Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band

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MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY



1968/69 Played in the Blake Street Gut Band in New Haven Connecticut.
1972-4 Played with Goin' Home and Central Heating in Ithaca New York.
1975 Moved to Chicago and played with New Earth Rhythm Band.
1976 Joined the House band at Theresa's Lounge in the South Side of Chicago. Played with Sammy Lawhorn and other members of Muddy Water's Band. Jammed with Johnny Winter.
1977 Joined Fenton Robinson Band. Toured U.S. and Canada. Jammed with Otis Rush. Performed at Chicago Fest.
1978 Played at Kingston Mines with Sonnyland Slim, Paul Butterfield, Hubert Sumlin and Sam Lay
1979 Joined Koko Taylor and the Blues Machine. Performed at several festivals which included Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins and Willie Dixon. Performed at Juneteenth Festival in Houston, Texas and Chicago Fest. Toured Mexico with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Son Seals, and Blind John Davis. Jammed with Willie Dixon and Little Brother Montgomery.
1980 Performed with Koko Taylor, opening for Bob Marley and the Wailers in Santa Cruz, California. Featured as lead guitarist with Big Mama Thornton and the Jay McShann Jazz Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Also played with Koko Taylor at Avery Fisher Hall. Recorded live with Koko Taylor at Chicago Fest.
1981-84 Played in Junior Wells and Buddy Guy Blues Band. Toured U.S.and Canada extensively.
1983 Played at Chicago Fest with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Played at Antone's in Austin, Texas; jammed with Brian Setzer, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan. Performed at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.
1985-88 Performed with The Kinks at the West End in Chicago. Performed with Junior Wells, James Cotton and others at Checkerboard Lounge, as well as with Keith Richard and Chuck Berry. Jammed with Tom Waits at Checkerboard Lounge. Performed with Robert Plant and Junior Wells at Checkerboard Lounge.
1989 Toured Brazil with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Etta James, Albert Collins and others.
1990 Performed at King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas with Junior Wells and Robert Junior Lockwood.
1991/2 Played Chicago Blues Fest with Junior Wells. Played Taste of Chicago with Junior Wells
1993 Formed Blue Lightning Band. Guest guitarist with Junior Wells at Chicago Blues Fest.
1994 Performed at W.C. Handy Awards with Junior Wells. Played lead guitar, toured France and Switzerland with Junior Wells. Played for Junior Wells during California Van Morrison tour. Jammed with Lou Rawls at Jack's Sugar Shack in LA. Began studio work for CD with guest artist Junior Wells.
1996 Played at annual RAMI Awards with Broadway Blues Band. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.
1997 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed at various venues in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.
1998 Nominated for RAMI Award. Performed in Chicago area. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival.
1999 Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Nominated for RAMI Award. Opened for Guess Who at Brookfest. Featured performer at Chicago Blues Festival with Lee Oscar and Jr. Wells Alumni Band. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Special guest guitarist with Koko Taylor at Rockford Blues Festival.
2000 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Jody Noa at annual 4th of July Bash. Played with Brooze Brothers. Played with Dan Noland and Blues Plus.
2001 Featured performer at Groove Walk. Performed at Rockford Blues Festival. Played with Brooze Brothers band at House of Blues.
2002 Nominated for RAMI Award. Won Best of Rockford Award and played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band.
2003 Nominated for RAMI Award. Played for Harley Davidson "Ride Home" at Kegel's Motorcyle Company. Toured with Liz Mandville Greeson.
2004 Played at Chicago Blues Exchange with Big Fun Blues Band and Liz Mandville Greeson. Nominated for RAMI Award. Recorded solo album "9 String Blues".
2005 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Bob Levis. Nominated for RAMI Award. Played at On The Waterfront Festival with Blue Lightning Band. Released "Blues For Theresa" CD.
2006 Played at Mendelssohn Club with Bob Levis and Ann Rabson. Nominated for RAMI Award.
2007 Played at Warrenville Fest with Jake & Elwood & Big Fun Band with Lonnie Brooks. Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Nominated for RAMI Award.
2008 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played at Warrenville Fest with Lam Jam Blues Band. Played at Sam Zell's Bithday Party with Big Fun Band. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.
2009 Played at Morton Grove 4th of July Fest with Fundamentals. Played Fridays in the Park with Blue Lightning Band. Played at House of Blues and Shaw's Crabhouse with Mississippi Heat. Nominated for 2 RAMI Awards in Best Solo and Best Blues Band categories.Won RAMI Award in Best Solo category.
2010 Won RAMI Award for Best Blues Band.