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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
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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.
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