know the blues... Artists
• Ernie "SugarLips" Brown • Kenny Neal and Billy Branch • Steve Ditzell • Dave Hanson / Blues Hawks • The Holmes Brothers • Ms. Bettye Lavette • Bob Levis • Art Love • Sam McClain • Cesar Rosas / Los Lobos • Muddy Waters • Sugarcane Collins •

Bluesman for Life -  the Steve Ditzell story

Steve Ditzell was born in Chicago on August 20, l949.  At the age of 12 Steve
tried to play the guitar which wasn=t successful because as he later found
out, it was a bad guitar.  A few years later,   Steve tried some drum playing
but got back to guitar playing leaning toward the bass.  His first music gig was
on the bass guitar.

In high school in Massachusetts, a 15 year old Steve played a few gigs in a
bar owned by the father of one of the band members.  They got paid with Cokes. 
The Blake Street Band was the first real band Steve was in, at first playing
bass but later changing to guitar.

About 1968 Steve was blown away by Eric Clapton and Cream and their rendition
of the blues.  He was stunned by the expression and feelings of the music. 
He was also listening to Keith Richards and Jimmie Hendrix and, in the record
stores, Steve discovered Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.  By watching and
listening to these greats, he learned the structure and theory of the blues and the
sound and feeling which are the real blues.

In 1972 Steve became the lead guitarist for "Going Home."  He also started to
sing at this time.  This led to playing with Central Heating and other bands
doing CCR songs, etc. but he was not into the heavy blues yet.  Having
listened to the old blues players for years, he was influenced by Buddy Guy, Otis
Rush, Blind Willie McTell, Leroy Carr, Scraper Blackwell and others.  The
greatest blues tune to Steve was Ray Charles doing "Drown In My Own Tears." 

A major turning point for Steve came in 1975 in Chicago.  He began to visit
the South side blues bars such as Theresa's Lounge and the Checkerboard Lounge.
 Because he was an unknown player, it was not easy to just sit in with the
bands.  Showing up with his guitar in hand 6-8 times with no results, Steve
bought the drummer a 1/2 pint of CC.  Soon after he was asked to sit in with the
band and was accepted.  Steve joined the house band at Theresa's Lounge in
1976, playing with Sammy Lawhorn and other members of Muddy Waters= band.  John
Primer, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy also became big influences at this time.

One of Steve's first tours was with Fenton Robinson in the U.S. and Canada in
1976-78 and then in 1979 with Koko Taylor and the Blues Machine in Mexico. 
He especially enjoyed the Mexico tour associating with Willie Dixon, Lightnin'
Hopkins, Albert Collins, Big Mama Thornton and Muddy Waters.  At this time he
was playing mostly rhythm guitar.

Steve got to play Carnegie Hall in 1980 with Koko Taylor and Big Mama
Thornton.  Playing lead guitar for Big Mama Thornton sometimes would be frightening
for Steve.  One time he was frantically looking for his pick on stage when he
realized it was in his hand all the time.  Steve left Koko's band in 1981
because he wanted to play lead guitar and because Pop Taylor's driving left a lot
to be desired.

In 1981 Junior Wells called Steve to join the Buddy Guy-Junior Wells band. 
Playing both lead and rhythm for the band, Steve would open doing 4 or 5 songs
before they came on stage.  This continued until 1984.  In 1989 Junior and
Buddy formed separate bands.  Steve chose to stay with Junior.  Until 1994 Steve
toured with Junior in Europe, France and Switzerland opening with vocals plus
guitar.  They were pleased to note that the countries outside the U.S. seemed
to appreciate and accept the blues and the musicians a lot.  Steve=s
friendship with Junior Wells continued until Junior=s death.  The admiration for
Junior=s superb harp playing is life long. 




 
In 1990 Steve went on to form his own band, Blue Lightning. This is a power
blues band filled with feeling and soul. Steve sings the vocals and plays the
guitar, Dave Kay, bass, and Marty Binder, the drums. The band has played
various venues in Rockford and Chicago.  They have played Rockford's RAMI Awards,
won the Best of Rockford award and played the Waterfront Festival.  In 1998
Steve played the Rockford Blues Festival. 

Steve Ditzell has been influenced by many blues greats such as Albert King,
Freddie King, Otis Rush, Eric Clapton, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy.  From these,
Steve has found his own style and to watch Steve do acoustic real-deal blues
including his slide guitar and 12 string playing is a show to see and feel. He
knows the blues tunes, where they come from, what they are and he has lived
them.  He does not compromise his blues values. 

In the U.S. Steve says it is hard to make a living as the young people are
moving away from or do not know the blues.  This is sad because this is where
our music comes fromYa heart-felt music with feelings and emotions called the
blues.

Look out for the release of Steve's CD later this year.  It will be titled
"Blues For Theresa."  Also watch the entertainment listings for local gigs in
Rockford and the surrounding area. Thanks Steve D.

Submitted by Joe Poluyanskis A.K.A. Harmonica Joe