Deltasonics - Meet The Band!

The Delta Sonics (formerly known as The Homewreckers) have been playing in Colorado since 1992, and have established themselves as one of the finest blues acts in the area with their solid musicianship and exciting live performances. Their musical stylings include Chicago Blues, West Coast Swing, New Orleans R&B, and some early Rock n' Roll.

The band has been featured at the 1997, 1998, and 2001 Denver Blues & Bones Festival, the Boulder/Lyons Blues Festival five times, the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, and the Westword Music Showcase in 1996 and 1997. They have opened for many nationally known blues artists, including Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, The Radiators, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1999 and 2004, the band brought blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins to Colorado for successful tours. Most recently The Delta Sonics have opened shows for Charlie Musselwhite and Tommy Castro, and have also backed Big Bill Morganfield, Bo Diddley, and Pinetop Perkins on their recent performances in Colorado.

Photo by: Rob Stuerkh		Al Chesis ~ Harmonica/Vocals Al has played in Colorado since the mid-1980's after moving to Denver from Washington, D.C. There he played in the Mojo-Matics for five years, opening shows for Albert Collins, Elvin Bishop, and others. Al has shared the stage with Canned Heat, Tommy Castro, and Homesick James. He has also done studio work for two PBS movie soundtracks and Denver area radio stations, including KBCO, KUVO and the FOX. Al has toured locally and nationally with Muddy Waters' son Big Bill Morganfield, appearing at venues in Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin, as well as at the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival in 2002. Recently, Al has toured regionally with Pinetop Perkins, Steadyrollin' Bob Margolin, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Al has been endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas since 1992.

Erik Boa ~ Guitar/Vocals Erik Boa was born in Columbus, Ohio. He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the age of 12. He spent his formative years there and now considers Pittsburgh his home. A graduate of GIT in Los Angeles, Erik moved to Denver in the early 80’s. After bouncing around in a number of local outfits, Erik started his own band "Boa and the Constrictors." With two CD’s to their credit, Erik’s band was a perennial favorite at the Aspen Jazz Festival and most notably played at The Nice Jazz Festival in Nice, France. Erik joined forces with Al Chesis and The Delta Sonics in April of 2005. Erik currently makes his home in Boulder, Colorado.		Photo by John Ambrosino

Photo by Rob Stuerkh		John Butler ~ Bass/Vocals John began his music career in the Midwest over 40 years ago. Starting as a drummer at age 8, he switched to bass at age 13. After moving to Colorado in the early seventies John was "Big Al" of "Big Al & the Hi-Fi's," a national touring oldies act. John has also played in some of Colorado's top blues bands including "The Homewreckers," "Chicago Skinny," and "Blues Tonic." He has played many of the Colorado blues festivals and has opened shows for national blues acts such as Kim Wilson, Albert Collins, and Delbert McClinton.

Willie Panker ~ Drums Willie Panker grew up in Chicago, where he began studying drums at the age of 10 and playing professionally at 14. He developed a strong interest in jazz and blues while studying under Muddy Waters' and Little Walters' drummer, Fred Below. He eventually was sent by Below to Roy Knapp, a world-renowned percussion and music theory educator, to continue his studies. Willie became involved in the Blues scene gigging with James Cotton, Junior Wells, Jimmy Rogers and the like. Upon moving to New Orleans in the 80's, Willie became a sought-after sideman, drumming for Earl King, Allen Toussaint and Snooks Eaglin, and eventually forming his own group, The Iguanas . Some of the artists he has played with are John Mooney, Walter ‘Wolfman' Washington, Ronnie Earl, Kim Wilson, Mitch Woods, Fingers Taylor, James Harmon, Anson Funderburg, Gary Primich, Mark Hummel, Jumping Johnny Sansone, and more. Willie has traveled the world over and performed at festivals, concerts and shows in every juke-joint from California to Miami.		Photo by John Ambrosino