(Layout provided by Mike Industries .)
The Blues Piggies, headed up by guitarist Mike Carter, are an offshoot of a classic rock band and a punk rock band back in the early 1990's.
After several personnel changes the Blues Piggies have become a regular at Doc's Rock and Doc's Blues for the Children's Wish Foundation. They have played The Commodore, The Yale, Rics on Rics, 86th Street, Swangard Stadium, and many local festivals and bars.
Long term band members Steve Moore (Vocals and Sax), Dean Greenwood (Guitar), Rob Carter (Bass), and Bob Haywood (Drums) have been with the band since the early 90's, joined by vocalist and songwriter Rachel Redfern four years ago and most recently by the multi-talented Lou Crockett (Keys and B3). With this lineup the Blues Piggies have found their niche as Vancouver's Rockin' Funkin' Jazzy Blues Band.
Rachel Redfern - Lead Vocalist
Born in Sheffield England, migrated to Canada in 1975. Grew up in Victoria.
First began singing in Calgary at an audition, came in first among 500 contestants.
Returned to Victoria and met up with friends who owned a studio named Electric Cafe Recording Studios. ECRS helped me produce my first original CD called PIECE OF MY SOUL, songs I wrote about my life. My original band on the island was called REDFERN. Did mostly recording. I wanted to do more live playing and get myself out there. Decided to move to Vancouver to see what it offered me. Joined THE BLUES PIGGIES 4 years ago. I felt like i had found my niche. Playing lots of gigs and having fun is what I'm all about.
My future goals are still the same, to write more songs and play more live. Would love to get signed or sell my songs... either way music is in my heart and is still a piece of my soul.
Steven Moore - Saxophones, Vocals
Playing sax for 35 years. Joined the Whalley BC Legion Band in 1971 and toured England in 1972 with them. Left the Legion band to join Harry Mayfield's Music Makers Big Band. Played all over B.C. and the 1974 Spokane Worlds Fair with the Music Makers. Moved to Toronto in 1977 for College and graduated in 1981 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Continued to play with various bands and musicians in Toronto, and moved back to Vancouver in 1981. With 5 Chiropractors and a Medical doctor formed the rock band Nervus System, which rocked Vancouver for 11 years. Currently co-fronting the Blues Piggies and playing in Robby Montgomery and Friends, which released their debut soft jazz CD in November 2004. Has shared the stage with such musicians as Gerry Doucette, Alfie Zappacosta, Long John Baldry and Sybil Thrasher.
Mike Carter - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Born in the Black Country ,West Midlands UK.
First encounter with American music via Radio Luxembourg and American German Forces network radio.
When friends were listening to the early Beatles, Mike was listening to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Also other influences Bessie Smith, Mez Mezzro and Sidney Bechet. Was turned onto playing the blues by Parry Foster a Chicago refugee to the Black Country who was instrumental in starting the Chicken Shack Blues club in Wollaston that spawned many West M..dland Blues rock performers.
In the Mid 60's played in many bands touring nationally and internationally.
At Liverpool University teamed up with Percy Jones, Martin Pilkington, Melvin Petersen, Andy Roberts, Mike the Historian in the band the TRIP and had there last gig at Joe Boyd's Underground Freakout Club in London at the end of the summer of love in 1967.
Med School and the hell of long residencies then replaced music for almost 10 years. Slowly got back into playing and on arrival in BC met guitar ace Scott Pritchard and formed a life long friendship based on a love of good beer and Music. in the interior played with "the Scott Pritchard Band", "TOBY", Heartwood, and Peter Gooch's "Spare Thyme".
After moving to Vancouver organized the Doc's Rock for the Children’s Wish Foundation and later the Doc’s Blues. Played with Aural fixation, Code Blues , Chekered Pig and finally with the Bluespiggies who have gone thru many forms over the last few years. Met up with guitar coach and local guitar god Rob Montgomery and have had the pleasure of performing with Incognito back in the 90's and a few acoustic blues outings with Sherman Doucette and Rob Montgomery.
As Mike starts to wind his Emergency Medicine career down he intends to rack up the musical intensity and looks forward to playing lots at clubs and festivals in the near future.
Dean Greenwood – Guitar, Vocals
Born Brantford, Ontario Arrived in Vancouver, never to leave, 1981
Guitar and backing vocals
Instrument - G&L ASAT Tele
Early influences - Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Dick Dale, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page.
Started playing guitar at age 10, minimal formal training
Former member of Vancouver based rock bands "Nervus System" and "Aural Fixation"
Day job - Chiropractor
Married, 2 kids
Original Blues Piggie and proud of it!
House Beers - Kilkenny, Granville Island Lager
Coolest thing - being on stage with my kids
Couldn't do it without the support of my beloved wife, Joan.
Lou Crockett – Keyboards
Born Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Influences: My Mom and Dad. (Mom played piano. Dad played harmonica.) Jerry Lee Lewis, Floyd Crammer, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Joey D, Groove Holmes, Booker T Jones, Buddy Guy, Paul Butterfield, Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, The Band, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Allman Brothers.
Bitten by the performance bug with my first band in high school. Moved to London, Ontario from Sarnia to go to art school. Met Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks while attending art school. Auditioned and played with the Hawks for a brief period 'til they discovered I was underage. Took a break from art school to tour the southern states playing piano with a group from St. Louis Missouri... cut my musical teeth on Rockabilly as it is played in Missouri and Arkansas.
Returned to art school, bought a Wurlitzer electric piano, discovered Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Booker T Jones, revisited Robbie Robertson’s amazing guitar sound and Garth Hudson’s incredible skills... went out and rented a Hammond M100 and formed my own Blues/Jazz/Pop group The Johnny Stevens Sextet. Played keys backing up John all over Ontario. We were picked up by Johnny Cash’s manager Saul Holiff who changed our name to "Johnny and the Canadians"! (go figure). Recorded for Columbia Records NY. Moderate success.
Moved to Vancouver in the late '60s. Brought recordings of the Hawks and some Chicago blues greats with me. Met guitarist Frank Allison. Made him listen to my recordings. Frank sold his big ol' Gibson and found a Telecaster, started listening to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, Robbie Robertson, Paul Butterfield et al. Almost overnight Frank was transformed into a kick-ass blues guitarist. With Frank Allison on guitar, myself on Hammond, Barry and Tommy Collins on vocals, Ron Short on drums and John Purse on bass we formed "Mojo". Played all the major clubs in Vancouver. Along the way backed up the Coasters, the Drifters, Dick and Dee Dee to name a few, then hit the road with our own R&B, Funk, Blues show band "Mojo Co."
"Retired" from the fray for a short time. Started yet another group, "Fat Back Cain," a blues and funk club band with radio television and film star, Bill Reiter. Great fun.
"Retired" again from the public music scene and concentrated on recording and writing music sound tracks for various animation, motion picture and television projects. Been writing and producing my own songs and tunes while working as an illustrator and animator on various commercial projects including an MGM feature film.
Finally found my dream machine, a Hammond B3 and Leslie 900, fell back in love with live performance... found the amazing Blues Piggies through Piggies drummer Bob Haywood. Bitten again. I'm back at it LIVE and lovin' it! Thanks Bob!
Robert "Handsome Bastard" Carter - Bass
Model. Artist. Philosopher. Lover. Statesman.
Robert J. Carter, Esquire, is a pig of many talents. To the Blues Piggies, Robert brings his unparalleled mastery of the bass guitar. The low, dull, pulse-pounding, steady, rhythmic roar of the bass' sonic feedback has been a fascination for this enigmatic piggie since the time he was still scheming to distinguish himself from the rest of the litter. Whether using his talents to create a frenzied Bacchanalian orgy of Rock n' Roll, or wallowing in a dirty groove of Blues, this pig is ready to deliver as an essential part of the rhythmic backbone of the Blues Piggies.
A founding member of the Pigs, the "handsome bastard" is perhaps best known for the sense of style and class that he brings to the band.
Bob Haywood - Drums
Drumming veteran from Vancouver's huge R&B scene in the 60's and 70's. House band member for "The Incentives" at Oil Can Harry's club, plus various gigs at Pharaoh's Retreat, The Savoy, Lassiter's Den, The Grooveyard, etc. Loves playing with the Blues Piggies at various venues, includiing the Commodore and the Yale.