LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company

POSTPONED until further notice

S.E. Willis & the Willing

S.E. Willis brings his band back to the piano store for a show that’s a mixture of original and classic Blues, Boogie, Rock, Zydeco, and Country. S.E.Willis (piano, harmonica, accordion, vocals), Ruth Davies (bass), Takezo Takeda (guitar, vocals), Larry Vann (drums, vocals).

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“A commanding singer and keyboardist (piano, organ, and accordion) who delivers classic and original material with conviction and authenticity.” –Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express

S.E. WILLIS
S.E.Willis (Steve) started his musical journey in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1968, moving ten years later to San Francisco, California. The Bay Area provided the Blues music scene Willis needed, as well as Rockabilly, Punk, Country and Zydeco. Willis opened shows for Jerry Lee Lewis, Gatemouth Brown, Jerry Garcia, Clifton Chenier and more.

In 1982 Willis returned to Northern Arizona and started S.E.Willis and the Wayward Sons. He was an early inductee into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. Back in Oakland in 1992, just missing most of the crack wars, Steve left commercial music and for three years joined the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. Then Joseph “Ziggy” Modeliste, drummer for the New Orleans proto-funk band the Meters, called, leading to three years with Zigaboo playing to packed houses every Friday night at Pier 23.

In 1999 Willis was chosen by Elvin Bishop to play piano on his upcoming Alligator Records live recording, “That’s My Partner,” featuring Little Smoky Smothers. Steve continued in Bishop’s band until 2017, winning the Blues Foundation’s 2015 Band of the Year. S.E.Willis is now living again in Flagstaff, Arizona. He spends most of his time playing piano, harmonica and accordion.