Frontman, Rick Bates (guitar, vocals harmonica) has traveled the blues highway for many miles stretching over many years. That road began as a sideman for the infamous West Coast bluesman, Delray Streeter. After years of chasing after musical trend after trend, Bates returned to his blues roots and formed the Conrad Story Blues Band. “That road is still one I want to be on. I’ve just had to find a way to be okay with not knowing what might be around the next bend.” Referring to his recent journey to Memphis and Helena, Arkansas Bates says, “Of late that old road’s been pretty good to me. Being on stage with Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin and playing live on Sunshine Sonny Payne’s“ “King Biscuit Time” on KFFA will sure light the way for awhile!” Since returning from Memphis, Rick and his band have been blessed with some great gigs that include opening for national acts - the Nighthawks, Mem Shannon, and Richard Johnston.
Rick’s guitar style has been described by Don Wilcock of King Biscuit Time and Elmore magazines as having the “sting” of Albert with a touch of BB -like speed string tremolo.” Wilcock lauds Bates' guitar work on “La Belle Poutine,” an instrumental from the Conrad Story Band’s debut CD, describing Rick’s guitar playing as “dripping with as much angst and pathos as the best works of Roy Buchanan.”
Jonathan Hunkins, an instrumental music teacher since 1992 (Massena Central High School), has been performing live since the age of 13 in various bands on both drumset and keyboard. A native of Northern New York, he studied music education and music performance (percussion) at Ithaca College. He notes that his inspiration stemmed from witnessing Buddy Rich and his big band perform locally. Jonathan, with his extensive music studies background, is truly atypical as far as blues drummers go, but he is very much at home playing the blues styles. His creative fill work and dynamics, all of which are in keeping with the improvisational genres, stand as testaments to his sophisticated understandings about ensemble playing. His larger influences come from a mass of genres including Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Bill Bruford, Carl Palmer, Neil Peart, among others.
Chip Lamson, traces his roots in the blues to the sixth grade, when, for the very first time he heard Ray Charles play piano. "It was a style I knew I wanted to learn, and I've been learning it ever since. Ray's inclusion of gospel and jazz flavoring his unique R&B style was and still is an eye-opener for me, and I've built my improvisations around his ideas." Lamson is a veteran of various blues and r&b bands in St. Louis, MO and Madison, WI where the material ranged from Butterfield to Beck and from Mayfield to Mayall. He lists his keyboard influences in a diverse group including Charles, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Smith, Al Kooper, Billy Preston, Otis Spann, Leon Russell and Dr. John, among others. A graduate of the Crane School of Music, Chip has taught for 29 years in the Massena (NY) district. He is highly respected by music education professionals throughout New York State and the Northeast.
From the Catskill region of New York State, Amalio “Mario” Pratti was recruited into the band to round out the rhythm section. Mario is part of the Massena music educator triumvirate where he is an instrumental music teacher (strings and orchestra). Before graduating from the Crane School of Music as a bass major, Mario played in several bands in Eastern and Northern New York as well as performing as a concert bassist with the Catskill, Glens Falls and Utica Symphony Orchestras. When away from music this young blood can be found pursuing interests in several outdoor and “extreme” sports. Mario is at once a solid and imaginative bassist. He strives to create and play bass parts that are both rhythmically interesting and melodic and is at home on either the electric or standup. Besides being a masterful bassist, Mario is a skilled composer and arranger and his vocals add extra versatility to the band.
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