The Soulard Blues Band
After 45 years and many incarnations, the Soulard
Blues Band still tears up the town one show at a time!
The Soulard Blues Band Bios
ART DWYER
Born in 1946 and raised in St. Louis, Art Dwyer grew up on the city’s north side. “Rufus, the Dells, T-Bone Walker, Otis Redding, and of course, Albert and B.B. King were my music. It fit in with everything my friends and me did. “
Art drifted around for quite some time, working as a union organizer, a Maritime employee and a ditch digger, but he never lost the music. “There was always a dance party or jam session going on somewhere.
That’s how the Soulard Blues Band came together.” Art has performed with the great Henry Townsend, J.B. Hutto, Little Johnny Taylor, Fernest Arceneaux and the Thunders, the Zydeco Farmers, Larry Davis, the legendary Billy Gayles, Chuck Berry, Doc Terry, Tommy Bankhead, Albert Collins and many others. In 1978, Art organized the Soulard Blues Band. From 1987 until 2023, Art was a disc jockey on St. Louis’ number one community radio station, KDHX 88.1 FM, hosting the weekly blues program, “Blues in the Night”.
JOHN MONDIN
BIO COMING SOON
MARTY ABDULLAH
Marty Abdullah began his musical career in 1983, and has worked onstage with numerous artists, including Oliver Sain, Jerry Butler, Billy Gales Johnny Taylor Bobby bland the Staple Singers, BB Hill, the Manhattan’s and Clarence Carter. He has also worked in Las Vegas at Caesar’s palace with Ghalib Gahlab, Cafe Nicole and Fitzgerald’s.
Marty Abdullah has worked with the SBB for fifteen years, and has maintained his on musical aggregation as well.
A seasoned entertainer Abdullah’s magnetic personality enhances his stage performances of many popular R&B, Jazz, Country and Blues musical selections.
Abdullah is an active member of the Eugene G. Lacy Lodge #12 Prince Hall Masons and has entertained his Brothers and Sisters at many functions of the Order and at Grand Sessions.
TOM MALONEY
Tom Maloney has been playin’ the blues for a long time. During that time he has entertained blues lovers all over these United States, Europe, (Germany w/the Soulard Blues Band) and South America. Tom is a musician’s musician. In his younger days he was known to get out on the highway with his guitar and his amp and his thumb, sometimes hitchhiking 150 miles just to get to the “gig”.
Being a session man in St. Louis may not garner great riches but it brings a special honor to those who get the call to play with the venerable world class musicians that have made St. Louis, Missouri their home. Men like piano player Johnnie Johnson, who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Oliver Sain, and Benny Smith, who gave guitar lessons to Ike Turner . These days you could count Tom Maloney among that esteemed group.
Tom first joined the SBB for four years back in the early 80’s and has always been there to help out over the years. He has done stints in the Johnny Johnson Band and The Benny Smith Band and has been the musical director for groups in Las Vegas and Arizona. Look for a re-release of the 1982 SBB album “ Nothing to Lose” with Tom on guitar.
BRIAN CASSERLY
KIRK GRICE, AKA DR. DRUMS
Kirk Grice, a native St. Louisan, played with Soulard Blues Band from ’81 to ’95, and rejoined the band in the 21st century. During an eight year hiatus Kirk pursued a career as a professional boxing referee while performing with a number of local and national artists. Performances with national touring acts include Fred Wesley, Chuck Berry, Wynton Marsalis, Maceo Parker, Little Johnny Taylor and Jimmy Smith.
Recordings with local artists include Soulard Blues Band, C. Felton, The Unity Art Ensemble, and the Nuclear Percussion Ensemble.
With many early years under the tutelage of the great Sonny Hamp, Kirk has never stopped growing as a drummer and percussionist. Thirty-five years worth of playing has taken him to a variety of ensembles and musically- related work, including twenty years as a percussion accompanist for dance schools and professional dance organizations among which are Washington University dance department, Dance St. Louis, COCA and Parkway School District’s Dance Discovery Project.
The title “Dr. Drum” was affectionately given to Kirk by devoted students and dancers. Recent performances with Mojo Syndrome, Bob Case and the Wild Accusations, Bennie Smith and Urban Blues Express, and hometown jazz groups like the Bosman Twins, Ptah Williams, Mae Wheeler, and Bill Tucker keep Kirk current and in demand on the St. Louis Blues and Jazz scene in St. Louis.Kirk continues to referee professional and amateur boxing in his spare time while continuing his education. “I got a calling to return to school. ”Kirk is a dedicated musician and is always in pursuit of knowledge and development as a person. “I believe in the healing power of music” is a favorite quote of Dr. Drum’s.
