Band Bio

Rick Allyn (guitar, vocals)  Rick began his musical career at the age of sixteen, writing and performing his original music in coffeehouses around the Pacific Northwest.  In the early 1970's he joined a six-piece band that toured the U.S., including two entertainment tours for the U.S. military in Europe and many television and radio appearances.  After numerous recordings and solo projects Rick decided to take a break from the road and continue his solo career.  In 2001 Rick recorded his latest CD, "American Boy”.

Teresa Fraser  (vocals, percussion) Teresa is an extremely active vocal music educator in the Northwest region.  Receiving her BA and Masters in Choral Music and Jazz from University of Northern Colorado, she is currently the director of choral activities as Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington.  She has sung in numerous bands through out her long musical career but made a conscious decision to pursue music education, which she has been teaching for 18 years.  With jazz influences like Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur, Diana Krall and Carmen McRae she naturally moves into the blues styles of Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams and Etta James.  Recently, Blues Counselors asked her to join them singing harmony and leads in their band.  She is enjoying this endeavor as an expressive outlet for her singing passion and relieving and enjoyable change from her teaching responsibilities.

 Michael McCurdy (drums) Michael has been drumming since early childhood and has studied with jazz great and Motown legend Mel Brown in his native Portland, Oregon. After performing and recording with various local bands in Portland, with styles ranging from alt-rock to jazz to country, Michael has settled down in the Puget Sound area with his dream job of teaching music to children and laying down the groove as a Blues Counselor. His drumming influences include Jim Keltner, Bernard Purdie and Charlie Watts. 

Stuart Wakefield (bass) Stu has been playing a variety of instruments since he was in elementary school.  He’s played the bass in various rock & jazz acts in the Puget Sound area and Western Montana for the past 27 years.  He loves playing blues, jazz and funk and cites Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Melvin Lee Davis, Stanley Clarke and others as major influences on his playing style.  “It’s all in the groove!” he says.

Tracy Karkainen Tracy began playing guitar at the 11 but quickly changed to the  saxophone and has not set it down since.  He has studied music and musical theory and follows Charile Parker's famous quote "Don't play the saxophone.  Let it play you".  He has played in a multitude of local bands since the early 70’s, playing for the love of music.  For a short time he taught saxophone and music theory to the local youth.  Tracy draws inspiration from various types of music, including R&B, Jazz, and Rock and Roll.

Leyland Foster (lead guitar) Leyland began his guitar journey when he was 13 years old and, while heavily rooted in prog-rock,  he feels equally at home with the blues.  Guitar influences include Jeff Beck, Robert Fripp (King Crimson) and Trey Anastasio (Phish).  His musical career began playing trombone in jazz bands around the northwest area before transitioning to bass and then his true love, guitar.  He is often times heard to mutter, “what?!”.