Biography
The Blue Devils are:
Richard Studholme: guitar, mandolin, vocals
Jim Leverton: bass, vocals
Tom Jaworski: guitar, vocals
Graham Walker: drums.
Formed about 11 months ago, The Blue Devils are one of those rare bands that occasionally surface who play more than just the usual blues standards. They play blues, swing, cajun, soul, rock'n'roll, folk ballads, classic "pop" songs, and goodtime bar room roots music..plus their own classic material.
The Devils are first and foremost a BAR band, as well as being able to rock out on the biggest stages with the biggest acts on the biggest festivals.
They're not a young band either...although guitarist Tom Jaworski is still in his twenties. There are years of history and experience here.
Guitarist and vocalist Richard Studholme has been the guitar player on many great albums, having recorded with Hubert Sumlin, Big Jay McNeely, Lowell Fulson, Carey Bell, Eric Bibb, Louisiana Red, Charles "Honeyboy" Otis, The Holmes Brothers, Arthur Brown, Le Rue, and many more.
He also plays harp, accordion, mandolin and bass, plus a little saxophone..watch this space! He is also a talented producer and engineer, having worked in this sphere with Eric Bibb and Arthur Brown in particular. Having lived in NYC for some years and playing with some of the "greats" while out there as a member of Bill Diceys band, he has evolved a unique rhythmic guitar style steeped in '50's blues, swamp, and R&B, yet all his own.
Bass player Jim Leverton is perhaps the best known of the Devils. Beginning his career in the '60s Jim played with The Walker Brothers, Joe Brown, Rory Gallagher, Juicy Lucy, and Savoy Brown.
Jim also has a close association with Jimi Hendrix, (through his late friend Noel Redding), and indeed toured with Jimi as a member of Noels band Fat Mattress. Jim also appears on Hendrix's 1st album "Are You Experienced", as a backing vocalist on the song "Fire" together with Trevor Burton of The Move. Jim has also spent a long time in America as a session player in Nashville, and for Atlantic Records, where he became a good and personal friend of Ahmet Ertegun, the label founder. There are really too many credits to list for Jim.. He spent 14 years with Steve Marriott (Small Faces Humble Pie) in various lineups, such as The Official Receivers, Packet Of Three.. Jim also plays great guitar and piano, (indeed, played piano with Rory Gallagher) has a fantastic voice, and is a strong and prolific songwriter.
Probably one of the most sympathetic, and certainly one of the best musicians in the UK, Jim's bass can only be described as perfect!
Guitarist Tom Jaworski has been gigging on and off with the Devils almost from the beginning. It is a measure of how good the band is, that they can keep the interest of a young, talented and seriously good player like Tom.
He first met Richard through a band called "The Black Olives" (from Muldova!!!)whose album Richard was recording.
Tom was also writing and recording with Phee Johnston, one of their songs making the soundtrack of hit American TV show "Dawsons Creek" Richard produced the track, and also played slide guitar.. A mutual love of The Beatles, Tom Petty, and music generally, kept Tom and Richard in touch, although now Richard is playing him Jimmy Reed songs... Tom has had other musical commitments in the meantime, but is playing more gigs with the Devs. The present lineup allows Richard to play different intruments live, adding much more flavour to the sound.
Tom has a very solid, economic style, based on his Vox AC30/Telecaster set up, and his more contemporary approach to older material. This, together with his occasional use of alternate tunings and capo, has really given him something new, a rootsy rocking style of his own. An exciting, brilliant and effective soloist, with a dense, solid sound, Tom is also a sensitive acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Drummer Graham Walker is very well known for his work with Gary Moore on "Still Got The Blues", Garys's groundbreaking CD. He also played on the "Blues For Greeny" CD, a tribute to Peter Green, and appears in the DVD.
Graham has toured with Gary Moore of course, and still works with him from time to time. He has also worked with Mick Abrahams and many others, including B.B. King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Hubert Sumlin, Mick Jagger and the sadly missed George Harrison.
He is a very in demand session player as well, and can be found in the charts more often than not! He appears on Richard solo CD "...Zoned"....
Graham is a solid, uncomplicated, and brilliant drummer, making it seem deceptively easy to play the hardest swing this side of Mars at the highest level in all musical genres.