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Member Since: 2/4/2007
Band Website: bluelinehighway.com
Band Members:Blue Line Highway is John Leedes, Julia Dooley, Melissa McKenna, and Ray Alfano
John Leedes
John has played everything from space jams to edgy pop in such local favorites as The Flipside, Left Exit, Thelma Shook, and Whistler's Mother. In high school he played with Dave Schools, who went on to found Widespread Panic. John currently plays with The Reaction, the Harrison Deane Band, King Solomon's Marbles, Squalor Hollow Boyz, and the Bart Chucker Band, and sits in with Amy Henderson, Dave Pollard, Wendy Pace, and others. He has shared stages with Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Little Feat, Rick Derringer, NRBQ, J. Geils, Melvin Seals, Donna Godchaux MacKay, and the David Nelson Band.
Julia Dooley
A singer and songwriter originally from the foothills of southwest Virginia, Julia joined the band in 2003. Her musical journeys have allowed her to share stages with James King, Jack Lawrence, the Slack Family, Squalor Hollow, Neko Case, the Legendary Shackshakers, and the Carpenter Ants. She is also a member of Engine 143, the well-known Carter Family tribute band. Julia's distinctive blues-influenced vocals help define Blue Line Highway's unique sound.
Melissa McKenna
Melissa, a founding member of Blue Line Highway, is its principal songwriter. At six she was handed her first guitar when her uncle won it in a poker game. Over the years and through a wide range of life experiences she developed distinctive styles of songwriting and fingerpicking, unbound by convention. Her lyrics and original musical approach are major contributors to Blue Line Highway's sound.
Ray Alfano
Ray Alfano is from Long Island, NY. At 16, after playing guitar for several years, Ray took up the bass, and played the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut club scenes with such bands as The Brats and Boxcar Poodle. Ray moved to Virginia in 1988 and quickly met new friends and musicians. Ray joined the Blue Line Highway lineup in 2006.
Influences: Allman Brothers Band, The Band, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, The Grateful Dead, It's A Beautiful Day, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, Rickie Lee Jones
Sounds Like: "Mix up bluegrass, folk, rock, country, shake and pour"
--Greg Hershey, Richmond.com
Record Label: www.LostCatRecords.com
Type of Label: Indie