PRESS/ LIVEING BLUES MAGAZINE

In 1976 the blues scene in Nashville was pretty much non-existent. There were no blues clubs, no blues bands, no one playing the blues on a regular basis anywhere in town... but that was all about to change. . Soon after his moving here from New Hampshire by way of New York City Harmonica player Roguie Ray was approached by Charlie Fenton to start a Monday night blues show at his juke joint on 2nd avenue, "The Mainstreet Cafe" he said I want to start a blues night on Mondays... going to call it BLUE MONDAY That's when Blue Monday was born Together with Eddie Blakely, ( Producer an owner of village sound studios) Dale Jackson on vocals Ted Renalds on bass Freddie fletcher on drums and Roguie Ray Lamontagne on vocals and harmonica they formed a blues band that grew into something very special constantly changing with some of Nashville's finest players, All front men and stars in their own right, playing original SONGS THEIR OWN SONGS & WRTITING THERE OWN MUSIC with the soulfulness of the blues masters of yesterday and the excitement and high energy of what was to become a sound all their own, which even now years later has never been captured! 'Through the early years, the roster changed with the honing and fine tuning of the music. . Then in 1980, with the addition of Dave Pomeroy on bass., Billy Earl McClelland on guitar Johnny Neel on the keyboards, Jim Greasy on sax, and Lanny Boles on drums, . The bands popularity soon outgrew its venue and was invited to be the Monday night band by Amy Kirklin to take the Monday night spot at her new club she had just opened The BLUEBIRD CAFE and it became "The Monday night place to be" to see surprise guests running the gamut from The Neville Brothers, Otis Blackwell, Steve cropper, Dave Mason, Leon Russell, Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers, Lenny Breau, J.J. cale, Tracy Nelson, John Prine, Bela Fleck, Billy Cox , Delbert McClinton, 'Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark Billy Joe Shaver and the list goes on.... it was like everybody wanted to play with this band It wasn't long before Legendary blues label, Kent Records was soon knocking on their door calling the Blue Monday Band " the blues of the future"". and they became The first white blues band to sign with their prestigious blues label. With the signing of Blue Monday, Came the confirmation that the blues was alive in Nashville and Blue Monday was the reason why. Billboard Magazine hailed Blue Monday as, "Blues at its best! Exciting and mesmerizing." "To watch this band, work a stage is nothing short of magical!" Blues Review Magazine.

Roguie Ray has more wind than a Texas tornado And more soul than a clubfoot shoe says Dickie Betts