Wednesday July 4th   2:30-5:30   (A1A Stage)……….Big City Band & Roach Thompson – Miami, Florida blues and rhythm and blues band is music entertainment at its best. This quality “show” band has been attracting a loyal following for 26 years. Big City’s variety of vocalists and soloists present a danceable mix of blues, rhythm and blues, motown and soul requiring mandatory applause and audience participation. The repertoire includes originals and the music of such artists as BB King, Otis Redding, Al Green, James Brown, Eric Clapton, etc. Available for club, corporate, festival and concert venues, they rock every event with style and stage presence.

 Roach Thompson was born Warren Jefferson Thompson, Jr on November 27, 1944 in Brunswick, Georgia. He grew up playing the blues on old-time guitars, some of which were homemade. By age 17 he left home and during his travels refined his craft. Roach worked with a group called The Kinfolk along with Freddie Scott, when he first began cutting records. He gained additional experience along with Freddie in the recording studio with a group called The Notorious Miami Band. It was with Notorious Miami that the song Kill That Roach was penned and recorded, permanently giving the nickname Roach to its author.

 Big City Blues Band & Roach Thompson has been honored with numerous awards. In 1991 and 1992 they were given the Jammy Award for Best Blues Band in Florida. In 1991 the South Florida Blues Society chose them as Best Blues Band. In 1991 they were also honored by the National Blues Foundation for winning their national blues competition. They received the coveted B.B. King Lucille Award at the W.C. Handy Awards in Memphis for Best Unsigned Blues Band in the United States. This award was presented by Little Milton and Willie Nelson.

 Big City is often the featured artist at major festivals. Big City and it’s members have opened for or played with such artists as Lloyd Price, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Little Richard, Benny Latimore, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Johnny Winter, John Mayall, The Kinsey Report, Sam and Dave, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Jr. Wells, The Thunderbirds, B. B. King, Muddy Waters, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Diana Ross, Jimi Hendrix and many more.

 Festivals Played: Memphis Blues Fest., Riverwalk Blues Fest., Taste of the Grove Fest., Goombay Fest., Kizomba Fest., Miami River Blues Fest., Sombrero Resort Blues Fest., Musicians Exchange Blues Fest., Martin Luther King’s Birthday Parade., Hollywood Rock Rhythm and Blues Fest., Art in the Park, Coconut Grove Arts Fest., Hollywood Sun and Fun Fest., Hollywood Jazz Fest., South Beach Art Deco Fest., Midfin Festival (Denmark), Nova University Blues Festival, etc.

 Big City Band & Roach Thompson is currently seeking new venues. We have been a major part of the local and national music scene and are worthy of your entertainment considerations. Combining the best of the original Big City Band and the Roach Thompson Blues Band has created an “all star” band to be reckoned with!

Corporate Clients: Lucent Technology, Ford, Pfizer, Burdines, Cisco Systems, Squibb, Jaguar, TeleStrategies, MetaSolve, Cushman Wakefield, Revlon, Campbell Soup,Hello Florida, etc………http://www.bigcityband.com