Artist Information

Biography

Hurricane Gumbo was formed in 1994 after "Hurricane" Bill Rosas decided he was tired of performing the same type of “stale and worn out” cover music whenever he played around Chicagoland-area bars and festivals. He had grown fond of the music of New Orleans from his numerous trips to New Orleans’ Jazz and Heritage festival and knew that Chicago needed a band that could bring the saucy, Big Easy-flavored sounds of New Orleans to the Midwest. He recruited seven other musicians who shared his belief and love of New Orleans zydeco, Louisiana funk and soul, and horn-heavy, second-line grooves and formed a band that continues to entertain people at major music fests across the Midwest.

Presently based in the Chicago area, the band has released four CD albums and has performed numerous live television and radio appearances, including WGN TV on the Morning show, NBC TV on "I-Village", WDCB Radio in the "Hambone Blues Cadillac", WLUP radio on the Kevin Matthews show. Hurricane Gumbo has rocked the house at countless clubs and festivals like the House of Blues, Navy Pier, Taste of Chicago, Rock Island's Gumbo Ya Ya festival and Milwaukee’s Summerfest, sharing the stage with New Orleans artists Dr. John, the Iguanas and Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band.

Instrumentation
"Hurricane" Bill Rosas - Accordian, Keyboards, Vocals
Kenny "E" Errant - Guitar
Jon "Sleepin' Jesus" Richter - Bass
Matt "Lunchbox" Daly - Drums
"Zydeco" Joe Sonnefeldt - Fra'tois (rubboard), congas and percussion
Matt "Wif" Wifler - Alto sax
Chris "Brez" Brennan - Tenor sax
Eric "Le Lip" Aucoin - Trumpet

Discography
"Hurricane Gumbo" (debut CD) - released 2001
"More Hurricane Gumbo" - released 2004
"Merry Christmas Baby" (Christmas single CD) - released 2006
"Out on the Town" - released 2008 Features 10 live tracks from Mardi Gras shows and three studio tracks.