Welcome to the home of String Chemistry
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Mike Howard friend and Guitarist
I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Mike Howard, guitarist extraordinaire. I first met Mike when he was performing with the band, A Touch of Blues. The name of the band does not do justice to a guitarist like Mike. He is always at home with a guitar in his hands, no matter if he is playing Jazz, blues, standards or classical music.
Anyway, I owned a dinner night club and I hired the A Touch of Blues to perform on stage. I really did not know what to expect from this band because the drive behind the band was a Hammond B3 Organist, with Mike as the lead and rhythm guitar, a sax and a drummer.
When the music started, the organ was right there, out front and in your face. The drummer was cool, and the sax player was right on with that typical bluesy sax sound. The overall sound was good; but then, I heard Mike start to play and I could have sworn the heavens had opened up.
I have been a guitarist for over 40 years. I have managed restaurants and night clubs for almost as long. I have hired a lot of bands in that time and I have played in a lot of bands, but I have never heard a guitarist like Mike nor have I ever been able to achieve the sound and soul I heard Mike display that night and every night the band was booked to play my club.
His sound was warm and bright, not overpowering, as is the case with most lead players. He was just a notch in volume behind the Organ all the time. His sound was never lost and was always present and extremely kind to the ears. He knew exactly where to be. His rhythms could make you smile one minute and could bring tears to your eyes the next.
For me, both as a musician and a club owner, Mike's appearances at String Chemistry Café were always something I looked forward to. A true guitarist who understands that he has a God given talent and shares it with the world.
All of the members of String Chemistry and I salute Mike Howard, Guitarist extraordinaire.
Chris Devlin 12 string Guitar, Jorge Ramirez Bass Guitar, Joe Carducci Lead Guitar, George Pearson Drums, Phil Lucier Percussionist, Mike Wise Second lead Guitar, Earl Moore Keyboards, Hilde Hoecks Webdesigner, Robin Brown Sound Engineer, Ron Le Blanc Band Assistant
In Memory of Salvatore Caffarello better known on the blues circuit as HoneyBoy Dupree
Salvatore Caffarello better known at String Chemistry Cafe and on the blues circuit as HoneyBoy Dupree, an extremely talented blues singer and bass player, one of the best i have ever had the pleasure of knowing and having perform on my stage, and a friend who was there when i needed one, past away from a car accident on April 3rd of this year 2009.
HoneyBoy Dupree and the Smokehouse Players won the 2001 Arizona Blues Showdown earning the right to compete in the national competition in Tennessee. Sal grew up in New Jersey and had shared the stage with such blues and roots rock greats as Bobby "Blues" Bland, Delbert McClinton, the Nighthawks, and Big Jack Johnson.
In 2005, Sal won the semifinalist honors at the international songwriting competition for "Walking Sin" which appears on the bands "Anybody Seen My Baby " CD
Sal will be missed by everyone he knew and all those who loved his music. May God bless him and keep him close to his heart and by his side. To Sal's fellow band members our band String Chemistry sends our condolences, To Sal's family and friends our condolences and sympathy go out to you all.
We share your pain.
Chris Devlin and the members of the band String Chemistry
We want to send out a BIG thanks to Hilde Hoecks, a friend who currently lives in Belgium , but comes to visit us in Arizona on a regular basis.
She has been affiliated with the band for almost two years, is currently the designer and Webmaster for our website, and is in charge of CD sales in Europe . She is looking forward to becoming a permanent resident of Arizona , and we are looking forward to having her live here!
We gratefully appreciate her faithful support to us during production of the CD, and promotion of the band in our overseas market would not exist without her. Her tireless effort has meant a great deal to everyone involved. She is our number one fan, and is always willing to do whatever she can, whenever she can. Those who know and love her, as both a colleague and friend, have noticed the dedication she has shown both on a professional and personal level. We all look forward to seeing you this summer!
With all our love and appreciation:
Chris, Jorge and Joey