THIS BAND AND WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF FRANKLIN COX
The Big Fish
Larry CarmanDRUM
Drumming since the age of ten, Larry developed diverse musical interests while participating in high school and college music programs as well as playing in Rock, Top 40 and Soul Bands. He earned a Bachelor of Music from East Carolina University and was a Registered Music Therapist for many years. In the mid 80's Larry joined with bassist Matt Kendrick to play in the Bill Bright Jazz Quintet, and later the Matt Kendrick Unit, and through the years has enjoyed performing with many fine jazz musicians including Chris Murrell, Ernie Watts, Federico Pivetta and Martha Bassett. After playing with Calvin in the blues/rock band The Chieftones, they joined Bryan in Blues-A-Matic. With them again in FBF, Larry gives a nod to his good friend Frank. For 30 years, Larry and Frank caught lots of big fish, enjoyed some great music, and shared lots of great memories with their families and friends. How many'd ya catch, big boy??
Calvin Johnson
Roots music was big in Calvin's life from day one, as his father was an amateur country guitar and pedal steel player. Growing up during the sixties provided many other influences, all contributing to a wide-ranging taste for many kinds of music. His musical career has delved into many of them - rock and roll, country, blues, swing, rhythm and blues, folk, jazz, zydeco - and the many cross-combinations of these styles. His many bands have included Blues-A-Matic, the Ministers of Sinister, Tin Can Alley, Mel Jones and His Bag of Bones, Russ Wilson and His Mighty Mighty Men, the Mystery Hillbillies, the Revelators and the Chieftones. He is also in demand as a sideman, having done numerous fill-in gigs with the likes of Carey Bell, Mel Melton and His Wicked Mojos, the Sweetback Sisters, Will McFarlane, and Armand and Bluesology, as well as recordings with Deborah Coleman and the legendary Nappy Brown. Calvin is happy to be back with former bandmates Bryan and Larry and current bandmate Michelle as part of Frank's Big Fish.
Mystery Hillbillies Web Site
Michelle Belanger
Michelle has been singing as long as she can remember. Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, she heard a lot of great music on the stations out of Detroit and Windsor. Motown, Rock and Roll, folk rock from the likes of Aretha and Stevie Wonder, The Stones and Traffic, Dylan, Joni Mitchell and CSNY. She picked up guitar shortly after high school and found old time string band music soon after. Her unique style of flatfoot clogging has landed her on 3 CDs and took her to England to perform and teach in 1999. Always one to keep stretching and learning, she plays and sings country, jazz and western swing at parties, festivals and front porches. She first applied her powerful voice to blues in the early 90s, forming the Revelators. This project inspired her to delve into the roots of the music she'd grown up with, discovering the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Slim Harpo, Etta James, and many others. In the late 90s, at the suggestion of a friend, she started listening to rockabilly. She felt it made a great bridge between the country, swing and r&b she already loved. The Mystery Hillbillies began as a trio in 2000, with Steve Howell (Backsliders) on telecaster and FJ Ventri on upright bass. Reformed as a four piece in 2007, the current line up includes Mark Harrison on guitar and vocals, Cal on bass and Chip Click on drums. They play rockabilly and honky tonk at parties, swing dances, festivals and juke joints. Michelle is glad to have the opportunity to play with Bryan, Cal and Larry. Thanks to Frank putting these fish into the water together.
Bryan Smith
For over 40 years Bryan has been playing guitar through-out North Carolina and the Southeast. As a teenager, rock-n-roll was what he wanted to play. Digging deeper into the music he found Muddy Waters, Elmore James and John Lee Hooker. In the Eighties he helped to carry the Blues Torch playing local bars and clubs. In 1995 he joined Bluesman Johnnie Whitlock’s, Amazing Blues Caucus. Bryan worked with Johnnie over the next few years until New Years Day 1998. At the age of Sixty Nine Johnnie passed away in his recliner after playing the night before with the “Blues Caucus”. Soon after Bryan joined up with Larry Carman, Calvin Johnson and Mike Wesolowski to form the Jump/Swing Band “Blues-A-Matic”. For the next four years “Blues-A-Matic” played the swing circuit racking up a couple of CD’s and many gigs. As a side project Bryan and Mike Wesolowski also play in “Blues World Order”. “BWO” is still together today after 11 years. “Frank’s Big Fish” reunites Bryan with old bandmates Larry, Calvin and good friend Michelle Belanger. Franklin Cox has thrown these Fish back in the big water to share some good music again.
Click for Blues World Order's web site
Click for Blues World Order's web site
