Honeyboy - Harmonica & Vocals
John "Honeyboy" Turner and Harvey Brindell go back two decades to when they put together Honeyboy Turner & Cryin' Heart. They toured together throughout the nineties opening for Mighty Joe Young, James Harman, Jimmy Thackery, Magic Slim and many others. Honeyboy embodied the spirit of the great front man harp players that he so idolized. They released "Preachin the Blues" on the ismest label in 1994. Honeyboy moved to Madison Wisconsin in 1997 and joined Cadillac Joe and the Blind Wolf Blues Band. They released an album and quickly began getting attention in Mad Town. Honeyboy moved back to Lincoln in 2000 and had a short run with a band called the Blues Cruisers who jammed with Magic Slim, Nick Holt and Chubby Carrier. During his playing with the Cruisers, he joined forces with Sean Benjamin and recorded Sean's fantastic self-titled cd "Big Highways". Their harmonica and guitar duo were featured on River City Folk with Tom May. When Honeyboy and Harvey realized their paths were crossing again, they both jumped at the opportunity for a blues reunion that's been a long time in the making.
Harvey - Guitar & Vocals
Harvey Brindell learned his craft by listening to some of the local guitar players while he was living around Macon, GA. Not a bad place to get educated considering that it was the early seventies and Capricorn Records/Studios was in full swing and homebase for such bands as The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Wet Willie. What that meant was that on any given night you could walk into one of the local clubs, places like Grants Lounge and run into Duane or Dickey or ........ Harvey took full advantage of this by hanging on every opportunity to see these guys playing live and asking question about style, technique, playing in a band, and life on the road. Several attempts at local bands and a move in 1985 to Lincoln, NE. led to Harvey's first success as a guitar player in a blues band, The Honeyboy Turner Band. After the demise of Turner's band in the late 90s, Harvey joined with several other local musicians to form The Hydramatics, a successful jump blues band. The Hydramatics underwent several band member changes and eventually became Jukehouse. After a couple of years of constant gigging, Harvey decided it was time for a break. BUT NOW HE'S BACK !
Homey - Drums & Vocals
Don "Homey" Holmquist is The Blues Orchestra's first call drummer.
Don grew up on a drum throne, providing he has grown up at all. His
dad was on the UNL drum line in the 50's and was a jazz drummer when
Don was growing up in Lincoln. Childhood idols were Buddy Rich, Gene
Krupa, Keith Moon, John Bonham, and, unbeknownst to him, session
drummer Hal Blaine. Don played in school bands and stage bands, and
debuted his rock 'n' roll talents at a junior high assembly with the
Overland Vegetable Stagecoach Band playing the same 4 songs over and
over again.
Since then, he has played with a variety of bands and musicians
including the Specs with Matthew Sweet, The Community Concert band
with his father (tag-teaming in the percussion section), the Execs,
King Korn, the Rotating Power Tools, Blue Collar, Rockin Billy & the
Redhots, Mac McCune, Jim Williamson, Andy Hall, Tom Larsen and for
the Lincoln Community Playhouse. He is also currently in a rock &
blues band called The Cronin Bros.
Don has attended seminars with Ed Shaunnesey, Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd,
and Glen Valez, to name a few. He is a member of the Percussive Arts
Society and has enjoyed the PAS international conventions.
Blues music introduced Don Ho to a new musical learning curve, a
surprise because Blues music is not as easy as it sounds to play
well. He loves the diversity in The Blues Orchestra and enjoys the
high energy on stage and his fun-loving band mates, some of whom he
has known since his youth (a long time ago). Don plays Yamaha,
Slingerland, and Tama Drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads, and Vic
Firth Sticks and is currently working toward endorsements with these
companies.
Brian - Keyboard
Brian Hull has been playing gigs as long as he can remember. He would get up in front of assemblies in the auditorium in elementary school and play the songs that were hits of the day. He never stopped ! His keys add depth to the sound of The Blues Orchestra. He's energetic, creative, and a master of improvisation. Brian's style is an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, rock, country and classical music. 'B' has spent years traveling the United States, performing from coast to coast. Having lived in Vegas and L.A., he had the opportunity to play with some of the best musicians around. His playing style is always in high demand regardless of where he plants his roots. And his outgoing personality and great story telling always keeps the crowd energized. Ask him what his favorite beverage is and he'll tell you it's "the 4th one". Never underestimate the B-man. Just when you think he's given you all he's got, he throws some tasty, unexpected lick at you.
Keith - Bass & Vocal
Keith Cornelius started his professional career as a road musician at the tender age of 14. He had
to be escorted out of the bars when the band went on break and couldn't return until
the break was over. He spent his summers on the road and played weekends during the winter
while helping out on the family farm. Then Nashville called. He answered and lived and
worked out of Nashville for 2 years. He was then approached by one of his best friends to
join him in Miami as the bassplayer in John Davidsons backup band. Keith had just recently
married and his new bride said he had to make a choice. He still say's he made the wrong
one. He's played Country, Bluegrass, Classic Rock and....Da Blues. He's particularly fond
of Delbert McClinton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford...well there isn't enough
room to list them all. He wants to die on stage of anything other than a gunshot wound.
He's come close several times. Ask him
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