The Robert Heft Blues Band

The Robert Heft Blues Band
Live at B. B. King's Blues Club
Los Angeles, CA.

For Booking Information

Please Contact:

Robert Heft
Cell: 818-400-6294
E-mail: bbenderrrr@aol.com

For Music and Video, please visit:
www.myspace.com/robertheft

After 35 years and over 3000 gigs of playing guitar professionally as a sideman for some incredibly talented artists, I had realized that I had never put my own band together and hit the stage as a bandleader and lead vocalist. My years of playing have always been rooted in the Blues, and after recording a CD of Classic Blues tunes, my family and friends pushed me to take some risks and head out to perform this music that I love so dearly. My stepson Jonathon, a fine drummer in his own right in the new rock music genre (that I am yet to understand) has had a firm hand in making me feel that I am in fact capable of leading my own Blues band. Diane, my wife, has been extremely supportive of me and my music, putting up with recording gear all over the house, new guitars and P. A. systems popping up in closets and bedrooms, and unconditionally watching as I redesign our new home into a recording studio. She has always said that I should put a band together and take on the challenges that come with it. My brother Harold, who has spent many years in Chicago, was also a driving force in getting me to think about fronting a Blues band. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you ....

The Robert Heft Blues Band

Robert Heft	Kurt Fries	Bill Ruffino	Rob Man

Robert Heft - Lead Guitar and Vocals - Robert was born in Washington, DC in 1956. He began his formal music education in third grade with the recorder, followed by six years of playing the trumpet. His interest in guitar started at age 12 and this was the beginning of a lifetime love for the instrument. Playing in high school rock and roll bands, he developed his chops listening to Alvin Lee, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, and various other artists ranging in styles from country and blues to progressive rock. It was during this period when Robert began playing slide guitar, emulating Duane Allman, Mick Taylor, Joe Walsh, Lowell George, and George Harrison. While playing clubs in Baltimore, Maryland, he earned his degree in Music Education. Moving to California in 1979, most of his gigs were in blues and country music venues. Now, with the Robert Heft Blues Band, Robert is on stage with some of Los Angeles' finest musicians. Please check out the Performance Dates page to see where you can come and hear us play some great blues.

Bill Ruffino - Bass Guitar and Vocals - Bill is an astounding bassist who hails from New Jersey. He has played with top talent nationally and has produced many top acts, most recently
Los Angeles' great blues master Jeff Jensen. Bill's unique style drives home the sound of
The Robert Heft Blues Band, as well his sense of melody and creative command of his instrument also singles him out as an individual talent to be reckoned with.

Kurt Fries - Keyboards and Vocals - Kurt was born in Fresno, California and now resides in Simi Valley. He majored in music composition at UCLA and has a BA in music education along with two teaching credentials, one in elementary education and another in music. While at UCLA, Kurt was employed by Playboy Records as a musician and went on to do demo production for Cliffie Stone and others while working steadily in various bands. He has played with Hank Thompson, Tony Booth, Bobby Bare, Steve Perry of Journey, Lou Diamond Phillips, Terri Clark and Jo Dee Messina, as well as opening for Ronnie Milsap, Southern Pacific, LeAnn Rimes, Freddie Fender, Charlie Daniels, Collin Raye, Diamond Rio, Billy Ray Cyrus, One Trick Pony and Willie Nelson. He has toured the Persian Gulf entertaining the armed forces and has played at many venues in the United Kingdom. Kurt was also music director for several shows at the Moorpark Playhouse and has taught music on a weekly basis at local elementary schools. Currently, he is the music director of a church in Camarillo. He is a published songwriter and performs regularly with his writing partner Deanna D'Amico-White as well as with The Robert Heft Blues Band, many local bands, sessions, engineering, and production work.

Rob Man - Drums - Rob was born in Orlando, FL . and graduated from Univ. of Miami with a degree in music. He has toured around the world and now calls Los Angeles home, residing in Sherman Oaks, CA. Rob has drummed and performed on stage for many top artists including Ron Dante from The Archies ("Sugar Sugar"), Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods ("Billy Don't Be A Hero"), Al Wilson ("Show & Tell"), Maxine Nightingale ("Right Back Where We Started From", "Lead Me on"), Andy Kim ("Rock Me Gently", Be My Baby"), Tony Burrows ("United We Stand", "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes"), Bobby "Boris" Picket ("Monster Mash"), and even Jeff Goldblum (yes! the actor plays piano). Rob has also performed with many top musicians (who have played with) Huey Lewis & The News, Tower Of Power, Richard Marx, Tina Turner, and more…and now brings his phenomenal talent to The Robert Heft Blues Band.