Gator Beat Band Bio


Bruce Gordon accordian and keyboards After growing up in Washington DC in the sixties, this stellar musician studied jazz at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, earning a degree in music. He made his way to the Bay Area, in search of Zydeco musicians after hearing Clifton Chenier and Queen Ida’s music. Inspired by the unique sound, he founded the Zydeco Flames and participated in their success for fifteen years. His vast experience on piano adds Louisiana funk, blues, and Mardi Gras mainstays to the Gator Beat sound. Look out!	Luis Rodriguez Drums This is our Island Man. Hailing from his native Puerto Rico, Luis knows every rhythm and can play it on every percussion instrument. He has been a part of many bands from Chicago to Seattle, Houston to Hawaii. He loves to travel, play, and cook. He has played washboard with Gator Beat on different occasions, and was our drummer prior to Gator Beat's emergence. We have parted many times, only to look forward to our next opportunity to perform to the solid and imaginative style of this great musician.	David Scott saxophone, pennywhistle, percussion A native of Australia, David, at the age of fifteen, boarded a ship headed for New Caledonia as a musician playing Jazz. He settled for ten years in Tahiti, playing island music, jazz and rock, and becoming fluent in French. He loved the fast dance tempos and when he sat in with Gator Beat in 1990, his fate was sealed. He has interwoven the horn with the accordion in an unprecedented style, unique to the world of zydeco.

Willard Blackwell vocals, washboard Willard played drums and sang with the Gator Beat for 9 years, taking a break to obtain his Masters Degree. He has returned, now on the frontline, and will be a strong force on vocals while he gets his feet moving and his washboard chops synchronized. He has roots in Louisiana so he should take to it naturally. Beginning in 1976 through 1983 Willard fronted his own band, Souler Heat and by 1992 played with The Cool tones, Big Brother and the Holding Co. and Peter Tork from the Monkeys. And then it was Zydeco! He loves the rhythms and the audiences.	Randy Quan guitar Randy has been the featured guitarist with Booker T. Jones since 1997. His distinctive guitar stylings have taken him from touring with blues legend Billy Boy Arnold to performing with and co-producing two albums for renowned alto saxophonist Michael Bolivar. Randy started playing trumpet at the age of 8 in school bands. He picked up his brother's guitar at the age of 12 and has been playing ever since. Quan is fluent in blues, R&B, and jazz and is an award winning songwriter. His tasteful style of economy and sweet sound colors are a compliment to the Gator Beat repertoire..	Linda Hutchinson bass Linda was one of the original band members and helped craft the Gator Beat sound for 9 years before breaking to play with all kinds of different groups. She has earned her place as one of Sonoma County's most respected bass players. We are overjoyed to have her back again, contributing her hardworking ethics and diligence and proving beyond a doubt that she is indeed, The Mighty Sparrow.