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"LIL AL" AND THE DELTA SONICS
The Delta Sonics (formerly known as The Homewreckers) have been playing in Colorado since 1992 and have established themselves as one of the finest blues acts in the area with their solid musicianship and exciting live performances. Their musical stylings include Chicago blues, West Coast swing, New Orleans R&B, and some early rock 'n' roll.
The band has been featured at the 1997, 1998, and 2001 Denver Blues and Bones Festivals, five times at the Boulder/Lyons Blues Festival, the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, and the Westword Music Showcase in 1996 and 1997. They have opened for many nationally known blues artists, including Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, The Radiators, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1999, the band brought blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins to Colorado for two successful tours. Most recently, The Delta Sonics have opened shows for Charlie Musselwhite and Tommy Castro and have also backed Big Bill Morganfield, Bo Diddley, and Pinetop Perkins on their recent performances in Colorado.
Al Chesis (harmonica/vocals) has played in Colorado since the mid-1980s after moving to Denver from Washington, D.C. There he played in the Mojo-Matics for five years, opening shows for Albert Collins, Elvin Bishop, and others. Al has shared the stage with Canned Heat, Pinetop Perkins, Homesick James, and Bob Margolin. He has also done studio work for two PBS movie soundtracks and Denver-area radio stations, including KBCO, KUVO and the FOX. Al has most recently toured locally and nationally with Muddy Waters's son Big Bill Morganfield, appearing at venues in Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin, as well as at the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival in 2002. Al has been endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas since 1992.
Erik Boa (guitar/vocals) was born in Columbus, Ohio and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the age of 12. He spent his formative years there and now considers Pittsburgh his home. A graduate of GIT in Los Angeles, Erik moved to Denver in the early '80s. After bouncing around in a number of local outfits, Erik started his own band, Boa and the Constrictors. With two CDs to their credit, Erik’s band was a perennial favorite at the Aspen Jazz Festival and most notably played at The Nice Jazz Festival in France. Erik joined forces with Al Chesis and The Delta Sonics in April of 2005 and now makes his home in Boulder, Colorado.
John Butler (bass/vocals) began his music career in the Midwest over 40 years ago. Starting as a drummer at age eight, he switched to bass at age 13. After moving to Colorado in the early seventies, John was the "Big Al" of Big Al & the Hi-Fi's, a national touring oldies act. John has also played in some of Colorado's top blues bands, including The Homewreckers, Chicago Skinny, and BluesTonic. He has played many of the Colorado blues festivals and has opened shows for national blues acts such as Kim Wilson, Albert Collins,and Delbert McClinton.
Tim Wilson’s professional career began in the Quad City area (Rock Island, Davenport, Bettendorf) and the Midwest region in 1973, where he played supper clubs, river boats, cruise ships, and various venues with The Breeze Bros, Page V, and Jim Schwall (of Siegel Schwall fame). When he moved to Denver in 1987, Tim worked with Maynard Mills, the Blue City 5 (featuring Doug Rynack, formerly of Anson & the Rockets) and King Cleveland before he joined the Delta Sonics to play the drums.