About
Lijah (Vocalist)
Lijah was born and raised in San Jose. She started singing from an early age listening to the great songs of Aretha, Dinah, Nat King Cole, Etta, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and many more. Her father, Alfred, was a great inspiration to her as he sang and introduced her to Soul, RnB and Jazz standards. As she continued with her singing career she has brought these songs to life in her own voice, and loves to entertain and share her love of music with her audience. Lijah formed M’sippi Slide in late 2022 and a few months later Johnny Cat filled-in on guitar and by the end of the year Johnny was firmly in place as Lijah’s musical mentor. In mid 2023 Frank DeRose joined the band. Johnny and Frank have helped Lijah refine her material which resulted in her finding her true rhythm & blues voice. The quality of the performance has lead to a fast growing and loyal fan base in the South Bay, and they are looking forward to expanding its reach. M’sippi Slide brings these great songs to life with their captivating live performance.
Johnny "Cat" Soubrand (Guitar)
"Johnny Cat" Soubrand a West Coast native, he was born in San Francisco, lived in Santa Cruz logging lots of time at Moe's Alley and performed/toured with many other Bay Area blues notables including Andy Santana and the Chrome Addicts. He has made records with Chris "Kid" Andersen, Andy Santana, Earl Thomas, Russell Barber Band and Jimmy Dewrance. Fans know his clean, crisp swinging tone from his Gibson Gold Top Les Paul and Fender Strat. They also know that he takes his inspiration from the Mt. Rushmore of Kings: B.B., Albert and Freddie.
Frank De Rose (Bass)
Frank De Rose has been a fixture in the Bay Area blues scene for 50 years. During that time Frank has been a band member with many of the area’s top blues performers. That list includes Gary Smith, Tommy Castro, Mark Hummel, Kenny Blue Ray, John Garcia, Mike Shermer, Andy Santana and Tip of the Top. Through those associations Frank was in the position to be asked to provide his bass playing skills to a long list of national touring blues performers. That list includes Snooky Prior, Otis Rush, Johnny Heartsman, Nick Gravenites, Ron Thompson, Chico Banks, JC Smith, Chris Cain, Rusty Zinn, Junior Watson, Jackie Payne, Larry Arkansas Davis, Johnny Adams, Luther Tucker, "Mighty" Mo Rogers, Eddie Shaw, Mike Wheeler, Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Kenny Neal, Ron Hacker, Fillmore Slim, Lazy Lester and many others.
Frank's notable performances include several San Francisco Blues Festivals along with several of the San Francisco Battle of the Harps. Frank also has multiple performances at the Monterey Blues Festival, San Jose Fountain Blues Festival, the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and the JJ's Blues Festival. Frank also has appeared at the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, The Legends of Chicago Blues at Villa Montalvo and the California Blues Legends show and many others.
Scotty Griffin (Drums)
Ryan Ward (Guitar)
For Ryan Ward, music has always been a part of his life. Born and raised in San Jose, Ryan grew up in a household that loved music and constantly had something playing. His parents started him young by taking him to see the Allman Brothers before the age of one. The son of a guitar player, Ryan grew up listening to the artists that inspired his dad. The most notable of which being Jeff Beck, who was the one often used as an example when teaching concepts like dynamics, touch, and the importance of servicing the music as a whole. After getting started in guitar through the bluegrass band at his middle school, Ryan began his journey with the blues as a teen, taking most of his inspiration from the British bands and players of the 1960s and 70s, especially Paul Kossoff of Free and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac. Ryan began cutting his teeth at the many blues jams across the South Bay, often playing at one every night to get the work in. Dubbed “Humboldt Slim” by Jimmy Dewance (given where Ryan went to college), Ryan learned from watching and playing with local greats like Johnny Cat and Aki Kumar while being able to find his voice on guitar. After filling in for Johnny Cat one summer with M’sippi Slide, Ryan became a part of the band, providing solid rhythm work as well as searing leads.