MUSIC

The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club presents Ronnie Shellist. (w/Holland K. Smith Band).  (Ronnie Shellist CD Release Party!)

Ronnie Shellist (pictured) has been honing his harmonica skills for the past 16 years. He made his first big splash in 1997 working with singer/songwriter Hugh Fadal from Austin,TX. Blues great Gary Primich, living in Austin at the time, was a huge influence on his music as well. Guy Forsyth and Walter T. Higgs were other big blues/harmonica influences at the time in Austin. "If it weren't for those guys, I never would have pushed as hard as I did to learn how to get that sound out of my harp", Ronnie Shellist

In 1998, Ronnie moved to Colorado where he teamed up with the band Available Jones and toured the US in 2000. He has worked with many greats in Colorado throughout the past 15 years including such locals as John Alex Mason, Lionel Young, Rich Reno, and Erica Brown.

By 2006, he began posting performances on YouTube which currently have almost 7 million views. Ronnie's live performances include opening for such greats as BB King, Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Cray and the Neville Brothers. His style is a combination of mostly Chicago and West Coast blues with various influences mixed in throughout. The last CD that Ronnie recorded on was in 2007, titled Chicago Sessions: Blues Revue said: "the show belongs to Shellist's toneful harp.." Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine. His newest CD "Till Then" is due out in March 2012 . On the CD you'll find mostly originals with a few well known blues covers from some harmonica greats. Ronnie's rules for playing music: "be passionate while you play, be free, know your instrument intimately, and relax it's just blues!"

It goes without saying that once you have seen Holland K. Smith in action you'll be hooked on his special kind of Texas brewed blues. Writers from across the country (and international critics too) agree that the Holland K. Smith Band is a sure bet to be one of the top Jump Blues bands on tour anywhere! Sporting his 50's look with pompadour hair, goatee and blue jean attire, Holland brings his showmanship to a personal level as he interacts comfortably with his audience.