Dorothy Choncie Ellis typically opens a conversation about her sharecropping, dirt-poor existence in Direct, Texas, located in North Texas near Paris, the Red River and Oklahoma. "One day a preacher with a crooked leg and a long stick pointed at everyone declaring that anyone in Direct, Texas, was going straight to hell, she says. “Honey. I packed my stuff and headed out," In 1943 on an Easter Sunday she came out of her shell as singer and vocal force and celebrates 65 years of professional blues. Dorothy, as “Miss Blues" unleashed her vocal power and heart full o' soul and songwriting tasks with some of the best blues artists she could find to assist her. Ms Blues have played on bills with Richard "Groove" Holmes, Little Joe Blue, Dink Small and others, Miss Blues has been featured at a number of blues festivals, including the Arcadia Blues Festival, Pinedale Blues Festival, Southwest Blues and Heritage Festival and the Dusk to Dawn Blues Festival.

In 2004, Miss Blues was named a member and received a "Woody" (Guthrie) Award as an inductee to the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame. Her discography includes "On The Front Porch With Miss Blues," Miss Blues Settin' In With Blindog Smokin'," and "Reminiscence of the Blues." The Blues Diva attributes much of her success to her affiliation with the BDS Band. “If it hadn't been for the Blind Dog Smokin' Band, I would have never had a compact disc recorded and would have spent my time lost without the blues I love so much.“ This honest voiced songbird is a pleasure to behold with her unaffected, spontaneous and fully righteous singing with a mic in her hand. Miss Blues is authenticity in action.

Dave Almond has toiled in his personal castle of highs and lows and in-betweens, going forth only to play another gig in front of another familiar crowd. A crowd of loving fans and barroom haters is the workplace where Almond sings as if each note is new and each lyric has special meaning. Almond's music is a collection of song-stories and cautionary tales of life lived with beauty and chaos as Almond sings of angels and demons and faith and hope and perseverance in the midst of life's troubles, whether created by oneself or by others.

Accompanying Almond is Trey Johnson of Prescott, Ark., with lanky frame and freewheeling guitar performance style bound to bring a smile and a nod from the audience. As the front man for one of the most popular bar band trios in Arkansas, Johnson has learned to combine humor, stage presence and can hold his own with a six-string and a harp. The two combine their intelligent, wry wit and sober and not-so-sober observations on the human condition in a natural, relaxed manner and showmanship professionalism.

You only have to hear her once to know it's true. Betty has been dipped in Gospel Soul, salted with a pinch of rhythm, and shaken with an amazing voice. Her outstanding accomplishments in music have made her a great representation of Louisiana Blues.

Endowed with a stage presence that rivals Janis Joplin in power and intensity, Betty has captured a sound that grasps the hearts of many and keeps her fans coming back for more. Billy O'Con- guitar, vocals; Mark Tate- keyboard, guitar, vocals; Pat O'Pry-sax; John Mallard- bass; Mike Owens-drums), Betty delivers a powerhouse performance!

When Delbert McClinton announces with his latest album that he has Room To Breathe, he sure ain't kidding. After more than four decades of making music, McClinton is breathing freely with the confidence and energy of an artist who knows that he has mastered his game. Still basking in the glow of a new Grammy® Award, he has followed up what The Wall Street Journal declared his "best recording ever" -- 2001's Nothing Personal -- with a set that displays even greater muscle, smarts, charm and soul.

Delbert McClinton's early memories include going as a child with his parents to see Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys at The Cotton Club in Lubbock, TX, where he was born. His family moved to Ft. Worth when McClinton was 11, and just a few years later he started earning his PhD in real American music in a city known as a fertile incubator for a variety of styles. With the release of his 1975 solo debut, Victim of Life's Circumstances, McClinton firmly stamped his Ft. Worth-bred blend of blues, country and blue-eyed soul onto the pop musical landscape. A succession of influential and critically acclaimed albums followed, along with coups like appearing on "Saturday Night Live" in its heyday -- an acknowledgement of the pages torn from Delbert's play book by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi when they formed The Blues Brothers. He scored hits like "Giving It Up For Your Love" and "Sandy Beaches," won a Grammy with Bonnie Raitt for their "Good Man/Good Woman" duet, and over the years has enjoyed covers of his songs by Emmylou Harris, The Blues Brothers, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Lee Roy Parnell, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, among others.

Delbert collected his 3rd Grammy® in the category Best Contemporary Blues Album for Cost of Living from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. When Delbert McClinton announces with his latest album that he has Room To Breathe, he sure ain't kidding. Co-produced by Delbert's longtime friend and songwriting partner Gary Nicholson, the bulk of the album was with his well-seasoned road band.

After more than four decades of making music, McClinton is breathing freely with the confidence and energy of an artist who knows that he has mastered his game. Still basking in the glow of a new Grammy® Award, he has followed up what The Wall Street Journal declared his "best recording ever" -- 2001's Nothing Personal -- with a set that displays even greater muscle, smarts, charm and soul. When Delbert "came roaring out of the gate on Nothing Personal," as Rolling Stone put it, his stature as one of the living icons of genuine American music returned to the forefront. The album debuted on five Billboard charts: Hot 200 Albums, Blues, Country, Independent and Internet Sales.

Whitey Johnson is a recently discovered blues singer/songwriter/guitarist from Texas, now living in Tennessee and performing worldwide. There are various stories about Whitey's past, he has made his living making music for well over thirty years, yet has remained relatively unknown, having only recently recorded his debut album.

But one known fact is that under the pseudonym, Gary Nicholson, his songs have been recorded by such blues greats as BB King, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Delbert McClinton, Gatemouth Brown, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Shemekia Copeland, John Mayall and many others. He also won two Grammies as producer of the Best Contemporary Blues Albums. Whitey describes his style as “Feel Better Blues" with songs such as "Use the Blues (to make you feel better)", "Worry Be Gone", "Leap of Faith", and "Better off with the Blues".

He learned to play guitar watching Texas legends Freddy King, Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, then fell in love with Robert Johnson, Muddy and Wolf and the songs of Willie Dixon. He brings a deep respect for all his heroes to his own style. His band includes Colin Linden, Tom Hambridge, and Dave Roe who all have many credits having worked with artists such as Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Cash, and many others.

Shreveport, La.'s Pocket Change brings itself as a "Hand clappin, foot tappin', deep in the soul" stage band with a vast repertoire of "Southern-fried Texas country style blues."

This forty-ish crew of versatile instrumentalists were weaned on the music of the sixties by musician fathers and musical influences from around the household, but Jacobs and others retained that fondness and respect for the old school roots music underlying the music known as the "British invasion of American blues and R&B.

T-Bone Walker, B. B. King, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and other rock and blues artists became their points of reference for whatever rock or metal or acoustic trends came and went.

Pocket Change has been perfecting its play list and has been a popular club and festival band in Northwest Louisiana and Northeast Texas.

Kayla starting performing live Blues at the age of 7 years with local blues band "The Rail Chasers". After honing her vocal skills and stage presence she moved on to form a new band, "Kayla Reeves and Triple Threat". This highly energetic band proved to be a highlight for several festivals and clubs in Texas. November 2007 saw Kayla turn 15 years old, and now she's determined more than ever to be a major force in the Blues, as she has decided to pursue her career full-time while finishing school in-home.

Kayla has been featured in Blues Matters magazine with close friend Tyler Dow Bryant on more than one occasion in the UK, also Dallas Morning News, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Irving Neighbors, E-News, a featured artist on Texas Blues Café Pod Cast and has been "Performer Of The Day" on Austin's very own Fox 7 News "Good Morning Texas" live broadcast.

Born to an Irish mother and Native American Mohawk Indian father, Dee Dee Williams was exposed to Big band music and other cultural influences as a little girl. Even at an early age, it became evident that she had a talent for entertaining and singing. When her father would tell her to sing a song at his favorite bar, a then four year old Dee Dee would get up on a table and sing her heart out!

Dee Dee lived in California until she was ten years old, when her mother became concerned about the "drug scene and Hippies!" and moved to a little town called Longview in East Texas. There, Dee Dee was exposed to country music and the laid back country living style, a far cry from where she had come from! Not really fitting in very well with her peers, Dee Dee would get home from school every day and practice singing until time to go to bed. She would later say about her childhood, "music was my only friend. The kids just didn't like me because I was shy and didn't have much to say. That tends to make people nervous and think you are weird! So I led a lonely existence as far as friends, but I knew at the end of the day I could sing and let out all my emotions. Thank God for music, it kept me feeling alive and worth something".

Blessed with a soulful voice, she began her singing career at the age of 14 when she was asked to join her first band after being heard singing at church. This band consisted of professional Nashville studio session musicians, who toured with many national artists! They heard something special in Dee Dee's voice and began promoting her to people in Nashville. Thus, at only 14 years of age, Dee Dee Williams found herself  opening for such renowned artists as  Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, John Anderson and Ronnie Milsap, to mention a few.

After many years of traveling and learning from the best in the business, Dee Dee met Vincent Williams, a pianist looking for a singer to sing jazz and blues with his group. She auditioned for him and her natural gift of soul and improvisation blew him away. He hired Dee Dee and taught her all the standards a jazz/blues vocalist should know! Dee Dee's love of this style of music was evident in each note she would sing! She worked with Vincent Williams for years touring the country appearing at Blues and jazz festivals, wowing the audiences not only with her amazing voice but her stage presence as well. Miss Williams had transformed into an amazing entertainer who was a natural with making each member of the audience feel like an old friend. People not only love listening to Dee Dee, they love to be entertained by her!

Dee Dee Williams continues to sing and entertain all over the country, from the far reaches of Upstate New York to the sunny climate of San Fransisco. She has performed everywhere from the Canadian province of Vancouver to the blues-rich delta of New Orleans. Among the many noted artists she has performed with are Marva Wright, Keb Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepperd and Ricky Lynn Gregg to name a few. Additionally, she travels frequently, promoting her CD's she has recorded. Dee Dee is currently working on expanding her sphere of influence by booking a European Tour, which is tentatively scheduled for Spring of 2008.