Rod Piazza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Piazza
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Rod Piazza with Honey at the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 18, 1947 Riverside, California, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Instruments | Harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | ABC-Bluesway, Murray Brothers, Black Top, Tone-Cool, Delta Groove |
Rod Piazza (born December 18, 1947, in Riverside, California) is an American blues harmonica player and singer. He has been playing with his band The Mighty Flyers since 1980. He formed the band with his wife, Honey Piazza, who plays the piano. Their music is a lively mix of different blues styles. These include jump blues, West Coast blues, and Chicago blues.
Contents
About Rod Piazza
Rod Piazza grew up in Southern California. He started playing the guitar when he was about six or seven years old. He learned to play the harmonica by listening to many blues records. This helped him become very good at it.
Early Bands and Music
In the mid-1960s, Rod Piazza started his first band. It was called The House of DBS. Later, the band changed its name to the Dirty Blues Band. They signed with a record company called ABC-Bluesway. This band released two albums in 1967 and 1968.
The Dirty Blues Band broke up in 1968. That same year, Rod Piazza formed a new band called Bacon Fat. His hero and teacher, George "Harmonica" Smith, joined this band. They played with two harmonicas at the same time, which was a special sound. Bacon Fat released two albums in the next two years.
After Bacon Fat, Rod Piazza played in other bands. Then, in 1974, he started performing on his own.
The Mighty Flyers Begin
In 1975, Rod Piazza formed the Chicago Flying Saucer Band. This band later became what we know today as The Mighty Flyers. They recorded their first album in 1980.
Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers started touring and recording a lot. After their long-time bass player left in the early 2000s, they became known as Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet.
Rod Piazza has recorded many studio albums over the years. He also released a live concert DVD called Big Blues Party in 2005. This was recorded in Chico, California. He has also played as a guest musician on more than twenty other albums.
Touring and Life Today
Rod Piazza and his band have traveled all over the world. They have played in blues clubs, concert halls, and festivals. Some of the countries they have visited include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Spain.
Rod Piazza and his wife, Honey, still live in Riverside, California.
Music Albums
Rod Piazza has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his notable works:
Albums Before The Mighty Flyers
- 1967 The Dirty Blues Band
- 1968 Stone Dirt
- 1969 Live At Small's Paradise (with Bacon Fat and George "Harmonica" Smith)
- 1970 Grease One For Me (with Bacon Fat)
- 1971 Tough Dude (with Bacon Fat)
- 1973 Blues Man
- 1979 The Chicago Flying Saucer Band Featuring Rod Piazza
Albums With The Mighty Flyers
- 1981 Radioactive Material
- 1984 File Under Rock
- 1985 From The Start To The Finnish
- 1986 Harpburn (Rod Piazza solo album)
- 1988 So Glad To Have The Blues (Rod Piazza solo album)
- 1988 Undercover
- 1991 Blues In The Dark
- 1992 Alphabet Blues
- 1994 Live At B.B. King's Blues Club
- 1997 Tough And Tender
- 1998 Vintage Live 1975 (with Hollywood Fats)
- 1999 Here And Now
- 2001 Beyond The Source
- 2004 Keepin' It Real
- 2005 Big Blues Party (DVD)
- 2005 For The Chosen Who (CD+DVD)
- 2007 Thrill Ville
- 2009 Soul Monster
- 2011 Almighty Dollar
- 2014 Emergency Situation
- 2017 Live At Fleetwood's (recorded 1993)
Special Collections
Rod Piazza's music has also been featured in many collections. These albums bring together songs from different periods or focus on specific themes. Some examples include:
- 1992 The Essential Collection
- 1997 California Blues
- 2003 Modern Master: The Best of Rod Piazza 1968-2003
- 2008 His Instrumentals
See also
In Spanish: Rod Piazza para niños
