User:Rogerblues

Chicago Blues Rocker Roger "The Rooster" Connelly and his legendary band The Blues Merchants have been recording and touring for over 10 years. Over the years he has performed with such greats as; Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Debbie Davies, Honeyboy Edwards, Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepperd, Tommy Castro, Robbin Ford, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Edar Winter, Vince Gill, and many others. Roger is a powerful singer songwriter/guitarist who has been described as a "One-man wrecking crew with all the technical dexterity and soul of a delta blues virtuoso". Roger is also an accomplished blues harmonica player and is endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas, Dean Markley Strings, Hipshot, Audix Microphones, Peavey and The Victoria Amp Company.

Some of the highlights of his career include performances at the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Annual Fender Catalina Island Blues Festival, as well as the 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002 Chicago Blues Festival. Roger also performed at the 1999 and 2001 Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica, the 2003 and 2004 Monterey Blues Festival and The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. More recently in Sept. 2006 Roger and the band headlined the Famous Casino Ballroom with The Spencer Davis Group on Catalina Island opening to a sold out crowd.

In early 2001 Roger teamed up with Maxwell Street Blues Artist Jimmy Lee Robinson, a name once synonymous with the likes of Elmore James, Freddy King and Little Walter. They were joined by veteran Chicago bassist Bob Stroger and drummer Neil Rose for a series of performances throughout the Midwest. Unfortunately the band was short lived after Jimmy found out he had cancer and decided to take his own life. During that same time Roger joined Koko Taylor, Billy Branch and Lonnie Brooks at The Park West in Chicago for a concert to benefit The Blue Heaven Foundation.

Roger has licensed his music for 4 motion pictures, to include the new Rodney Dangerfield movie "Back by Midnight" and his music can be heard on several blues compilations including Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine's "Blues Sampler" CD. Roger also will appear as a guest Artist on the new Dave Siebel’s solo CD.

The Blues Merchants are comprised of 4-5 world-class musicians and play a mix of original and traditional blues rock.

The group is now based in Southern California and has released 2 cds of original music and continues to tour.