Down South 78 - Blues & Rock n Roll from Tupelo!

Jammin on originals Too Many Tears in Mississippi, ShakeRag, 78, Time For One More Song, Recovery Room and other traditional blues and early rock n roll influenced tunes, plus their versions of favorites from Lightnin Hopkins, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed and some Jimmie Rodgers and Led Belly..

 

James Pirkle - vocals/ harmonica/ guitar 

Kenneth Ray West - vocals, guitar

Brian West - keys/ bass, vocals  

Tina Anderson - vocals, guitar

Derrick Jerrod Bogan – drums

 

James Pirkle is  known as the percolator on his harmonica and guitar and has been a local blues singer around Tupelo since the early 70s, previously toured with Speck Roads and others. He grew up listening to country, blues and early rock n roll.  His list of influences include Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Winter, BB King, Buddy Guy and Johnny Rivers.

 

 

 

 

 

Brian West grew up in a family of musicians related to Mississippi Slim, Carvel Lee Ausbon, James Ausbon. He started playing at the age of 6, had his own teen band called Witching Hour which won many talent contests and performed often around Oxford, MS and Memphis. He studied classical guitar and piano then continued studying music at the University of Memphis where he also studied Music Business and Rock n Roll History. During college

Brian played often on Beale Street in Memphis with blues bands and jam bands such as Yow, opening up shows for Dave Mathews and others. After college he moved to the San Francisco Bay area and there worked with recording projects produced by Montrose, Ruben Ramirez, Bob Geddins, Johnny Gunn (songwriter for Eddie Money and Tommy Castro). He also has performed with Al Wilson, The Drifters, Freddie Hughes, Fryed Brothers, Jackson Stone, Tim Murphy, Duwayne Burnside, Hendrix cousin Tony Simon(band leader for the Drifters) and Jewell Ausbon. He's opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Rascal Flatts, Chris Cagel, Emerson Drive, Rick Derringer, Jo Dee Mesina, Tracy Byrd, Vern Gosdin and JJ Cale and performed all over the US, in Japan and the Philippines. 

 

 

 

 

Derrick Jerrod Bogan began studying drums around the age of 15 and

decided it’s what he loved.  He’s played for multiple bands regional,

and local acts from gospel to jazz to contemporary Christian to rock

alternative, blues country and pop.  He’s also  opened for various major artists

and played on many recordings.  

Derrick’s  influences include his mother, aunts and siblings too.  He grew up listening 

to to Gospel music and lists Alvis Hatch as a great influence and mentor as well. 

Some of his favorite drummers are Lester Estelle Jr., Zack Farias, Steve Jordan, Cobus Pogeiter, 

Calvin Rodgers and Thad Witherspoon. 

Derrick is the original member of Down South 78 since the 

bands formation in 2013.  

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Ray West - Singer, guitarist, award winning songwriter with the group.  Ray is also from

Tupelo, MS. His influences are the Doors, Moody Blues, Beatles and has been performing and

writing for many years.  He's won the Tupelo Gum Tree Songwriting Contest, toured the US, 

West Coast and performs often around the Philippines as well.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tina Anderson is the newest addition to the group bringing a wealth of songwriting talent and her 

awesome vocals. She comes from Arkansas with influences in blues roots music & traditional country.