frank raven

Frank Raven is a veteran of legendary Chicago bands bohemia, Slammin'Watusis, The Blue Watusis, Iggy Yokam and His Famous Pogo Ponies, and The Frank Raven Band. Some of his earliest playing experiences on the Chicago scene include Blue Monday Jam Sessions with Lefty Dizz and Buddy Guy at the original Checkerboard Lounge on 43rd Street and a 4-year stint leading the Fast Frank Band of which John Milward, critic for the Chicago Reader and later Rolling Stone Magazine, wrote "This band makes the Ramones look like the Stones". Frank has studied music with Edward Wilkerson Jr. at the AACM School of Music and with Delmark recording artist Rich Corpolongo. Frank's recording credits include 6 records with bohemia including a Billboard "Hot Pick" and 2 albums with Sony Epic recording artists The Slammin' Watusis. His contributions on blues harp, saxophone, and songwriting helped set these groups apart from the pack and transcend their rock roots to become true examples of Chicago style music. The Blue Watusis "Welcome to the House of the Blues", Frank Raven and the Blue Watusis "Blues on a Stick", The Frank Raven Band's "Sunday Driver" and Chicago Breakdown", and most recently Frank Raven and Dave Menet's "Cadillac Baby...Live & Raw" all feature songs written by Frank Raven and Jim Desmond. Frank's harp playing is showcased on the as yet unreleased Iggy Yoakam album produced by John Langford and Dave Trumfio. His solo recordings include the highly acclaimed "The Sadness of Winter" and "This Dream's on Me". As a guest soloist he has played on countless recordings for groups such as The Insiders, The Juleps, Texas Rubies, Pat Hall & The Fat Guys, and Prong.Raven/Desmond Songs represents the coming together of two reknowned Chicago music talents. Originally teaming up to write songs for the Blue Watusis, a progressive blues group they co-led in the early 1990's, they have since expanded their songwriting repertoire to include country, rock, soul, and gospel. Their post-Watusis cds "New Country and Blues", "More New Country" and the brand new "Shake It Down" are available at www.ravendesmondsongs.4t.com