Blues Deville Band
Central Missouri's Hottest Blues/Rock Revue
Band History
Blues Deville was conceived in 1996 after guitarist Kyle Caraway left the Kansas City based King Alex and The Untouchables. Seeking out a bass player, Kyle found an enthusiastic volunteer in Wayne Johnson, with whom he had been working at a music store. The search for a drummer ended with Jefferson City local Steve Webb. Steve served as the original Blues Deville Drummer for about one year.
After Steve's departure, Bill Kauffmann joined the band. The connection just seemed natural so the Blues Deville party machine was underway.
The band toured endlessly for about 4 years laying down their special brand of party blues. From Muddy Waters and Robben Ford, to the Allman Brothers and ZZ Top, Blues Deville has shocked and suprised audiences with their high energy shows.
Opening for blues guitarist Corey Stevens, the band was told by several concert attendees (that weren't relatives believe it or not) that they put on a much better show than Mr. Stevens.
The Blues Deville power trio entertained crowds from 300-3500 people. Nothing kept them from delivering the most electrifying blues/rock show in the midwest.
Kyle took a sabbatical in early 2000 to realign some priorities. So from 2000-2006, the Blues Deville machine set silent.
Asked to play a dear friend's wedding reception, the band reformed with the addition of Hammond B3 organist Jim Cunningham (playing with Bill and Wayne in another project). Rehearsals went so well that the boys decided to play a "warm up" show prior to the wedding. The club was filled beyond belief at the number of Blues Deville fans that came out for a "one time only" party. The reception was stellar and the band played like they had never broken up.
After the wedding reception, talks ensued about officially regrouping and starting the groove machine back up.
The band has been back at it since 2006 and has since added the tenor saxophone magic of Tim Haas.
Capable of handling any size crowd and any level engagement....Blues Deville is always looking for the next show....
Read below for individual bio's.
After Steve's departure, Bill Kauffmann joined the band. The connection just seemed natural so the Blues Deville party machine was underway.
The band toured endlessly for about 4 years laying down their special brand of party blues. From Muddy Waters and Robben Ford, to the Allman Brothers and ZZ Top, Blues Deville has shocked and suprised audiences with their high energy shows.
Opening for blues guitarist Corey Stevens, the band was told by several concert attendees (that weren't relatives believe it or not) that they put on a much better show than Mr. Stevens.
The Blues Deville power trio entertained crowds from 300-3500 people. Nothing kept them from delivering the most electrifying blues/rock show in the midwest.
Kyle took a sabbatical in early 2000 to realign some priorities. So from 2000-2006, the Blues Deville machine set silent.
Asked to play a dear friend's wedding reception, the band reformed with the addition of Hammond B3 organist Jim Cunningham (playing with Bill and Wayne in another project). Rehearsals went so well that the boys decided to play a "warm up" show prior to the wedding. The club was filled beyond belief at the number of Blues Deville fans that came out for a "one time only" party. The reception was stellar and the band played like they had never broken up.
After the wedding reception, talks ensued about officially regrouping and starting the groove machine back up.
The band has been back at it since 2006 and has since added the tenor saxophone magic of Tim Haas.
Capable of handling any size crowd and any level engagement....Blues Deville is always looking for the next show....
Read below for individual bio's.
Kyle Caraway
Kyle began his musical career in the early 80's during the "big hair" era but always loved the blues.
Traveling all over the states of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas in various bands playing top 40 rock, Kyle constantly listened to his favorite blues tunes by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, and BB King.
In 1992, Kyle joined the Banastre Tarleton Band and gained a national sponsorship from Coors Light Beer and an endorsement with GHS Strings. They toured the midwest relentlessly and opened for numerous national acts.
In 1995, Kyle did a last minute fill in for Kansas City Blues legend King Alex Littlejohn. For the first time, Kyle was given the chance to play the music that had always felt more natural than any other style. A few days after the show, Kyle was asked to join Alex's band and thus began he first formal role as a blues guitarist. As a member of King Alex and The Untouchables, Kyle recorded two cd's and got invited to play at Europe's largest blues festival.
Kyle left the Untouchables in 1996 and wanted to pursue a blues project that allowed him to pursue his blues personality and launch his vision upon the region. Blues Deville was born in 1996.
Kyle has performed in bands that have opened for Foghat, Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Platters, The Diamonds, The Box Tops, and Corey Stevens.
Kyle began his musical career in the early 80's during the "big hair" era but always loved the blues. Traveling all over the states of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas in various bands playing top 40 rock, Kyle constantly listened to his favorite blues tunes by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, and BB King.
In 1992, Kyle joined the Banastre Tarleton Band and gained a national sponsorship from Coors Light Beer and an endorsement with GHS Strings. They toured the midwest relentlessly and opened for numerous national acts.
In 1995, Kyle did a last minute fill in for Kansas City Blues legend King Alex Littlejohn. For the first time, Kyle was given the chance to play the music that had always felt more natural than any other style. A few days after the show, Kyle was asked to join Alex's band and thus began he first formal role as a blues guitarist. As a member of King Alex and The Untouchables, Kyle recorded two cd's and got invited to play at Europe's largest blues festival.
Kyle left the Untouchables in 1996 and wanted to pursue a blues project that allowed him to pursue his blues personality and launch his vision upon the region. Blues Deville was born in 1996.
Kyle has performed in bands that have opened for Foghat, Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Platters, The Diamonds, The Box Tops, and Corey Stevens.
Wayne Johnson
It was a warm summer day when Wayne's dad drove up the drive with a Kay Bass and Silvertone amp in the back of the truck. Never knew at age 13 that this wonderful thing would last so long. Since then R/B, 80's Pop, Rock, Funk, Country, Motown, and finally the Blues in 1994 with Blues Deville has completed my journey.
Having worked in local music stores for years allowed me to work with many great artists, both local and national acts. Filling in the low end part of the group with a solid tone, while letting the rest of the band tell the story is my satisfaction. Once you find the right bunch of players to work with, it's never work.
It was a warm summer day when Wayne's dad drove up the drive with a Kay Bass and Silvertone amp in the back of the truck. Never knew at age 13 that this wonderful thing would last so long. Since then R/B, 80's Pop, Rock, Funk, Country, Motown, and finally the Blues in 1994 with Blues Deville has completed my journey. Having worked in local music stores for years allowed me to work with many great artists, both local and national acts. Filling in the low end part of the group with a solid tone, while letting the rest of the band tell the story is my satisfaction. Once you find the right bunch of players to work with, it's never work.
Bill Kauffman
Bill began playing drums in 1984 at the age of 13. With early influences such as Ian Paice of Deep Purple, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Steve Gadd, and Dave Weckl, he quickly developed a passion for Jazz and Rock music.In the late 80's he studied Jazz and music theory under Clarence Smith, an accomplished Jazz drummer and instructor at Central Methodist College and Marshall High School.
Bill began playing in bands in high school, starting with the power trio Omega and also occasionally setting in with jazz trios. In the early 90's he began playing in local bands in the Jefferson City area. For three years he traveled the western U.S. with country rock bands Southern Cross and The Powder River Band. Bill has played before crowds of more than 4,000 people and opened for headline acts such as Kenny Chesney and Highway 101.
In 1997, Bill joined Blues Deville. When the band re-emerged in 2006, he was eager to reunite with his old bandmates.
"Playing in this band, with this mix of music, and with this group of guys is more satisfying than any band I've ever played in"
Jim Cunningham
Born in the Motor City, Jim began playing at age five. He started playing professionally at age 12 and was a member of several of St. Louis' top bands through the late 60's and early 70's. He travelled to Clovis, New Mexico with the Happy Return band and recorded a single on the Cadet label in 1968. From 1969 to 1974, Jim played with several regional bands, including Purple Martin,Magna Crunch, and Tattoo,playing at rock clubs and concerts throughout the midwest and opening for national acts such as Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Brian Auger Trinity and The Five Man Electric Band. Jim's largest audience was at the Mississippi River Festival (40,000 people), where he played before The Who. Jim practiced law from 1977 to 2008, and was seen on stage with several Columbia area local bands, including the Rick Aiken Temporary Blues Band, Satcheldaddy, the Kansas City Street Band, Tequila Mockingbird and Dreams, whose rendition of popular Allman Brothers songs, played at a Shwagstock gathering is featured on YouTube. In 2006, Jim hooked up with Kyle, Bill, Wayne and Tim. He still plays the Hammond B-3 organ he bought in 1970. According to Jim, "there's just no other keyboard like it".Tim Haas
Playing saxophone for 25 years, Tim has been with Blues Deville since 2007.Prior to Blues Deville, Tim served time in a ten piece R&B band for two years. He also actively performs as a solo saxophonist/pianist in the Mid Missouri area and has entertained at many events since 1997.
