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Short Biography
Blues Power is most often found at the Saloon in San Francisco's North Beach, where we play every Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6 PM. Singer and harmonica player Applejack Walroth & guitarist Ron Butkovich have known each other since the 1960s in Chicago! Another founding member, world class saxophonist and arranger Hart McNee, now resides in New Orleans. After playing lots of blues gigs in the Chicago years, The three of us migrated to California in the late 60s and continued the tradition; we were all in and out of various bands, always staying in touch. Eventually we started the Wild Stolichnyas as the back up band for Michael Bloomfield in 1979. After Michael passed away, we started to call ourselves Chicago Blues Power, which eventually evolved into simply Blues Power. Applejack also played with the Elvin Bishop Group, Boz Scaggs R&B Review, Annie Sampson band, and many others (see discography and more info on my other pages). Johnny Ace is the bluesiest bassist and impressario west of the East River! Rick Sankey is our propulsive drummer. The North Beach Horns supply the hot sauce in the stew - Terry Forgette, baritone sax, and Michael Pelonquin, tenor sax. Rick and Terry also hail from Chicago originally.
Many thanks to all of the fans who have supported us over the years!
We respectfully dedicate this page to our former band mates and members, may they rest in peace:
Michael Bloomfield - guitar
John Chambers - drums
Jim Overton - drums
Gino Skaggs - bass