About us
Bluz Kadillak delivers a power packed and soulful dose of rockin’ blues, R&B, and a splash of funk. These seasoned musicians from the Northern Colorado music scene are sure to thrill with toe-tapping and danceable tunes. If you like high energy, dynamic music and great performances, look no further. Bluz Kadillak will rock your socks off!
Meet The Band
Britony Orwick
Smooth like butter, Britony’s soulful sound engages her audiences to intimately feel the emotion of the music. Her stylizations and impressive vocal range leave audiences wide-eyed and entertained. Growing up in church, she sang with numerous bands for different congregations. At a young age, she received a Jazz Vocal Award from the Fort Collins community which inspired her love for blues and jazz. With a sound that encompasses artists such as Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, Britony’s voice and stage presence sizzles with warmth and passion.
RJ Reid
RJ Reid, aka Olde Shoppe Bluzboy, got his first guitar, a 1949 Harmony acoustic, from a local Montana pawnshop as a gift from his Scottish Grandmother, which started a lifelong journey as a guitarist at just the age 8. By age 12, he had formed his first band playing pop rock tunes of the day. RJ's grandmother also bought him a blues album by Howling Wolf and RJ has been playing and performing blues ever since. At age 15 RJ left home and went to Boston and started busking in the subways and was noticed and hired to be the 2nd guitarist under a mentorship with iconic jazz and funk guitarist Charlie Dupree, to play and work for legendary jazz saxophonist and Motown Soul and Funk music artist Curtis King aka "King Curtis" in King's house band at the Aquarius Theater in Boston's Combat Zone in 1969 at age 17. Getting drafted at age19 initiated an unwanted break in RJ's music career, but he honorably served his country and afterward returned to his music career in 1979, touring and playing for iconic Bluesman Sam Taylor and after Sam retired in 1992, RJ went on to work and perform for the next 30 years in many different touring agency cover bands , where he worked as a rhythm and lead guitarist for many artists. Most notably among these was the legendary Brian Auger and his Oblivion Express, whom RJ supported for 8 years in the mid-90's through the early 2000's. RJ started performing locally in Colorado in 2011 and in 2016 formed the Bluz Kadillak Band. In 2021, RJ began recruiting the current band members starting with Kevin Astle on bass guitar, then came Troy Harms, also the drummer for the Blues Dogs Band. Next came Britony Orwick-Mirowski, adding her extraordinary vocal talents to the band in 2022. Keyboardist Erik Rush also joined in 2022, completing the current Bluz Kadillak line up.
Troy Harms
Troy Harms has played drums in many bands over the past 40+ years. Troy’s experience ranges from playing classic and progressive rock to contemporary Christian to blues rock, blues, funk, and rhythm and blues. In addition to holding down the groove for Bluz Kadillak, Troy is also a current member of the Blues Dogs Band in Northern, Colorado. Troy has played the main stage for the Greeley Blues Jam and many other venues and festivals as well as opening for such notable artists as Buddy Guy.
Kevin Astle
Kevin first picked up the electric bass guitar at the age of 17 & 1/2 years and played for a paying audience two months after his 18th birthday. Though he cut his teeth on what would come to be known as " Classic Rock " he felt the pull of soulful sounds from the start. Groove oriented, he credits the late great James Jameson who was THE 60's Motown bass player as his principle influence in music. He has performed many styles of music over a 40 year span including Christian Praise music as well as some Music Comedy Theater. And lots of Blues and Blues Rock! He is happy to be a team player that lays down the foundation for other ensemble instrumentalists and vocalists and revels in his role. Getting to perform within the Northern Colorado music scene is viewed to be a privilege by Kevin as he serves it up with The Bluz Kadillak!
Erik Rush
Erik Rush, keyboards - A native of New York City, Erik began playing in clubs before he was legally allowed to be in clubs. From the mid-70s through the mid-80s, he recorded and performed with a variety of original and cover bands in the NYC area before relocating to Colorado. A self-taught piano player from an early age, Erik picked up classical music training later on, as well as picking up guitar, bass and drums. His favorite instrument is the Hammond organ; Erik is known to have coined the phrase, “Go Hammond or go home”.
Mark Benjamin
Mark started his music career at a fairly early age of 8 years old playing the alto saxophone. Playing sax in elementary school and into early high school where he then switched to guitar. Thinking it was much cooler at the time but the saxophone laid the foundation for Mark’s “melodic” single line playing style. During high school, Mark was involved with several bands and recording projects that only increased his enthusiasm and commitment to being a musician. After high school, Mark attended the University of Northern Colorado music school where he studied Jazz and classical. Playing in several small combos and big bands at the university broadened Mark’s horizons as a musician and solidified his improvisational skills. Mark went on to get a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry but never stopped his love of playing music. Eventually, Mark made his way to Branson Missouri where he played 7 days a week as a lead guitarist at the Thunderbird theatre. Shortly after his stint in Branson, Mark joined the Christian band “Focus” playing praise and worship music at the church and private events. An offshoot of that band became Mark’s project “Crosstown” playing and recording secular and non-secular music around the Denver area. Through this association, Mark made many musician friends and soon joined a small rock combo “Scott Brooks Band” playing numerous events along the front range for 7 years. Currently Mark lives in Loveland CO and plays with Bluz Kadillac.