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 played with his band, The Mighty Flyers, since 1980. He formed the band with his wife, Honey Piazza, who plays the piano.
Their special boogie sound mixes different styles of blues music. These styles include jump blues, West Coast blues, and Chicago blues.
Contents
Rod Piazza's Early Life and Music Journey
Piazza grew up in Southern California. He spent a lot of time listening to blues records. This helped him become very good at playing the harmonica. He actually started playing the guitar first, when he was only six or seven years old.
Forming His First Bands
In the mid-1960s, Rod Piazza started his first band. It was called The House of DBS. Later, they changed their name to the Dirty Blues Band. This band signed with a record company called ABC-Bluesway. They released two albums in 1967 and 1968.
The Dirty Blues Band broke up in 1968. That same year, Piazza formed a new band called Bacon Fat. His hero and teacher, George "Harmonica" Smith, joined this band. They created a unique sound by having two harmonicas playing together. Bacon Fat released two albums in the next two years.
After Bacon Fat, Piazza played in other bands. In 1974, he decided to start performing on his own.
The Mighty Flyers Take Flight
In 1975, he formed the Chicago Flying Saucer Band. This band later grew into what we know today as The Mighty Flyers. The Mighty Flyers recorded their first album in 1980.
Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet began touring and recording. This happened after their long-time bassist, Bill Stuve, left the band in the early 2000s. Rod Piazza has released many studio albums over the years. He also released a live concert DVD called Big Blues Party in 2005.
Besides his own albums, he has also played as a guest musician on many other artists' recordings. Between 1995 and 2001, Rick Holmstrom was a guitarist in the Mighty Flyers.
Touring the World
Piazza has traveled a lot to perform his music. He has played in blues clubs, concert halls, and festivals. He has performed in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Spain, among other countries.
Rod and his wife, Honey, still live in Riverside, California.
Rod Piazza's Music Albums
Rod Piazza has released many albums throughout his career. These albums show his journey through blues music. He has recorded both with his early bands and with The Mighty Flyers.
Some of his early albums include The Dirty Blues Band (1967) and Grease One For Me (1970) with Bacon Fat.
With The Mighty Flyers, he has released many popular albums. These include Radioactive Material (1981), Blues In The Dark (1991), and Soul Monster (2009). He also released a live concert DVD called Big Blues Party in 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Rod Piazza para niños
