shawn ridley 

GUITAR

Shawn, who recently relocated to Auburn, CA, has been an influential contributor to the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for more than two decades.  A journeyman guitar player and devotee to the early blues and R&B masters, Shawn earned his stripes playing the music he loves in many of the Bay Area’s most respected clubs -- The Ivy Room, The Saloon, John Lee Hooker’s “Boom-Boom Room”, Moe’s Alley, Slim’s, The Blue Lamp, Biscuits & Blues, Lou’s Pier 47, Eli’s Mile High Club and JJ’s Blues in San Jose, to name but a few. 

A weekly residency as one of JJ’s house guitar players in the 1990s afforded Shawn the opportunity to meet, play and learn from many of his heroes, including Jimmie Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Anson Funderburgh, Derek O’Brien and Johnnie “Clyde” Copeland, as well as local heroes Tommy Castro, Chris Cain, Johnny Nitro, Chris Cobb, JC Smith and many others.

A disciple of the “less is more” school of guitar playing, Shawn spent the early 2000's playing and touring with saxophone great Frankie Ramos, an alum of Little Richard’s band.  After a 5-year stint with the Frankie Ramos Band, Shawn formed several of his own blues/rock outfits, including Bay Area favorites The Sinners and The Mile.  Since 2018, Shawn has been holding down rhythm and lead guitar duties with Norman Collins & The Tumblers, an original roots rock/Americana band.  Shawn’s superior guitar skills are featured throughout Norman Collins & the Tumblers latest 2021 release “What the Cat Dragged In”.

john gonzales

DRUMS & PERCUSSION

John grew up in Rawlins Wyoming where he was exposed to music at a very young age, as his father was a professional musician. He recalls dragging out pots and pans at his grandma’s house and was always banging on something.  John saved up his money to buy the cheap wax-paper-head drum sets that they sold at the discount store.  When he he saw a sparkly blue drum set, he knew that he wanted to be a drummer. 

Starting in the sixth grade, John was classically trained in all percussion, and his hunger grew.  He bought his first drum set at the pawn shop for $25 and fixed it up nicely so he could play in his dad’s Mexican/country rock band.  From there, he branched out into big band orchestra, jazz band, marching band, and rock.  He was introduced to RUSH in the seventh grade, which deeply inspired him and changed him forever.  He moved to California in 1988 and has played in numerous original, cover, and tribute bands, and has also performed session work.  John has always, and will always continue to push himself to grow as a musician.  He has a deep love and respect for all types and genres of music and has played with some of the best undiscovered musicians in the world.

barry boudreau

KEYS

Barry learned classical piano as a child and transitioned to popular music (and the Tenor Sax) while in high school and college.  During his college years, he spent a year playing and touring with "The Toyes", promoting their EP "Smoke Two Joints". 

Since then, Barry has played with a number of acts, covering Classic Rock, Classic and Original R&B, and Classic and Original Pop.  Barry has played in venues ranging from local bars to large festivals, and has recently shared the stage with "The Spin Doctors" and "Abel and the Prophets".