As far as any of us can recall... the 11th Hour Band got together in the late 1970s to do some gigs at the legendary-now-defunct Speakeasy blues club in Cambridge, MA.
Even at that time, all the band members had been around the block a few times. Among other gigs, Paul had toured Europe with Big Mama Thornton and others as part of the American Folk Blues Festival; Chuck had played with Van Morrison and Colwell-Winfield; Billy had torn up Detroit with the Gold Brothers; Rosy had recorded with Sunnyland Slim and backed up John Lee Hooker with the Billy Colwell Band; and everyone but Rosy had been a member of James Montgomery's Band. (James didn't need a second harp player.)
The 11th Hour Band released Hot Time in the City Tonight, their one and only record (remember LPs?) in 1985, to some critical acclaim, but somehow still managed to maintain their semi-anonymity and underground cult status. Tone-Cool later raided a live rehearsal tape to include 'UFO Alert" on the 1991 Boston Blues Blast vol. I compilation.
The band played around Boston and the East Coast through the 1980s, then a bit less in the 1990s, then... well, put it this way: the most recent gig was in Somerville, MA, Winter of 2004 (or was it 2003...) – during a bliinding blizzard. The band has NOT broken up, however... just being highly selective about their bookings. Watch for upcoming gigs...
