LIL RED & BIG BAD profile picture

LIL RED & BIG BAD

About Me

Nancy Lil' Red Gros is a home-grown New Orleanian who grew up listening to her big brother's band. She was always nagging her brother to let her sit in and sing. By the time she was 10 years old she was singing to whoever would listen. Because she was raised by a single parent, with 5 siblings, her brother and older sisters would bring her along to participate in whatever activities they had going on. When they took her, and her younger sister, to their first Jazz Fest in 1976, she thought she had died and gone to heaven when she heard the Funky Meters live!! She was awestruck and dreamed of being on stage singing in front of a band. Since then, she continued to be inspired by many New Orleans artists including, Irma Thomas, King Floyd and the Neville Brothers, but never quite made it to the stage until many years later. But no matter what, she continued to dream and sing to whoever would listen. In 1992, she landed a job at the Delta Queen Steamboat Company as the Entertainment Manager, she wasn't singing and performing, but it was inspiring enough just to be in the environment she loved so much. As entertainment manager she worked behind the scenes putting together acts and costumes for the steamboat cruiseline. During her employment with Delta Queen she was able to work backstage with great musicians like Harry Connick, Jr., Pete Fountain, Jim Duggan, Rick Trolsen, and The Dukes of Dixieland. Finally in 2001, after 11 years of marriage and 2 children, she met songwriter Tom Turner, and she was on her way to fulfilling her dream. In 2005, she decided it was time to do her own thing and formed Lil' Red and Big Bad. She immediately began working on her repertoire of old school r&b, infused with a little twist of rocknroll. Six months later she began singing with her band, and getting weekly gigs. Because of her unique and entergetic way of delivering her sultry vocal sound, as well as interacting with the audience, the band developed quite a following of fans. They played from the the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain to the west bank of New Orleans. In late 2009, it was imminent that she needed to focus on her family, and decided it was time to give it a rest. The rest lasted only a few short months, as she realized she wasn't finished expressing herself, and her fans were calling for more. So with a lot of hard work and tenacity, she called upon her loyal Big Bad bassist Sandy Maillho, and guitarist Charlie Hermann, and started to pick-up the pieces. Today Li'l Red and Big Bad is backed by four new additional members namely, Marc Ballard on saxophone, Willie Panker on drums, Jeff Ruello on lead guitar and Greg Villafranco on keyboards. On October 8, 2010, with her stellar team of musicians, she managed to win the New Orleans Voodoo Blues Krewe's Battle of the Bands Challenge, by competing against 12 different blues bands, and winning the title of "Best Blues Finalist" at the legendary music venue, Mid-City Rock 'n Bowl. As a result of this accomplishment, Nancy "Lil Red" Gros will continue to "sing the blues" on world renown Beale Street, in Memphis, TN, representing her hometown of New Orleans in the International Blues Challenge, in February 2011. For Booking information, Contact Nancy Gros at (504) 430-3890 or email [email protected]

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 05/12/2007
Band Members: Nancy Gros-Vocals, Charlie Hermann- Rhythm Guitar, Sandy Maillho- Bass, Jeff Ruello - Lead Guitar, Willie Panker - Drums, Marc Ballard - Sax, Greg Villafranco - Keyboards
Influences: New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, Traditional Blues, Stax
Sounds Like: {}

Layout by CoolChaser Background from flickr user
Record Label: Unsigned
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

LIL RED WINS VOODOO BLUES CHALLENGE

  AFTER WINNING THE TITLE OF "BEST BLUES FINALIST" AT THE LEGENDARY ROCK N' BOWL ON OCTOBER 8, 2010, LIL' RED AND BIG BAD ARE ON THEIR WAY TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE,  TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL B...
Posted by on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:37:00 GMT

UPCOMING SHOWS

I've been trying to post my new shows on the band's profile, but MySpace is not cooperating!!!  So let me inform you of my upcoming shows and cd release.May 21, Big Al's Saloon, 8:00 p.m., www.bigalss...
Posted by on Thu, 13 May 2010 06:08:00 GMT

We are back!!!

Hey Everybody, it's the moment I've been waiting for.....Finally I can say that Lil' Red & Big Bad is back.  It's been 5 long months and I miss everyone.  Our first public gig will be on Saturday, May...
Posted by on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:16:00 GMT

I'm Hopeful!!!!

I'm presently looking for a new rehearsal studio so that I can get back together with my band!!!!  I really miss my music and am looking forward to releasing my cd in the late spring early summer of 2...
Posted by on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:05:00 GMT

I'm determined!!!

When times get tough the tough get tougher.....I wish I was as tough as I want to be!!!!!  Anyway, i'm writing this blog right now as a sort of therapy.....I need to let my fans and friends know that ...
Posted by on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:18:00 GMT

lil' red news

hey friends and fans, i've been thinkin' about yall and have been really tryin' to get my act together so that i can come back strong and soon!!!!  stay tuned for more lil' red and big bad news..........
Posted by on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:48:00 GMT

LIL RED & BIG BAD SHOWS CANCELLED

It deeply saddens me to inform all of the fans and friends of the Lil Red & Big Bad Band, that our cd release and upcoming shows have been cancelled indefinitely.  I must step away from the band in or...
Posted by on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:51:00 GMT

Hip Shaking Mama Lil Red Big Bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL8B5LuETi4
Posted by on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:50:00 GMT

Bourre's Closing

To all our fans who have come to see us every Friday at Bourre's in Gretna, we are sorry to inform you that Bourre's has closed and we won't be there on Fridays anymore. We want to thank you all for c...
Posted by on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Lil Red on WWOZ

Ya'll can catch Lil Red and Big Bad live on WWOZ Radio, 90.7 on your FM Dial-Big D's blues show on Wed. June 10. Check it out. 
Posted by on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:09:00 GMT