Career Highlights 

• Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015, – PLUS the People’s Choice Award in 2006, 2008, 2010 

• Voted the Best Blues Band In Milwaukee by The Shepherd Express Reader’s Poll in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

• 2011 Blues Blast Music Award Nominee for “Band of the Year” and “Song of the Year” 

• 2016 Blues Blast Music Award WINNER for “Live Blues Recording” 

• 2016 Independent Blues Award for “Best Live CD” 

• Reverend Raven’s and Westside Andy’s 2015 Albums both hit the Root Music Reports Top 30

• 20th Anniversary CD, My Life, hit # 1 on the Roots Radio Music Chicago Blues Chart and stayed # 1 for eight months 

• 2018 Blues Blast Award Nominee for "Band of the Year" and "Vintage/Historical Recording"

Promo Bio

Bringing crowds to their feet at the hardest to please and sophisticated night clubs in the Midwest, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys play traditional blues, straight up with a big dose of passion. With smoking grooves, served up with hot harmonica and smooth stinging guitar they play original songs peppered with nods to Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and the three Kings. 

Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After 15 year hitch in the Navy, Chief Raven moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. 

Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz, Rod Piazza, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healy, Trampled Underfoot, Mike Zito, Nick Moss, Tommy Castro and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy’s Legends where he has been on rotation for over 18 years. 

"Best in the Midwest"
 Johnny Rawls 

"You guys are the real deal"
Tad Robinson 

"Bloody Excellent"
Hugh Laurie 

"Excellent"
Chicago Blues Guide 

"These guys are really good"
Bruce Iglauer 

"Highly recommended"
Rockin Johnny Burgin 

"They are very, very good. That's why I keep having them back at my club"
Buddy Guy

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Westside Andy is one of the premier harp players to come out of Wisconsin along with Jim Liban, Steve Cohen, Madison Slim, Matthew Skoller and Cadillac Pete Rahn.  A long time member of Paul Black's Flip Kings and his own band, The Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band, he's played just about everywhere and with anyone of note in the blues world.  He's been with Reverend Raven since leaving his band in 2014. 

More modern facts include that Hohner, Inc. lists him as an endorser alongside Rod Piazza, Toots Thielemans, & Corky Siegel, among many other great players. 

Andy has shared the stage with James Cotton, Luther Allison, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Charlie Musselwhite, Doobie Brothers, Richie Havens, Muddy Waters, Gary Primich, Jimmy Johnson, Tab Benoit, Hubert Sumlin. 

"Andy Linderman is one of my very favorite harp players. His tone and phrasing are tops in my book."
Gary Primich 

"I remain a fan and supporter of your work as one of the most dynamic electric harmonica players of your generation."
Dan Aykroyd, actor, musician 

“Andy Linderman is a great player, a great heart, a great musicality and energy, and a great friend.”
Corky Siegel, musician/producer

•••••••••

The rhythm section has PT Pedersen on bass and Craig Panosh on drums.  PT played with Charlie Musselwhite during the Arhoolie Records years.  He also played with Luther Tucker, Johnny Young, Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Robben Ford, Big Time Sarah, Lowell Fulson and Brian Lee. 

Craig Panosh on drums has played, toured and recorded with the Bernard Allison and Brian Lee bands.  He's played with Billy Flynn, Barrelhouse Chuck, Jim Liban, Madison Slim, R.J. Mischo and many others.  He won the Wisconsin Area Music Award (WAMI) for best drummer in 2006.