Jerry Portnoy was born in 1943 and grew up in the blues rich atmosphere of Chicago's famous Maxwell Street Market during the golden age of Chicago Blues.  He began his professional career in the late 60's and since that time has performed, live and on television, to more people in more places than any other blues harmonica player.

During a career that includes six years as a member of the fabled Muddy Waters Blues Band, another six as leader of the Legendary Blues Band, four years at the head of his own band The Streamliners, and another four as a featured member of the Eric Clapton Band, he has maintained a constant touring schedule that has carried him to every state in the union and twenty-five foreign countries on five continents, with performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Smithsonian, London's Royal Albert Hall, and at major jazz festivals worldwide, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Warsaw International Jazz Jamboree, the Hawaii Pacific Jazz and Music Fair, and the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France.

He has played on several Grammy Award winning albums while recording with a wide variety of artists, and was a Grammy Award nominee in 1997 for his work with the Muddy Waters Tribute Band.  Television credits include appearances on Saturday Night Live, Soundstage, MTV, VH1, and the Disney Channel, as well as writing and performing original music for Sesame Street.  In addition, he has lectured at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and his definitive 3/CD instructional package, Jerry Portnoy's Blues Harmonica Masterclass, is widely regarded as the premier teaching tool for those wishing to learn the instrument.  He now makes his home outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Shoji Naito was born and raised in Toyota, Japan. He started playing guitar and harmonica at the age of sixteen and moved to Chicago in 1996 to study music at Columbia College Chicago. In 2002, he graduated with a B.A. in music. Just as important to his education as his college courses, Shoji has spent countless hours studying blues music from recordings and live performances.  Shoji also has years of experience performing the blues with greats such as John Primer, Carey Bell, Jimmy Burns, Willie Big Eye Smith, and Lurrie Bell.  He joined the Eddy (The Chief) Clearwater Blues Band in 2004, and has shared the stage with him in blues festivals as far away as the Rio das Ostras blues festival Brazil, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival Canada, and the Baden Switzerland Blues Festival, not to mention our great local festivals like the Chicago Blues Festival and the Blues on the Fox in Aurora.  Shoji will be joined on stage by the blues legend Willie Buck.

Kirk Manley, a "yes man by day and a bluesman by night." This vocalist, harmonica player, and songwriter is deeply rooted in the classic Chicago blues sound. Manley has performed regularly in and around the Windy City with The Manley Diehl Blues Band and The Shakes since 2005 while sharpening his chops at the Old Town School of Folk Music. One of Manley's biggest thrills was performing with Muddy Waters' former drummer, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, at 2008's Chicago Blues Harp Bash featuring Billy Boy Arnold. Manley has a passion for music that swings hard and touches the soul…Little Walter, Junior Parker, Sam Cooke, Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam. Honoring these greats and showcasing his own tunes keep his spirit free and, hopefully, the audience in the groove.

Highway RickEy, aka “Harmonica Einstein” is unique Chicago talent.  He sings, plays harmonica and drums – all at the same time!  He is “The World’s Greatest Tonecup Player”.  RickEy also fronts his own blues band and can be heard expertly recreating traditional harmonica blues around Chicagoland in the styles of both of the Walter’s and Sonny Boys.

Lamont "Harmonica" Harris has become quite active around the Chicago blues scene over the last 10 years and leaves stages smoldering wherever he has been seen playing.  He was first hired by the famous Chicago bluesman, Johnny Laws and has since gone on to share the stage with Shirley King, Diamond Jim Green, and George and Von Freeman (The Chicago jazz greats), Gloria Shannon, and Jimmie Tillman.

Harry Garner grew up in southwest Philadelphia during the 1960’s where he was exposed to the full spectrum of musical genres. However, it was not until Harry settled in Chicago, some 25 years ago, that he discovered "The Blues" in earnest.   Currently you will find Harry fronting the Harry Garner Band, which is an amazing ensemble of Chicago blues musicians that all have a personal and direct connection to the blues.  Charlie Musselwhite was quoted as saying, "Listening to The Harry Garner Band makes me glad to hear that the blues is still alive and well in Chicago TODAY!”