Melissa Neels - Vocals, lead & rhythm guitar

---

Melissa Neels was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She started to play guitar at age 13 and met Bonnie Raitt at age 15, which changed her life. She knew then, that music was something she wanted to pursue. Eventually learning how to play lead guitar and writing her own songs. She formed the Melissa Neels Band in 2000. The music is a blend of blues-rock, songs include cover tunes and original music written by Melissa. Being one of the only female lead guitar players in St. Louis her guitar style is uniquely her own, along with her lead vocals and song writing. She’s played the St. Louis Big Muddy Blues festival four years in a row, Sparta Il. Blues festival two years, Blues on the Mississippi in J.B. park, opened for Chuck Berry at Blueberry Hill, opened for Anthony Gomes, and is performing at the Whitaker Musical Festival in the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Melissa's influences include Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Freddie King, Loretta Lynn, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and BB King. Backed by a group of talented musicians, her band members are Matt Mc Cauley on keyboards, Tom May on drums, and Bob K. on bass.



Matt Mc Cauley - Keyboards

---

Matt has been playing piano since 1968, spent five years on the road, 300-330 nights a year and has toured the United States and Canada. He did two tours with Ray Sawyer from Dr. Hook, opened for Merle Haggard, Mister Mister, Elton john, Eurythmics, Aerosmith, Dickey Betts, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Blackhawk and others. His playing is influenced by rock, blues and country music. Artists he’s influenced by are Elton john, Steve Winwood, Billy Joel, Leon Russell and Billy Powell from Lynyrd Skynrd.








Bobby K. - Bass

---

Bobby K was raised on blues playing through the headphones of an old crystal radio set 15 miles and seven blocks from the Chicago loop in Yorkfield, Il. He attended Daytona Beach Junior College Florida and met Duane and Greg Allman. They formed The Allman Joys. Five years later he played for the BCC All Stars with Chilly Willy, Quincy Jennings and Jimmy “Bo” Horn. The seventies bob played with Roger Netzel in a Tallahasse, Fl based band called Swampwater. From 1972-74 Bobby played in Ocean Beach, Ca. with Robbie Carmichael in Water Brother. Bob is currently living in the St. Louis area and is the bass player in the Melissa Neels Band.



Tom May - Drummer/percussionist

---

Tom is a native of South St. Louis, with his first playing experience in the high school marching / concert bands, and in college rock bands in the 70's and early 80's. He has been the drummer for local blues acts such as: Perry Woods and the May Brothers, Buffalo Bob and The Bedroom Blues Band, Pocketchange, and previously with the Melissa Neels Band from 2002 to 2005. His performance experience includes: The Big Muddy, Sparta, Washington, and Quincy Blues Festivals, Blues On The Mississippi Concert Series, Vets Jam, Becky Thatcher (Blues Cruise), live performances on Fox News Channel 2 and KDHX 88.1, Lake Of The Ozarks, Ameristar Casino St. Charles, Soulard Mardi Gras, warm-up for Chuck Berry, Anthony Gomes, and Hamilton Loomis, and on the Sparta Blues Festival billing with Michael Burks, Ike Turner, and Little Milton. Tom's plays Ludwig and Gretsch drums and Zildjian cymbals.