The Ernie Steele Band

The years past by with me playing the Blues everyday. There was this local band called The Nighthawks that played every Thursday night at the Far Inn a club in Washington DC. The band was comprised of Harmonica, Guitar, Bass and Drums. I tried to make it every Thursday night to see them. I learned so much about what it took for a Band to put on a show. I received a phone call from a Drummer friend of mine that was in a band, he told me they were looking for a Bass player and asked if I would like to audition. I still had my Bass Guitar and a Sun Solarus Bass amp, even though I had put it down years ago to learn the harmonica I never sold it or my amp. I loaded up my car and went to their practice, the name of their Band was Rocket 88. Well I passed the audition. The band practiced a second and third time with me trying my best to play Bass. Well third time was the charm, at the end of practice the leader - lead singer-front man asked if he could talk to me alone. Him and I went outside as the rest of the Band packed up. He proceeded to tell me how much the guys loved me as an individual and how hard it was for them to tell me what he was about to tell me. He said "Ernie you're fired, we all love you but you suck at playing the Bass." I asked if they would audition me as harmonica player, I told him I had been playing it allot longer than I did the Bass. He asked the band and they were all leery saying it would be a waste of time because i sucked so bad on bass. But they said OK, so I pulled out my harmonicas and plugged in a Microphone into the PA. I had cheat sheet telling me what key harmonica I should use for the key of the song the rest of the band was playing in. I said the name of the band is Rocket 88 so do you guys know the song Rocket 88. It just so happened the was a James Cotton tune I had played along with many times. So they said of course we do so they began to play and so did I, I played my heart out. They guys were blown away. I passed the audition after the first song we played. We played a few more practices and did some gigs and even had tee shirts made. Then after a practice the leader said Ern I need to talk to you alone. I thought Oh God I'm fired again! Once we were alone he said the rest of the Band and him would like to change the name of the band, I said to what? He said "The Ernie Steele Band". My first quick answer was no but after talking with him I said OK. So now I was catapulted to be a front man with the lead singer. The band even went as far as performing four songs without me on stage, then bring me up from the back of the club. So I had a theme song that I would walk up on the stage to, It was "Born In Chicago". I didn't sing it I just walked up and began to play. It became my trademark, the crowds loved it. It was truly The Ernie Steele Band. James Cotton did it for me again the above picture is the album cover that the James Cotton tune "Rocket 88" is on. Here is a little diddy I wrote that showcases the harmonica in the tradition of James Cotton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns85ogGlXsc