Billy Joe and The Dusty 45s

The Dusty 45s were originally formed in 1997. For over a decade, singer/songwriter Billy Joe Huels and the Dusty 45s have garnered critical praise and delivered countless exciting live performances.  Many shows are concluded with Huels’ trumpet on fire!  The Dusty 45s, which include some of Seattle’s top roots/rockabilly musicians, were voted best of Seattle by Seattle Weekly readers 3 years in a row, and Huels continues to branch out, most recently starring at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre as Buddy Holly.   

Infused by a passion for American roots music in all its varied forms, the Dusty sound blurs the line between genres to create a style that is, in the final distillation, entirely fresh and new.  With elements ranging from honky-tonk to jump blues to rock and roll, the songs are built on soulful, harmonic vocals and a back beat of upright bass, drums, and rhythm guitar.   Mariachi trumpet and vibrant lead guitar complete The Dusty 45s signature sound. 

The personnel:

Billy Joe Huels, Trumpet/guitar/lead vocals

Jerry Battista, Lead guitar/vocals

Blues/rock and roots veteran Jerry Battista has been the featured lead guitarist in the Dusty 45s for over four years. He was a member of top northwest bands, The Allies and Edison Jones.  He also leads his own group and continues to be a popular draw in clubs throughout the Seattle Area.

 Kelly Van Camp, Drums, harmonica, vocals.

Kelly Van Camp was a founding member of Olympia legends The Noses, and went on to play with ska bands Engine 54, Easy Big Fella as well as Seattle roots bands Blue Spark and Kim Virant.  Van Camp also starred in the 5th Avenue’s production of Buddy Holly, where he portrayed the legendary Big Bopper.

Guy Quintino, Upright Bass.  

Guy has played with many Northwest blues/roots outfits.  Among the list are Washington Blues Society nominated/winners Eric "Two Scoops" Moore, The Hudson Blues Band, and Steve Bailey and the Blueflames.  He has also been nominated by the Washington Blues Society for best blues bass and has backed up blues legends, Pinetop Perkins (Muddy Waters' piano man), Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf's guitar man) and Jody Williams (another Howlin' Wolf's guitar man).  

Professional, confident, and experienced - Billy Joe and the Dusty 45s play to packed houses up and down the coast. Four independent releases have earned the band regular airplay, glowing reviews, and sales reaching 20,000 units in the U.S. and abroad.  The band has appeared with acts such as LeAnn Rimes, comedians Margaret Cho and Wayne Brady, Dick Dale, The Ventures, BR-549, and most recently Lemmy of Motorhead and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats.

 

Visit www.billyjoeandthedusty45s.com