Welcome to the Official Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings Website!

Bill Rhoades - Harmonica
Michael Osborn - Guitar
Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser - Guitar
Jim Miller - Bass Guitar
Johnny Moore - Drums

Bill Rhoades - Bill Rhoades has been called the "Godfather" of the Northwest Blues scene.  Growing up in Eugene, OR., Bill became interested in the Blues in the mid 1960's thru listening to the British Invasion groups who were covering Blues songs by American Blues artists.  Bill sought out recordings by these artists and began playing harmonica at this time also.  By the end of the 60's Bill was starting to perform with a small group of friends and in the early 1970's had formed his first band "The Rhythm Kings."
By the mid 70's the opportunity came up to host a radio show on KLCC 89.7 FM called "Blues Power". Bill was on the air for almost nine years.  Also at the time, Bill started the Oregon blues Society with longtime friend Ray Varner.
By the mid 70's his band had dissolved so he formed a new group called the Bill Rhoades Blues Band, which later became the Party Kings.  This band had a two year stretch as the house band at Taylors in Eugene.  Also during this time the "Kings" had the honor to have back up Albert Collins, Louisiana Red, Sonny Rhodes, J.J. Malone, Troyce Key, and Michael Bloomfield.  A young Robert Cray would also come sit in with the band.  They also opened shows for Son Seals, James Cotton, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells and Bill had the pleasure to sit in with Buckwheat Zydeco and Queen Ida.  By the mid 1980's the Blues boom in Eugene had pretty much dried up, so Bill made a move to Portland, OR. At this time he formed Blues Deluxe but went back to the Party Kings name.  Also at this time Bill began doing a radio sow on KBOO 90.7 FM called "Blue Monday" which he is still doing today.
With renewed public interest in the blues, Bill, Miles Ward, and Mark Goldfarb created the Cascade Blues Association.  In the early 1990's Bill played for a couple years with Jimmy Lloyd Rea and the Switchmasters.  During this time The band received "Muddy" awards from the Cascade Blues Assoc. for Best Blues Act (twice) and Best Northwest Blues recording.  Reforming the Party Kings, the group once against had the honor to have backed up many great Bluesmen including Jimmy Rogers, Luther Tucker, Bid Daddy Kinsey, Smokey Wilson and Fillmore Slim.
Over the past 15 years, Bill has received the "Muddy" for Best Blues Harmonica 5 times (most recently 2005).  He had also received the "George Paige- Back What You Believe In" Aware, and the band has received "Muddy" awards for Best New Band and Best Traditional Blues Act (2004 & 2005).  In an acoustic Blues duo with Alan Hager, Bill and Alan received Best Traditional Blues Act awards (twice). In the mid 980's bill was featured on a nation al TV/ Radio ad for Lipton Tea.  Bill was also the founder and organizer of the Blues Harmonica Blow Off (16 years) and the Blues Harmonica Summit (10 years).
Bill Rhoades remains committed to  playing "Good Rockin' Down Home Blues".   Back to Top

Guitar Michael Osborn is a well known and respected Bluesman.  Michael grew up in Ukiah, CA. with the Ford brothers, including the great Robben Ford.
In 1970, he was one of the founding members of the Charles Ford Band, and went on to play with Gary Smith, David Raitt, and Charlie Musselwhite.
In 1981, Michael became the lead guitarist and band leader for Blues legend John Lee Hooker.  For the next 13 years, Michael traveled throughout North America, Europe, Japan, and Brazil.  During this time, Michael backed up stars like Robert Cray, Elvin Bishop, Brownie McGhee, Willie Dixon, and James Cotton.  He also shared the stage with Albert Collins, Bonnie Raitt Johnny Johnson, Ry Cooder, Carlos Santana, John Hammond, and Etta James.
Michael has also played at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Montreux Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Festival, Monterey Jazz & Blues Festival, and the Hammersmith Odeon in London.
After leaving John Lee Hooker, Michael played for a while with Sista Monica and also the Blue Rock'it Revue.  With his own band, he toured throughout Europe.
He has 3 cd's on the Blue Rock'it label and a new cd out on the Checkerboard label called "What Goes Around".
Michael joined the Party Kings about 5 years ago and has been an outstanding contribution to the group.                     Back to Top

Guitarist Frank "Paris Slim"" Goldwasser
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Bass Guitar Jim Miller    
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Drummer Johnny Moore went to college to learn Jazz but became one of the most sought after Blues Drummers in the Northwest.  Originally from Tulsa, OK., Johnny moved to the Northwest and has played with Paul deLay, Curtis Salgado, and Lloyd Jones.  He has also played with Albert Collins, R.L. Burnside, and while living in L.A. for a while played with William Clarke, and Smokey Wilson.

Johnny has been a member of the Party Kings for over 10 years.  Johnny is known as one of the "Kings of the Shuffle Beat."     Back to Top