Reggie Scanlan was born in New Orleans, La. on Feb. 6, 1952. He attended De La Salle, Redemptorist, and Fortier high schools and L.S.U.N.O. (now UNO) university. At age 17, after a short stint as a remarkably inept guitarist, he picked up the bass and never looked back. After the usual run of high school and college bands he started working on Bourbon St. and eventually landed a gig at the Playboy Club. A chance call presented the opportunity to work with piano legend James Carroll Booker. In 1975 he moved to Ca., working with singer/ songwriter Rachel Faro. A move to the Bay Area not long after found him playing on the blues circuit working with Sonny Rhodes, Charles Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Mark Hummel, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman and others. In Jan. of '77 he received a call from New Orleans piano legend Prof. Longhair inviting him to join his band. Scanlan was on the next flight home. After a year with Longhair's band he left to join the Radiators; a gig that would last over 33 years. While with the Rads he also worked in the bands of Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Jesse Hill, and the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra. After the dissolution of the Rads he started the New Orleans Suspects with members of the Neville Bros., James Brown Band, and the Dirty Dozen. The Suspects also served as the backing band for Little Feat's Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett. Today he performs with a number of groups, including the New Soul Finders, Wake of the Dead, The Iko All Stars, Monkey Ranch, The Gatorators and the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra.
Earl Gordon is originally from Canada and played with Saxons in Moncton He later moved to Montreal where he joined one of the top bands in Montreal ..Carnival Connection in 70 and then The St Marc Street Band In 71 .. In 72 He Played one concert with the Late great John Lee Hooker, 1974 he visited New Orleans and fell in love with its magic especially the music, food and its people. Joined one of the most famous musicians in New Orleans ..world renown (Roy Byrd) Professor Longhair from 1974 to 1979 and left to move to LA right before Professor Longhair passed away. Earl is on 5 albums including "Live in Germany" and "Live in Chicago" with Fess …Earl, while in New Orleans played with James Booker as well with him James at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1978 Earl also played one concert in Nice with the famous Eubie Blake.. Earl in 2007 played with Rock n Roll Hall of famer (Wrecking Crew member) Don Peake (Ray Charles & Everly Bros.). He later went on to form G-5 Band with Larry Antonino (Pablo Cruise), Ed Roth (Annie Lennox) Joe Calderon (Bunny Brunel), Scott Page (Pink Floyd) and Diane Lotny (Dr. John). Currently along with co founder Tom Worrell in 2016 has formed MoFess a unique band that represents the past, present and future of the New Orleans sound! ..
Tom Worrell
Tom began playing piano at the age of 4 and a few years later added trombone and bass. He studied music at the University of Iowa before touring as a multi- instrumentalist and vocalist with several rock and roll bands. In the late 80's, he was hired to tour with the great Solomon Burke . He played in East Berlin at the Palace of the Republic shortly after the wall came crumbling down. It was Burke's bandleader, Sammy Mayfield, who gave Tom a tape of Professor Longhair and James Booker. This mentoring proved to be a pivotal moment in Tom's life. Jumpin Johnny Sansone was moving to New Orleans and need a keyboard player. Tom was on his way back to the place where he always belonged.
The inclusive spirit of the musical community in New Orleans is the reason Tom can list so many incredible artists he has shared the stage with including Jumpin Johnny Sansone, J Monque'D, Mem Shannon, The Wild Magnolias (Bo Dollis Sr and Bo Dollis Jr), Deacon John, Marva Wright, John Fohl, Shebe Kimbrough, Brother Tyronne, Walter Wolfman Washington and the Roadmasters, 101 Runners, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, and so many more...
He irecently formed MoFess in 2016 with former Fess drummer Earl Gordon.
Reggie Scanlan was born in New Orleans, La. on Feb. 6, 1952. He attended De La Salle, Redemptorist, and Fortier high schools and L.S.U.N.O. (now UNO) university. At age 17, after a short stint as a remarkably inept guitarist, he picked up the bass and never looked back. After the usual run of high school and college bands he started working on Bourbon St. and eventually landed a gig at the Playboy Club. A chance call presented the opportunity to work with piano legend James Carroll Booker. In 1975 he moved to Ca., working with singer/ songwriter Rachel Faro. A move to the Bay Area not long after found him playing on the blues circuit working with Sonny Rhodes, Charles Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Mark Hummel, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman and others. In Jan. of '77 he received a call from New Orleans piano legend Prof. Longhair inviting him to join his band. Scanlan was on the next flight home. After a year with Longhair's band he left to join the Radiators; a gig that would last over 33 years. While with the Rads he also worked in the bands of Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Jesse Hill, and the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra. After the dissolution of the Rads he started the New Orleans Suspects with members of the Neville Bros., James Brown Band, and the Dirty Dozen. The Suspects also served as the backing band for Little Feat's Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett. Today he performs with a number of groups, including the New Soul Finders, Wake of the Dead, The Iko All Stars, Monkey Ranch, The Gatorators and the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra.
Alfred Uganda Roberts was born and raised in the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Initially beginning his career in music in his early teens, playing bongos in clubs in the French Quarter, Roberts switched to the congas in his early 20s by the encouragement of jazz drummer, Smokey Johnson. Roberts established a relationship with fellow Treme resident and neighbor, record producer Allen Toussaint, leading to Roberts becoming a house percussionist in Toussaint's Sea Saint Studios, playing on recordings such as The Meters' Afrika and Hey Pocky Way, as well as Toussaint's 1972 album, Life, Love, and Faith. In 1972, Roberts was introduced to New Orleans pianist Henry Roland Byrd, better known to the public as Professor Longhair. IRoberts would go on to tour and record with Professor Longhair for eight years, until Professor Longhair's death in 1980. Roberts is featured on Professor Longhair's Rock N Roll Gumbo (1977), featuring Louisiana blues musicians Snooks Eaglin and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, as well as Fess' last studio album ever recorded, Crawfish Fiesta (1980). The London Concert (recorded 1978, released 1994) is a duo performance by Professor Longhair and Roberts. Roberts toured with Willie Tee and the Wild Magnolias off and on from 1980 until 1986, when he took a hiatus from the music industry, occasionally coming out of his semi-retirement to tour and record - such as on Dr. John’s albums Goin' Back to New Orleans (1992) and Dis, Dat, or D’udda (2004)., On The Brim. Uganda Roberts has recorded commercially with Irma Thomas and John Mooney.
Uganda Roberts has performed as himself on the television series "Treme". Currently paying with 3 other original Fess members from the 70's. in The Mofess Band
Lance, a former New Orleans postal worker, felt the musical spirit from a young age, learning jazz improvisation techniques from Ellis Marsalis and playing in Mardi Gras parades with his high school and college marching bands. Later, while working for the U.S. Post Office, Lance has shared the stage with and has lent his unique talents to the legendary 70’s funk/soul band WAR, the original Meters and Neville Brothers, Mem Shannon, keyboardist Art Neville, Funky Meter bassist George Porter Jr., and Zydeco rhythm & blues master Chubby Carrier to name a few. In addition to his two solo CD's, he appears on a number of other recordings by his fellow New Orleans musicians. Besides recording and performing in the U.S., Lance has had the good fortune of touring England, Germany, France, Holland, Austria, and Canada, contributing to history-making shows with WAR and Chubby Carrier. From funk and blues to jazz and zydeco, Lance has played with some of the best. In addition to his musical abilities, Lance has appeared in various commercials and print ads. Lance is the consummate entertainer; he has a vibe that makes everyone smile. His unmatched musical talent is only enhanced by his onstage presence, involving the audience and making the music come alive. He is currently playing with War and MoFess.
June Yamagishi was born in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. He has been active in the Japanese blues and jazz scene since the early 1970s. In 1972, he formed the West Road Blues Band in Kyoto along with vocalist Takashi "Hotoke" Nagai, guitarist Shinji Shiotsugu, bassist Tadashi Kobori, and drummer Teruo Matsumoto. The band soon became one of the main acts in then thriving blues scene in the Kansai region. In 1975, Yamagishi went on to join a soul band named So Bad Revue, and in 1979, he released the first album under his name titled Really?! During the 1980s, he played with bands Myx and Chickenshack (a Japanese band different from the British one) and in the 1990s, he formed the Band of Pleasure with guitarist David T. Walker and drummer James Gadson and released three albums before they disbanded. In 1995, Yamagishi moved to New Orleans where he still lives today. Since he found his home in the Crescent City, he has played with musicians including Earl King, Henry Butler, Davell Crawford, Marvaa Wright, George Porter, Jr.among many others aside from the two groups he has been a member of. In 2007, he reunited with West Road Blues Band guitarist Shinji Shiotsugu to record Together Again - Blues in New Orleans. It was an all blues album recorded in New Orleans, with support from the local musicians including John Gros and Marva Wright. In 2011, he appeared on the HBO series Treme, in the episodes "Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues" and "Dippermouth Blues". He auditioned for the band The Soul Apostles, and after playing "Fire on The Bayou" and "Love and Happiness" was successfully employed. On June 7, 2012, he played the Melting Point inAthens, Georgia, along with Martha Reeves, Randall Bramblett, and a host of other musicians celebrating the 60th birthday of Ike Stubblefield. Currently also playing with MoFess in New Orleans.