Bill Rhoads And The Party Kings

Bill Rhoads and the Party Kings play at the Oregon Crafters Market on the Rong Stage and Highwater Grill and Rong Bar. Blues singer and harmonica wiz Bill Rhoades was born in Eugene, OR. In junior high school he fell under the influence of British Invasion bands like the Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Yardbirds, which in turn led him to check out Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Slim Harpo, and the other American blues artists these bands often covered. Rhoades fell totally under the spell of the blues, and started playing harmonica. While he was in high school he began playing harp and singing in a band called the Rhythm Kings, which morphed into the Party Kings after Rhoades graduated. The Party Kings worked as the house band at a Eugene club called Taylor’s, where they often backed up Albert Collins, Michael Bloomfield, and other blues artists who were passing through town.

Have a listen here.