Blues & Bourbon: The Lucky Losers

Chris Burns (piano/organ) has been performing blues & soul for 40 years and has regularly toured with Maria Muldaur for the last 20. He produced and performed on the now famous California Honeydrops’ first album, “Soul Tub!” from 2008. Other recordings & performance credits include Big Harp George, Frankie Lee, Bobby Murray, Freddie Hughes, and E.C. Scott.  No matter the style of blues and soul, Chris Burns adds just the right touch on keys. He is on all 5 of The Lucky Losers’ albums & co-wrote many of the newest songs on “Standin’ Pat” with Lemons & Berkowitz.

Joe Kyle Jr. (Upright Bass)

It was during the Great Swing Wars of the early 1990s in San Francisco, when gigs were plentiful, public cigar smoking was legal, and vintage clothes were still cheap, that Joe was fortunate enough to have been drafted into musical service. Since that time he has become an in demand player known for his superb rootsy feel, musical agility, and adaptability. Joe has been touring and recording with the Waybacks since mid-2001, and in such capacity has shared the stage with a host of notable roots music heroes including Bob Weir, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Joan Osborne, Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Danny Barnes, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Grace Potter, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Jim Lauderdale and Bela Fleck. He might be the only bassist to have played with Martin Denny, Al Kooper AND Pinetop Perkins, although not at the same time. Joe is best known in the Bay Area for his work with the well-known blues trio HowellDevine.

 Simon Govan Smith (electric, & slide guitar) Originally from Australia, guitarist Simon Govan Smith relocated to San Francisco a decade ago and has performed with AJ Crawdady, Amy Lou, The Highwater Blues Band, and many more.  He is a regular staple in the Bay Area blues scene.

Jon Otis (drums) is the son of the legendary Johnny Otis who was a singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, hit maker, and talent scout that discovered talents like Little Esther Phillips & Jackie Wilson in the 1940’s.  Jon, as a gifted teenager, learned how to play the drums and eventually reunited with his famous father in the late 1960’s.  Jon Otis has performed at major festivals, theaters, auditoriums, and also small venues like The Saloon in San Francisco where he fronts his own band, Blu Beatz. He has worked with his brother Shuggie Otis, Elvin Bishop, Solomon Burke, Foreigner, James Cotton, Michael Bloomfield, George Duke, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Mizz Dee, Bobby Young, Alabama Mike, & so many others. He is a “Greaseland All Star” at Kid Andersen’s studio in San Jose, where he either plays percussion or drums on recordings. Jon has completed 5 tours with The Lucky Losers, travelling all over the U.S. since 2018.