Virginia and The Slims started in Summer of 2013 with Virginia DeMoss on vocals, Perry Lavin on drums, James Kamp on tenor sax, Harry Schaefer on bass, Ginger Drake on alto sax and Sean Anderson, on guitar. Virginia’s husband came up with the name and we loved it. The idea was to play blues but to play songs people would respond to, especially swing or jump blues as no one else locally was focusing on that. Eventually Virginia left to start a family, Ginger left for Nashville, and Perry and Harry left to pursue their first love, Indian classical music. James and Sean reorganized with Sid Heilbraun, a rock solid bassist, and Brian Gant, a Nashville pro on drums. Rebecca O’Quinn came on board as our singer. After about a year she left, and we met our current vocalist, Joanna Best. Joanna can bring across old time blues like no one’s business and has a great disposition. Then we added a long term friend of ours and killer harmonica player, Bill Mattocks as well as saxophonist Vinny Corda and Marco Noto on drums.
The band thrived with Chicago Blues led by Don Pasqualini on guitar, Jeff Delgarn on drums, Tom Fleckenstine on bass.
We now welcome Howie Neal on Guitar, John Davis on Bass, John Barrett on drums.