Blue Eyed Soul Revue

Music:

Member Since: 16/07/2006
Band Members: .The Blue Eyed Soul Revue, now consists of 8 members.Michael Vice, Band Leader & Tenor Saxophone, Michael Vice, has been playing Soul and Rhythm & Blues music for more than forty years.Born in Houma, La. in 1947, he grew up listening to the 50s R & B styles of Fats Domino and Little Richard. He dreamed of one day having the opportunity to perform with one of these recording artists and perhaps to receive recognition as a music artist himself. Little did he know that one day his childhood dreams would come true!In early 1964, having had no formal musical training, he purchased a used tenor sax for $75 and began to teach himself to play with the help of two friends who were in the high school band.Michael joined his first dance band, the Shadows, at the age of 16 and began performing at weddings, school dances, festivals and later night clubs. After the Shadows disbanded he continued to perform with several bands including local favorite the Emeralds.From 1969-71 Michael played baritone sax with the nine-piece jazz-rock group Stone, which showcased the music of Chicago; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and Three Dog Night. For the next two years Michael played with the country group Cotton & the Boll Weevils, and in 1974 joined the local variety group Gerald Babin & the Rhythm Kings. When the bandleader retired Michael became the business manager and over the next several years the Rhythm Kings became one of the most successful groups in South La., opening shows for artists such as Bobby Vinton, Frankie Ford and Percy Sledge.In 1982 Michael played baritone sax with the Country Sunshine Band participating in the Wrangler Starsearch Country Music Competition. After winning the local and state contests the group flew to Nashville to perform in the national competition on the Grand Ole Opry stage, and was chosen one of the top 10 finalists. This performance was filmed for national broadcast.In October 1983, Michael joined a new group – The Blue Eyed Soul Revue – which was formed to capitalize on the recent revival of 60s and 70s black music. Michael had finally come back to his musical roots.The six “funky white boys” began to explore the vast repertoire of Soul and R & B hits of the most popular black artists of the Soul era. Before long the group was in great demand, opening shows for such music legends as Fats Domino; Bobby “Blue” Bland; Chubby Checker; Blood, Sweat & Tears, and others. Michael and Blue Eyed Soul were soon performing concerts backing such artists as the Platters, Percy Sledge, Ernie K-doe, Jean Knight, Sam Moore and King Floyd. The band has performed numerous times at the prestigious New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival backing up several local and national recording artists through the years.The biggest thrill of Michael’s professional music career came in the spring of 1990 and again in the fall of 1992. He was asked to play baritone sax with the Fats Domino Band on two European concert tours, performing in such cities as Amsterdam, Paris, London, Vienna, Dublin and others throughout seven countries.Now as manager of the eight-piece Blue Eyed Soul Revue his goal is to keep the group in the music spotlight and to continue to entertain their many fans with the greatest soulful hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s, performed with musical excellence.James "Jimbeaux" Arthur, Trumpet player of BESR. Jim's father played trumpet in school until he went into WWII. Jimbeaux wasn't allowed to play the old horn his dad kept in the closet until he got his permanent front teeth at the age of 12.He then began taking private lessons, and played in school bands at the Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.Jim played in the world-famous "Massillon Tiger Swing Band," where they eventually went to Detroit for the International Lions Convention. They won first place in the marching band competition, and had a picture feature the front page of the Detroit newspaper. He was also a featured soloist during the halftime show at the Cincinnati Bengals' very first ballgame.Jim attended Findlay College, where he majored in music. His first professional music gig was with "The Blues Soul," a soul band he joined in 1967. The Band played nightclubs, parties, & concerts with groups like the "O'Jays." He recorded 2 singles that became hits on local radio stations and even played at Jim's junior & senior prom.In 1972, Jim joined the traveling show band "Arcade," and toured the Eastern half of the U.S. with them and their sister group, "Krisp!"After a decade on the road, Jim settled in Houma (La.), and joined the house band at "Madam's" Nightclub, the "River-Bottom-Band." Soon after, he met Mike Vice and played a short time with his "Rhythm Kings."Jim & Mike are founding members of the "Blue-Eyed Soul Revue." Says Jim, "this music has come full-circle for me. I'm playing those great horn parts again that I learned back in high school with the "Blue Soul."One of Jim's greatest rewards in music was in 2002, where "Blue-Eyed Soul" was inducted into the Louisiana Music Legends Hall of Fame. Tammy "O" Trant, Lead Vocalist Of BESR.Tammy was born Sept. 28, 1957 and always wanted to be a singer. Tammy went to a private school growing up where she was inspired by Sister Dolores. She was the "Singing Nun" so to speak and that is how she developed her love for the ukulele. She also played in church growing up, playing her guitar and singing. She plays piano and guitar and teaches Creative Music classes to young children. She's also a Cosmetologist of 21 years.She started singing at the age of 5. Her first performance was at the age of 6. Tammy started competing in local and state talent shows at 11. At state levels she won 1st and 2nd Place each year.Tammy's recorded with several different artist but never saw herself as a Soul singer. She soon found it to be her calling. Tammy has played in many local groups, rock, country, you name it. Her love for music only grew stronger. She had many record company's interested in her music but decided that wasn't where she wanted to be at the time. On the road seemed like a long and unknown journey, so she decided to pass up her opportunity at the time and work locally.Growing up she was inspired by Stevie Nicks, Pat Benetar, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, and many others. She had no doubt that she would end up singing rock and roll. However, when she joined Blue Eyed Soul in 1996 everything changed. Her horizons in music expanded to areas she never dreamed she would be singing.Tammy's hobbies are coaching baseball, finding homes for abandoned pets, Interior Decorating and just being a mom. She has 3 children, and now a grandmother..... Buddy Beniot, Lead Male Vocalist of BESR. Born and raised in South Louisiana, Buddy has lived music for nearly 3 decades. He was always around music because music was always around him. His career started in Junior High School playing in the Jazz Ensemble (Trombone, Bass Guitar). Soon after graduating he began to play in local groups for weddings and private parties. Living on a steady diet of Rock and Rhythm and Blues, he moved on to playing regionally in several bar bands before landing a side job with The Blue Eyed Soul Revue, and touring internationally with Percy Sledge. But between family commitments and his full time job, he had to bow out in 1996. Well, it's been 10 years and he's back ready to go to work. List of credits include: Percy Sledge, Frankie Ford, Jean Knight, Oliver Morgan, Tab Beniot and Knight Studio. Ronny Arcement, Lead Guitar and Vocals."I've lived by one simple rule all my life. Ape must never kill Ape" Ronnie Plaisance, Keyboard player of BESR, Born September 27, 1950, in Houma, Louisiana, I was raised in Cut Off, along with my sister Marsha and my brother Andy by our parents Steve and Rena Plaisance. I graduated from Larose Cut Off Jr. High and South Lafourche High School. I attended Nichols State University for 2 years and completed courses in accounting, computers and electronics from Spencer Business College and Louisiana Vocational Technical School.Studying drums in Junior High and High School, gave me a great sense of timing, even though I ended up making a living playing keyboards. After teaching myself to play guitar I starting performing with the Jaguars at 14 years of age in 1964. The Jaguars, which consisted of Aaron Fanguy, Richard Savoie, Greg Comeaux, Jerry Gisclair and myself, was one of the first teen bands to ever exist in the South Lafourche area. Shortly after becoming aware that we had three guitarist, basically playing the same thing, I jumped to keyboards as it was a necessity to improve the group’s ability to cover more material. It was an easy step for me since I had been teaching myself piano from years earlier.In 1965 I joined the Moon Spinners. They were a well managed teen band that was a force in the Battle of the Bands and clubs in the area. Shortly after the Beatles hit the radio waves, I grew some hair and realized the attention and respect a musician received was reason enough to pursue music as a career.My first big break came on June 20, 1969, when my idols Debby and The Ladds, asked me to join the group. A few months later, on Sept 18, 1969, we signed a record deal with Paula Records, moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and recorded Nite Owl. The record had great success locally, across the United States as well as abroad. The band was renamed The Bad Habits, and as the record gained popularity, we enjoyed success with television work, personal appearances, concerts, club dates and record signings. We recorded an album, which was never released, as well as several singles which were released and received notable radio play. Our songs were tracked in Billboard Magazine for months. During my stay with the Bad Habits we performed solo concerts around the country and well sharing the stage with such great bands as The Rascals, Smith, Sugar Loaf, Vanilla Fudge, Edgar Winter and others.I also had the honor and privilege to serve as a studio musician at The Ronnie Cole studio, Studio in the Country, Floyd Swallow Records, Robin Hood Bryan Studio in Tyler Texas, Sound Stage Studio in Shreveport, and several studios in the Nashville, Tennessee area. I recorded for many legends, such as Brook Benton, The Next, who won the B97 radio talent contest in New Orleans, and so many of my friends in the music business of which I have recorded in studios locally, to numerous to mention. Last year I was fortunate enough to work in a local studio with Jim Riley , the current drummer for Rascal Flats on an album project. I have always owned and operated my own recording studio as well. My studio, The Upstairs Studio, has recorded countless local artist, including Vin Bruce, Gene Rodrigue, Doc Guidry, Seabrook, Bayou Kings, Collin’s family, Gilligan, Wade Bernard, and many others. Also, many of the swamp pop artist have sang and/or played for the studio on different projects. I would personally like to thank all of the un-sung heroes who rarely get any credit for studio work like, Pookie Anselmi, Buddy Benoit, Harry Anselmi, Johnny Pennison, Ronny Arcement, Jon and Lynn Hargis, Carl Soudilier, and so many others. These great musicians have worked on many projects for me and my studio.After enjoying the success of Nite Owl and My Baby Specializes with The Bad Habits, I moved to Lafayette, Louisiana and worked with Johnny Soul, Stone, Nation, where I fist backed up Percy Sledge, Rick and Dianne and the Country Sunshine Band, Wrangler Competion Winner, Wade Bernard , Seabrook, and others…I worked as a duo for many years, playing piano, Hammond B3 organ, kicking bass pedals and singing with Wade Bernard and later with Kevin Lasseigne through the Dusty Case Booking Agency out of Texas. The duo’s worked several of the more up-scale dinner clubs, country clubs and hotels from New Mexico to North Dakota.I received great fulfillment as pianist for South Lafourche Baptist Church, where I served for a few years and equally enjoyed local success with the group Seabrook until we moved to Murfeesboro, Tennessee in 1988. In Tennessee I ran an electronics business and worked as a solo pianist Middle Tennessee State University and many other private functions. I also was blessed to serve as pianist at a New Hope Baptist Church in Christiana, Tennessee for several years. Playing bass guitar in a successful blue grass band was a fun and unique experience departure from keys. We remained in the Nashville area for 14years.My family and I then move to Pensacola, Fl. where I worked with Cliff Darby, an up and coming country singer/song writer, working clubs and other venues in that area.Finally, in 2002 I moved back to my roots, Cut Off, Louisiana, where it all started some 44 years earlier. I re-joined Seabrook and worked for a couple of years. I was honored to play piano for Joe Barry’s funeral a couple of years ago and again honored to play piano for Kim Dufrene’s funeral recently. I also performed with the Bayou Kings, Gary T. , Treater Band, Jr. Lacross, Emmet Boudreaux, Vin Bruce, Joe Barry, D.J.Collins and many others until I joined The Blue Eyed Soul Revue in 2006.I am currently working with BESR and enjoying the opportunity to back such greats as Percy Sledge, Jimmy Clanton, Tommy Mc Clain, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Clarence “Frog Man” Henry, Troy Shondelle, Jerry Rains, Roy Head, Tommy Mc Clain, Clint West, Charles Mann, Gilligan, and so many other national and local artist. We have played most of the area’s festivals, including Jazz Fest, and performed at many casinos as well as carnival tableaus and clubs. On my space, please check out The Blue Eyed Soul Revue for pictures and information.Owner and engineer of The Upstairs Studio in Cut Off, I specialize in putting music to lyrics, making demos, music tracks, karaoke CD’s etc.I have recorded several CDs’ of piano music including gospel, pop, Christmas and country, some of which are available at Louisiana Cajun Stuff in Southland Mall.So to re-cap, I have been playing music for 44 years or so. Most of that time has been as a full time musician, of which I am still currently trying to remain.My wife, Ouida and I have 2 children, Dr. Kristie Ramser who resides in Memphis, and son Paul, who will graduate from South Lafourche High School next year in 2009. We have been happily married for 33 years.Hope to see you at a gig sometime, somewhere.A special thanks to those responsible for making me a part of the Westbank Musician’s Hall of Fame. It is quite an honor. Donnie Braud, drummer. Awaiting his Bio..soon to come. Wade Trahan, bass player for BESR and newest member.
Influences: For Booking Information call:Mike Vice, ManagerHome: 985-873-8730Office: 985- 879-1597Cell: 985-226-1893
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Record Label: Bonafor Music Label
Type of Label: Indie