Thomas DeStefano
In 1994 I placed an ad in Jam Magazine, A
southeast/treasure coast publication for musicians. The ad read something
like this “ accomplished harmonica player looking for blues guitarist to jam
with. I received a call from Tommy that went something like this “I haven't
played in about 10 years, I don't know any blues but I really want to (play).”
Tommy and I talked for about a half hour and I said “why don't you come
over and we can jam, and by the way bring your list.
Tommy came by the next night with his list. I looked at it and
started checking off songs, one after the other blues, blues, blues, rock,
soul, blues. Many were blues tunes but performed as rock n roll …but they
were the blues. We started jamming that night and continued for many
nights and months.
A band was formed, The Invaders, with the late Dennis O'Neil on
bass, Dave Race on drums, Tommy on guitar and vocals, and Hawk Levy
on harmonicas. The Invaders played all over the Treasure Coast and
beyond performing at clubs and blues festivals around Florida including
the prestigious Riverwalk Blues Festival, The Refuge, and St Lucie Blues
to name a few. Then in 1997, after many gigs at Rays Downtown blues,
the Invaders recorded a live and highly acclaimed recording entitled
Emotional Invasion.
That is how Tommy started playing music again. During his tenure
with the Invaders, Tommy also performed with Cookie and The Vagrantz
for a number of years with the great Cookie Mariano, and Steve Miller.
By the early 1999 Tommy formed another band called Savanna
Roads with Tommy Rogers, Tim Odonnel and Harry Burns. That band
made some changes adding Steve Bolanda and became Big Daddy and
The Reign. From that point forward he became known as Big Daddy. In
that band Tommy was joined by Steve Bolanda on second guitar, Harry
Burns on bass, and Brian Cunningham on Drums.
In 2002 Tommy moved to the Bahamas for a work opportunity with
Richard Love, and some local bohemians.
The band continued to play from 1999 until 2002. During this time
he recorded Big Daddy and the Reign 'It Never Ends'.
Jimmy Thackery
Whether Jimmy Thackery headlines a festival in South Dakota or jams for hours in
one of numerous blues bars that dot the musical landscape, he'll always unleash an
intense volley of rockin' blues guitar guaranteed to leave crowds emotionally spent.
His double edged guitar dynamics allow him to fire off tracer missiles, bend a note
so it will fit under a limbo bar, run off dive bomber riffs, and find space within the
trembling of one stinging note. "I put all my senses on hold and find the zone and
follow what's inside. There's an electricity from your mind to your heart to your
fingers. You just try and remember to breathe.”
He's one of the few blues guitarists who learned first hand from the masters of the
blues, not off a blues record or DVD. Though most associate Jimmy with his 15
years as the co-founder of the Nighthawks, he ended his time with them in 1987.
Since then, Jimmy has been on the road as a solo musician for 15 years doing
nearly 300 shows a year proving each night that he is still the guitar powerhouse in
the blues.
It was Thackery's time on stage with Muddy Waters that is branded deep within his
musical soul. "Muddy was one of those guys who was constantly encouraging. He
never told you what to do, but he always told you what you were doing wrong. He
never minced words about that.
Thackery has released 15 albums on the Blind Pig and Telarc labels. Eight of his
releases reached the top 15 on Billboard’s Blues charts. After Telarc, Jimmy
became independent and started his own label, White River Records, which has
released five titles, including his most recent album, “Spare Keys,” an all-original
album with six instrumentals and six tunes with vocals. The instrumentals highlight
Thackery’s vast styles, influenced by his interest in all varieties of music, from
classical to slack-key to country to rock and tropical rock.
Annika Chambers
Annika Chambers was born and raised in the
Houston, Tx. area. While serving eight years in the
Army, with tours in Kosovo and Iraq, she began to
develop an appreciation for the blues including Etta
James, Aretha Franklin, and Koko Taylor.
Chambers formed her first band in 2011 and
although she didn’t win her local IBC she impressed
two of the judges; Phantom Blues Band bassist
Larry Fulcher, and Richard Cagle owner of Montrose
Records. Her first album on Montrose was “Making
My Mark” and it resulted in Chambers receiving a
2015 Blues Music Award nomination as “Best New
Artist Album”. Her follow-up recording was 2017’s
“Wild and Free” which resulted in her receiving
second BMA nomination.
Joel Da Silva
Joel Da Silva’s career highlights include performances
at Montreal International Jazz and Blues Festival, The IBC Challenges in
Memphis and opening for Jeff Beck at the Sunfest Music Festival in South
Florida. Joel has also opened for numerous famous artists during his xxx year
career. DaSilva has performed well over 750 shows from Los Angeles to
London.
Joel has appeared a prestigious festivals around the world including the
Montreal International Jazz And Blues Festival, Mont Tremblant International
Music Festival, Curaçao Music Festival, Sunfest , Riverwalk Blues Festival, and
the San Diego Music and Roots Festival.
Delving back deeply into his Chicago Blues and Americana roots, DaSilva has
emerged with some truly visceral new material, the culmination of months of
soul searching, hard living and late night driving. The result? “Everywhere From
Here”, Featuring the single “SHAKE!” released in July, 2017. ‘SHAKE!’ is the
first single from DaSilva’s forthcoming new album entitled “Everywhere From
Here” to be released in September 2017. Produced at nationally renowned
TrunNoyz Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ‘SHAKE!’ captures the essence of
Joel’s combustible new blues sound which combines elements of lo fi garage
blues with a driving roots beat. The accompanying video was shot at local blues
environs throughout South Florida and promises to provide an evocative visual
backdrop to Joel’s sizzling new track.
In addition to his music career, DaSilva has appeared in two independent films
including his portrayal of “Sheriff Cousins” in the creepy noir indie film “Sleep”,
featured in the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and California Film
Festival. He also co-wrote the soundtrack for “Sleep” with electronica artist
Kevin Kage.
“Joel DaSilva is a fantastic guitarist. I always look forward to every
opportunity to work with him. He plays with a BIG heart and a BIG
tone.” – Billy Gibson – 2009 Blues Music Award Instrumentalist Of
The Year.
“He Delivers the horny lyrics in a voice that recalls vintage
rockabilly, but his lacerating leads are as potent as any laid down
by the late great Hubert Sumlin” – WLRN 91.3 NPR Radio
Joel Da Silva
Big Daddy
Blues Festival
In Memory of Thomas DeStefano
`PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
- TERRA FERMATA-STAGE
FRIDAY October 20:
5:30 – 6:15 TBA – opening act
7:00 - 10:00 Jimmy Thackery - SATURDAY OCTOBER 21:
1:00 – 1:30 Delta Dave
2:00 – 2:30 Jerry Tillman
3:00 – 3:45 Slip and Satch
4:15 – 5:00 Joel DaSilva
5:30 – 6:15 Billy Burns & the Blue Falcons
6:45 – 7:15 Hurricane Hawk & the Invaders
(Steve Bolanda, Mike Loschiavo,
Larry Mayo,
7:15 – 8:15 Big Daddy Blues Stars
John De Setefano, Steve Bolanda,
Richard Love, Harry Burns, Jeff Powers,
Ed Demeuri, Hawk Levy,
8:30 – 10:00 ANNIKA CHABERS
ROCKING RIVERWALK-STAGE - SUNDAY OCTOBER 22
1:00 – 4:00 HURRICANE HAWK & FEATURED
FESTIVAL ARTISTS
( Hawk Levy , Dan Dratch, Steve
Bolanda, Harry Burns, Richard Love, Mike
Loschiavo, Larry Mayo, - ACOUSTIC STAGE:
SATURDAY OCTOBER 21
2:30 – 3:00 Delta Dave
3:45 – 4:15 JOEL DA SILVA
5:00 - 5:30 TBA
6:15 - 6:45 Russ Kruse - Cigar Box Workshop
Emergency Medical
Financial Relief For Musicians
Thomas DeStefano / Big Daddy Musicians Relief Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career
musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while
facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.
It’s time to give back to those that bring the joy of music.
Thomas Neal DeStefano is a Legend of the Treasure Coast of Florida and beyond. Not only with the music that he created, but also the big personality that he demonstrated through love, laughter and a shoulder that anyone could lean on. Affectionately known as “Big Daddy” he was only fifty years old when he passed away due to complications from a Brown Recluse Spider bite on his lower abdomen. He left behind a loving wife, three daughters, his mother, his brother and tons of other friends, musicians, fans and family. The Big Daddy Musicians Relief Foundation is a 501C3 not for profit organization form and operated as a part of the:
