Wendy & the Soulshakers formed in 1990, when Wendy Rich moved to the Tampa Bay area and met guitarist and band founder Steve RED Lasner. They joined forces with bassist Steve Way....and various drummers through the 90s (Calvin Cradick, Jim Magnarella,GLENN EVANS, Paul Glynn, Jimmy Mouton,Dennis Laak,Erik Dempsey) before meeting current drummer Duane Plikunas in 1999.
The first 10 years of the band we always had keyboards. Janet Street, Pat Geoffrey, Gentleman John Street (Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets), Kelly Mitong & Dwight Champagne were some of our past memebers. Dwight Champagne is on our new cd. We dropped to a 4 piece for most in-town gigs....but still use keyboards at bigger events.
Steve Way retired in 2005 due to health issues. Vince Caruso and Sir Andrew played with the band through the smmer of 2007. Recently, the band has joined with singer/songwriter/bassist Dwayne Slayton.....(who penned the song "I Have Loved You" on the new CD "THIS TIME").
The Soulshakers have been a mainstay in the Bay Area for the past 17 years, playing hundreds of venues in Florida and up the East coast and some in Germany.Some notable events include:TAMPA BAY BLUES FESTIVAL, SARASOTA BLUES FEST, Dunedin Wines The Blues Fest, Mainsail Arts Festival, TASTE OF PINELLAS, Edison Festival Of Lights(FtMyers), Venice Beach Sharkstooth Festival, Johns Pass Seafood Festival, Friday Extra Concert Series, Hyde Park Concert Series, FIRST NIGHT ST.PETE, First Friday St.Pete.....So many club venues, I'll only list a few:17 yrs of Sunday Night BLUES Jam at the RINGSIDE CAFE,
Skipper's Smokehouse, Dan Marino's Martini Bar, Bayport Inn, Dino's Jazz Bar, Daquairi Deck, Jimmy B's, Cadillack Jacks,Limeys, Harveys 4th Street, Osceola Tavern, Traders, Fast Eddies.Wendy Rich has produced 3 CDs for the band:
1998 - FEELS LIKE I"M DROWNING -all originals written by Wendy
2001- LIVE AT THE RINGSIDE
2007 - THIS TIME
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