The Riblickers
The Riblickers BIO
The musicians in The Riblickers met in Chicago, Illinois, in 1996. Singer, Guitar and Harmonica player, Josh, and Bass player, Alberto, met and played for the first time at a gig that Josh had at a Backyard summer party on the north side of Chicago. Alberto sat in on Bass for a few songs with Josh at the party. They became fast friends, and soon enough started playing gigs with each other in and around Chicagoland. In 2002, Josh and Alberto started playing some of their gigs with the Legendary Drummer and Chicago Blues Hall of fame inductee, Willie "The Touch" Hayes. He was often too busy playing on tours throughout the US and Europe to be in a local band full time. When Willie was in Chicago, he would play gigs with Josh and Alberto. In 2004, Josh moved to Florida. Josh and Alberto continued to stay in touch. Soon after, Alberto booked some gigs in Boston. Josh and Willie joined Alberto in Boston for these gigs. They called the "band", "It's a Man-Thing". Thereafter, gigs in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix, Tuscan, Chicago and Milwaukee followed. It was at Alberto's Farewell party in Chicago in 2014 (he was moving to Dallas) that Josh, Alberto and Willie decided to be known as The Riblickers. Ever since then, The Riblickers have always played as a 3 piece with "SPECIAL GUESTS" singers and musicians. Some of these "SPECIAL GUESTS" include: Ed Wooten (Guitar), Ryan Suzuka (Harmonica), Sharon Lewis (Vocals), Earthman (Harmonica), Jim Johnson (Vocals and Guitar), Mojo Mark Cihlar (Vocals and Guitar), Frederico de Hoyos (Vocals And Guitar), Sidhu Gangadharan (Percussionist), Lorenzo Thompson (Vocals), Pete Foss (Guitar and Vocals), Tall Paul Sabal (Harmonica and Vocals), John Ricco (Percussionist), Shedrick Davis (Guitar) and John Seydewitz (Percussion).
Josh Harp--Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Josh was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He started listening to Blues early in life. His first Blues record was Robert Johnson. By the time Josh was 20 years old, he had seen BB KIng, Alberto King, Koko Taylor, Gatemouth Brown, James Cotton, Boots Roots, Johnny Winter, Big Jack Johnson, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Blue Bland, Lurrie Bell and SOB, play live. Josh moved to Chicago in 1990, and soon afterwards started playing the Blues in different venues throughout Chicagoland. During the '90's, Josh played with The Killing Board Blues band, The Soul Kings, Just Us, and The JoanBaby Blues Revue. Some Blues performers he has shared the stage with include, Eddie C Campbell, Nolan Struck, Milton Houston, Lil Howlin Wolf, Robert "Huckleberry Hound" Wright, Billy Branch, Mad Dog Lester Davenport, Lurrie Bell, Killer Ray Allison, Sharon Lewis, Willie Cobbs, Johnny Dollar, to name a few. Now based in Los Angeles, CA, Josh continues to play the Blues and record music. He also is an Actor and Teacher.
Albert de Hoyos--Bass
Alberto was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, His passion for the Bass was influenced by listening to Blues records by Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Jimi Hendrix. Alberto studied Medicine and became a Heart and Chest Surgeon in Chicago. He immersed himself in the local Blues scene, and started playing gigs when his busy schedule allowed, sitting in with legendary performers such as Pinetop Perkins and Lurrie Bell. Today he practices Thoracic Surgery in Winston Salem NC, and plays the Blues whenever his schedule allows him to.
Willie "The Touch" Hayes--Drums, Vocals
Willie was born in Clarksdale, Arkansas and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Willie became a professional drummer in his early teens. He is now a Legendary Drummer who has toured the world with a Who's Who list of Blues Performers including Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Koko Taylor, Lurrie Bell, Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, to name a few. Willie is a Grammy award winning Drummer and a member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame since 2014. Willie currently lives in Chicago, plays drums and is an Actor.
https://delmark.com/2020/08/celebrating-master-drummer-singer-actor-willie-the-touch-hayes/
Current "Special Guests":
PETE FOSS-Guitar and Vocals. Pete played guitar on The Riblickers STINK EYE ALBUM . Pete lives in Chicago.
TALL PAUL SABAN-Harmonica and Vocals. Paul played on The Riblickers STINK EYE ALBUM. Paul lives in Madison Wisconsin.
LORENZO THOMPSON-Vocalist extraordinaire. Lorenzo regularly tours the world singing Vocals. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. https://www.lorenzothompson.com/
SHEDRICK DAVIS-Guitar. Shed makes a Guest Apperance on The Riblickers TOUCH OF THE BLUES ALBUM. Shed lives in Los Angeles, California.