Johnny-O and the Jump Out Boys

A 1950's Chicago style blues band, led by harmonica player, Johnny O. Influenced by Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson. George Smith and Big Walter Horton.

Johnny O, the band leader, has been playing harmonica for a over fifteen years after having bought his son a harmonica in a Cracker Barrel restaurant.  Being attracted to the blues greats after seeing live performances of BB King, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and others, Johnny soon was drawn to playing blues harmonica. He soon immersed himself in studying the blues harmonica greats: Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, James Cotton, Sonnyboy Williamson I and II, George Smith and others.  His dream and goal since has been to get an authentic sound out of his harmonica and group, that is very similar in sound to the ensembles that existed in the mid 50's in Chicago and other such cities.

Jim Carson has played blues guitar since the 1960’s when he first heard the Chicago blues greats, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. He has played solo country blues and performed in various blues bands in the Piedmont of North Carolina. A founding member of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, he hosted the “Blues Hangover” on WNAA radio for over 25 years, before retiring in 2016. He was the guitarist for Martha and the Moodswingers, the Melva Houston Blues Band, and the Red Road Blues Band. Besides his interest in old-school Chicago blues, he performs gypsy jazz regularly with The Minor Swing Band.

Ted van Dyk is a veteran keyboardist who has payed in rock and jazz bands around the Raleigh Durham Are for over 30 years. His current rock fusion band, Lowderstill, has recently appeared at Raleigh's Spark con Festival, The Creedmoor Music Festival, and The Carrboro Music Festival in recent months.

Bob Powell, bass, has been a rabid fan of the blues since the late 1960s, playing in various bands along the way. His biggest influences are the Chicago and Kansas City blues styles. When not playing the bass, you can often find him with another love of his life, behind the lens of his camera capturing musicians at work and play.

Tom Woods, drums, has been playing drums for 35 years. His minimalist drum style can be traced back to his back to his beginning learning to play on a borrowed snare. He received his primary musical education by attending numerous club shows and studying the various bands in the North Carolina's Piedmont Triad music scene. He cut his teeth in a number of garage bands in and around Greensboro. Tom has been a fan of the blues from a young age and sites Taj Mahal, King Curtis and Champion Jack Dupree as his main blue music influences.

You'll hear covers of familiar tunes and even a few that you probably never knew existed. Their show is a combination of storytelling and song, so don’t be surprised if you learn a few interesting things about the original artists who made this music so great. Come join them as they take the music... and you 'back-a-ways'.

Video of Johnny O and the Jump Out Boys at River House: