Harlem Blues Project

Jerry Dugger, the bassist, is a Harlem native. He is a 27-year veteran of the New York City blues scene. Jerry is famous for making his audience part of his act; foot stomping and audience participation are a regular part of his performance as he wants them to have the best blues experience possible. Jerry has worked with The Holmes Brothers, James Cotton, Eddie Kirkland, Little Milton and Hubert Sumlin.

Junior Mack, guitarist/singer, is a New Jersey native. Self-taught, he has been playing guitar since the age of nine. Influenced by Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Jan Akkerman and Wes Montgomery, he deftly displays these influences, although the foundation of his playing lies in the soulfulness of gospel and blues. Vocally, his influences are all gospel: The Soul Stirrers, with Sam Cooke and Paul Foster, The Sensational Nightingales, with Reverend Julius Cheeks; later on, he discovered Greg Allman. An opportunity to play for the late Pops Staples and the encouraging reaction from both Pops and Mavis Staples was the first in a chain of events that drove Junior to present his interpretation of the blues to a wider audience. Junior has sat in or worked with The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph, Dickey Betts and Honeyboy Edwards. Junior has also recorded an excellent CD, Live Adventures.

Saron Crenshaw’s love is the blues and he has been inspired by some of the greatest singers and players of all time — B.B. King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy, to name a few. Saron plays a Gibson “Lucille” model guitar signed by B.B. King himself. He is a powerful entertainer and is never afraid to take his performance straight into the audience.

Barry Harrison, the drummer, spent five and a half years with the legendary Johnny Copeland, and after his passing went on to spend six years working with his daughter, Shemekia Copeland. Barry has also worked with Sonny Rhodes, Eddie Kirkland, Phil Guy and Lonnie Shields.