THE PLAYERS
on Liz Lottmann / memphis revisited

Over a 35-year career, LIZ LOTTMANN's brassy, sassy, high-energy blues and R&B performances have earned her the respect of musicians and audiences alike. She has worked her way though the blues and jazz clubs of the U.S., Europe, Japan, South and Central America and Canada. While touring with her own bands, she also frequently sang with Donn McMinn's Memphis Blues Revue, whose players included Jeff "Stick" Davis and Billy Earheart of Amazing Rhythm Aces, and Willie Hall of The Blues Brothers. She has shared the stage and jammed with artists such as Taj Mahal, The Nighthawks, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, and Spyro Gyra. Liz is proud to be born-and-raised in Northeast Arkansas. While still in high school there, she began composing and performing her own special brand of "barbed-wire" folk. She was a solo artist at Memphis coffeehouses and soon attracted the attention of Judd Phillips, who produced an album of her original songs at Phillips Recording Studio in midtown Memphis. Liz is the only female singer/songwriter who recorded under contract with Phillips Recording. When Jerry Lee Lewis heard her album, he encouraged her to reach out toward the blues. At that time, Furry Lewis, the legendary "country bluesman," was working the Memphis area, and each time they'd run into each other, Liz pestered him to show her a few licks on guitar. Furry's brief lessons allowed her to glimpse the backbone of the blues, and she's never lost sight of it.

JEFF "STICK" DAVIS (Bass) -- Jeff is a co-founder of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and has also done tours and studio sessions with Al Green, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Ron Woods, Bo Diddley, John Mayall, Tommy TuTone, Jamie Hartford, Billy Jo Spears, Tanya Tucker and Jesse Winchester. Liz and Jeff played gigs together in Memphis during the 80s with Don McMinn & The Memphis Blues Revue featuring Willy Hall and other Memphis luminaries. Stick makes frequent blues excursions to Europe and to blues venues across the country with Roscoe Shelton and Earl Gaines (The Excello Legends). For more information on Jeff, link to www.theaces.com.

BILLY EARHEART (Keyboards) --Billy "From Tennessee" Earheart is an original member of the Grammy-winning Amazing Rhythm Aces, and is a member of Hank Williams’ legendary Bama Band since 1985. Billy has toured and recorded with Al Green, Waylon Jennings, B.B. King, Wet Willie, Memphis Slim, Ace Cannon, Gatemouth Brown, Willie Cobbs, Kris Kristofferson, Sammy Hagar, Jimmy Buffet, Glen Frey, Rufus Thomas, Leslie West, and a host of other acts. Liz was a featured vocalist with Don McMinn & The Memphis Blues Revue when Billy and Jeff were members. For more information on Billy, link to www.theaces.com and http://www.members.aol.com/wteiii/bebio.htm.

FRED JAMES (Guitar, Vocals) -- Fred has five Grammy Award nominations for songs he wrote on albums nominated in the "Best Traditional Blues Album" or "Best Contemporary Blues Album" category. Fred was nominated for a Nashville Music Award in the "Best Producer" category. He also won a Nashville Music Award for producing the "Outstanding Blues Album". Fred joins Stick to play with The Excello Legends, playing Europe and blues festivals in the U.S. He has played guitar for Johnny Copeland, Arthur Williams, The Jelly Roll Kings, Billy Joe Shaver, Bo Diddley, The Carter Bros., The Memphis Horns, Dr. Hook, Tommy TuTone, David Houston, The Sam Lay Blues Band, Homesick James, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Billy C. Farlow, Townes Van Zandt, Roscoe Robinson, Vern Gosdin and many, many others. For more stuff on Fred, link to www.blueslandproductions.com.

BRYAN OWINGS (Drums) -- Brian drums with the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and has played with Delbert McClinton, Shelby Lynne, Kenny Vaughan, T.Graham Brown, Patty Griffin, Buddy and Julie Miller, Steve Conn, Webb Wilder and the Delevantes, Lee Roy Parnell, and so many others. You can review his extensive discography at http://ubl.artistdirect.com.

BEN CAULEY (Trumpet, Vocals) -- Ben is a founding member of the legendary Stax recording act, The Bar-Kays. Ben has played on most of the greatest soul hits of all time. Anyone who has ever heard "Soul Finger" has Ben Cauley indelibly imprinted in their party-down souls. Ben is the sole survivor of the plane crash that took the lives of Otis Redding and other members of the Bar-Kays. In the following years, Ben has played and arranged music for Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and the Doobie Brothers. If you’re traveling through the Memphis International Airport, be sure to stop by Da Blues next to Gate 35 where you can catch Ben performing. You can also find him working with the choir at Calvary Longview United Methodist Church, which he and his wife, Shirley, attend.

MARY-ANN BRANDON (Vocals) -- In addition to her own recording career, Mary-Ann is a three-time Grammy-nominated songwriter whose songs have been covered by blues greats like Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks and C.J. Chenier. Liz covers her song, "Let Love Make It Right" on Memphis Revisited. Mary-Ann's 2002 release on R.O.A.D. Records features guest appearances by Johnny Winter, Duke Robillard, Anson Funderburgh and a duet with blues legend and Black Top recording artist, Roscoe Shelton. Mary-Ann has worked as a background vocalist with David Olney, Tommy TuTone, Tim Krekel, Earl Gaines, Roscoe Shelton, Johnny Jones, Al Garner and the Roadrunners, Sam Lay, Fingers Taylor, Larry Burton, Billy C. Farlow, Charles Walker, Stan Webb, Freddie Waters, James Nixon and Fred James. For more information on Mary-Ann, link to www.blueslandproductions.com.

DENNIS TAYLOR (Tenor and Baritone Sax)
and SCOTT DUCAJ (Trumpet) (no photo available)
Grammy-nominee Dennis Taylor plays with Duke Robillard. Dennis’s discography is much too long to include in these liner notes. Scott Ducaj plays with Salsa En Nashville, a 10-piece Afro-Cuban dance orchestra, and with Zia, a new-age jazz combo.

ED SIMONTON (Recording and Mixing Engineer)
Ed is a paragon of patience and focus, and we’re very grateful for all his talent. Although Ed hired out to us at Fireside Studio for this project, he has his own enterprise – StudioMen, a multi-service production company for musicians and songwriters. Ed and his partner have worked with top recording artists such as The Dixie Chicks, Allison Krauss, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, Colin Raye, Bare Jr., Days Of The New, Ray Stevens, Chet Atkins, Bryan White, Steve Wariner, and many more. Check them out at www.studiomen.com