blues, the Glendale Blues Festival, B.B. King’s, the Trubador, and the Baked Potato. |
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 Charley Cazares — vocals, harmonica. Charley’s singing style has been compared the vocal stylings of Big Joe Turner and Howlin’ Wolf. He has performed many different styles of music—including reggae, rock, pop, and country—yet has remained true to his blues roots. His influences include Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Booker T. and the MGs, Eric Clapton, and the Allman Bros. He has performed on many Southern California stages such as The Trubador, Madame Wong’s, the Palomino, F.M. Station, and The Rainbow.
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 Rick Del Carmen — guitar, vocals. A native of the Philippines, Rick discovered the blues in the high school and from the U.S. Naval Base Radio in Manila. His influences range from Frank Sinatra to Nat King Cole and James Taylor, but his blues idols remain those he was first exposed to — B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy. During the day, Rick works as a storyboard artist for the Sony Corporation.
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 Mike Taylor — piano, Hammond organ, vocals. Mike began playing piano at age nine and later majored in music for two years at Cal Poly Pomona, where he played in jazz and lab bands in the early ‘80s . His influences include keyboardists Chick Corea, Vince Guaraldi, and Thelonius Monk. He has played in a variety of jazz, blues, rock, and pop bands since 1979. He also has worked a variety of solo and group performances, including piano lounge music, jazz trio dates, as an accompanist for various vocalists, and as a church accompanist.
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 Bobby Waite — guitar, mandolin, vocals. Bobby started playing guitar at age 16. He later attended Mt. SAC in the early ’70s and played percussion in the Mt. SAC Jazz Band. He has played a variety of music and a variety of bands, including blues, rock, and country. His strongest influences are guitarists who play the Fender Telecaster — Albert Lee and James Burton.
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 Tony Rivera, Jr. — bass. Tony started playing guitar at age 12 and later switched to the bass. A resident of Whittier, Tony has been influenced by blues, jazz, and funk bassists. Some of his influences include Johnny B. Gladden of Alligator Records, Roco Prista of Tower of Power, and funk/jazz bassist Marcus Miller.
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Bill Spoke — Bill is native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania began drumming career in high school with friends in a garage band. He later studied at the prestigious Berkley College of Music in Boston, while there learned to read charts, studied theory and harmony. Relocating to Los Angeles in the early 80's, working with a string of bands and eventually led him performing with legendary Be-Bop bassist Charlie Haden, 60's R&B singer J.J. Jackson. His drumming style has been described by many as a blend of melodious rhythms, and pure feel.
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Marcus Cazares — manager. Marcus has managed the Bluescasters since 1994. He has arranged a number of appearances for the band, including the House of Blues, B.B. King’s, the Glendale Blues Festival, the Museum of Comtemporary Art in Los Angeles, and the Trubador. |
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L.A. Bluescasters Timeline |
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- Fall 1992 - Band forms in Eagle Rock, CA., originally called The Killing Floor.
- 1994-97 — Regular performers in Old Towne Pasadena clubs — McMurphy’s, Old Towne Pub, the Muse, etc.
- June 1996 — Played the Glendale Blues Festival headlined by Jefferson Starship and Elvin Bishop.
- May 1998 — Performed for the Mt. SAC Foundation’s first Hot Blues/Cool Jazz concert with Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers.
- October 1998 — Played for Gov. Gray Davis campaign fundraiser.
- 2000 — First CD, On The Move, receives airplay on KLON, KLOS, and KCPK radio stations.
- February 2000 — Drew a capacity crowds at B.B. King’s, Universal City.
- May-October 2000 — Worked as the weekend house band for the Rusty Pelican Restaurant, Glendale.
- September 2000 — Recognized in Billboard Magazine, for charitable performances at the City of Hope’s “Walk for Hope” fundraiser. The Bluescasters have performed for this fundraiser for four years.
- July 2003 — Rocked the House of Blues, Hollywood.
- June 2003-May 2004 — Recording and mixing sessions for second CD, See You in the Morning.
- October 2006 — See You in the Morning released.
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