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The BC Combo
Bev "BC" Conklin - Vocals | Wayne Smith - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals | Joe Mac - Guitar | Glenn Spadone - Drums | Nick Roberti - Bass, Vocals
"It's all about having fun..."
The BC Combo has been bringing their signature style and passion to Blues, Jazz, Swing, Folk, R&B, Soul and more for over 30 years. Their interpretation of Americana is expressed through their self-penned songs about relationships, joy, disappointment, soul-searching, peace and harmony. This band's journey and its members have been graced with performances on bills that included Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Ronnie Earl, Shemekia Copeland, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Rhonnie Baker Brooks, Saffire, the Holmes Brothers, Eddie the Chief Clearwater, Carl Weathersby, Eddie King and so many more. The BC Combo is among the Lehigh Valley’s highly respected groups and have been recognized since 1999 by the Lehigh Valley Music Awards as individuals, a band, veterans, life-time achievers, for their recordings and community involvement in addition to being distinguished Finalist at the International Blues Competition in Memphis TN.
New Orleans sent the Northeast a Queen and her name is Bev Conklin. BC has been bringing her brand of Blues for over 30 years along with an international touring band to include band leader Wayne Smith who toured on keys with Jay & the Techniques and backed other touring acts on keys, drums and guitar. Wayne has arranged all their original music and given this band it's signature style since their start as BC & The Blues Crew in the 90's. From Chicago and touring with Nature's Divine, Joe Mac brings his rhythm, soul and Blues on lead guitar. Former BC & The Blues Crew member, Nick Roberti, returns on bass with vocals and from Orange NJ, retired fire fighter Glenn Spadone pounds his heart out on drums.
The BC Combo is the only Finalist to date from the Lehigh Valley in Memphis TN representing Billtown Blues Society for the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC) on their powerhouse material from "UNFINISHED BUSINESS" with songs like "You Must Think I'm Blind" and their own version of "Mellow Down Easy" and more. Their motto... It's all about having fun!
Formerly known as BC & The Blues Crew, The BC Combo has been performing since the early 90s at festivals, concerts and events throughout the Northeastern U.S. The band reels you in with their signature style, wit and humor; recognized by audiences across the region and abroad. Bev Conklin (BC), has an extraordinary compassion and grace that compliments her broad range of vocal styles and effortless power in voice. Wayne Smith on guitar and vocals, is the band leader, producer and arranger on all their material, insuring a new show experience with his influences from his influences. Chicago/Detroit native, Joe Mac... pours the tone and grooves on guitar. Retired fireman, Glenn Spadone puts his vibe on drums. And returning this year on bass and vocals, Nick Roberti.
Videos and CDs (visit our Store):
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Videos on You Tube
House of the Rising Sun (Das Awkscht Fescht)
search Bev Conklin Valentines's Day
WFMZ Music Monday (Feb. 17, 2020) -
New "The Garage Sessions" (Feb. 21, 2020)
July 1, 2020: Jon Kleinman, Living Blues Magazine Reviewer (link to full review) "...In the band's hands, Howlin' Wolf's oft-covered Killing Floor is transformed into a slow, low-down showstopper... As artists and listeners try to imagine a post-pandemic music scene. The Garage Sessions' homemade aesthetic may very well be a harbinger of things to come."
April 2020: Justin Coe (RNE Radio 3, Madrid, SPAIN) "...let me say again that I dig your music! Your voice is great, your phrasing spontaneous and expressive (and right on!), and the band is tight and, man, they're right there with you every second! I really enjoyed listening to those Youtube tracks the other morning as I was having breakfast. It was just about the best way to start another house-bound day that I could have asked for! All the best, Justin"
February 2020: Deena Kaye Rose (formerly Dick Feller) on Wayne Smith’s rewrite of her song SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS... “Yes! Thank You So Much ...I love it. You are one fine soulful Lady... Really enjoyed hearing a Howlin’ Wolf tune, KILLING FLOOR. I put your cd in my car player and listen as I drive around on my daily errands. So literally, you can say your music is playing ‘all over Vegas’. " - Live-ly (September 24, 2010)
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Recordings: Music and Production - Wayne Smith; Minstrel Records
What people are saying...
"I thought your set was fabulous--your band filled the music to perfection."
"What a superb performance you and the whole band put in on Friday evening – it was magnificent!"
"what a beautiful and outstanding performance - it just bristled with feeling."
"Your new originals are powerful and they capture each of you as individuals - extraordinary."
"Infectious grooves. Great playing and singing."
"Great vocals. The drums were tight. ...Loved it!"
"BC, no one has topped your delivery on Hip Shakin Mama yet!"
"Great vocals, great harmonies. Obvious seasoned veterans. Perfect fit for one another. Great job!"
"You and your mates are the best combo I have ever heard. Thank you so much for making this day one of the most memorable I've ever had."
Performance History
• The Pennsylvania Blues Festival, Musikfest, Das Awkscht Fescht, and The Lehigh River Blues Jam
• Steel Stacks Musikfest Cafe and Blast Furnace Blues Festival
10-November 2019 - https://www.facebook.com/groups/808508479563841/permalink/850950261986329?sfns=mo
24-April 2019 - Bloomsburg PA (The Exchange - The Listening Room)
April's Listening Room was The BC Combo. I believe this was the first quartet to grace the stage for this monthly musical get-to-gether. Not quite sure how they all fit on the 8'X6' stage, plus gear, but they pulled it off. As the old adage goes - good things come in small packages - and Bev & the boys killed at Wednesday's gig.
Thanks to the Combo for making the trip up from "The Valley" and entertaining our monthly blues-gathering.
By David Otto Kurecian
"It was a powerful show. It was a whisper and a roar all in one.""I thought your set was fabulous--your band filled the music to perfection."
"What a superb performance you and the whole band put in on Friday evening – it was magnificent!"
"what a beautiful and outstanding performance - it just bristled with feeling."
"Your new originals are powerful and they capture each of you as individuals - extraordinary."
"Infectious grooves. Great playing and singing."
"Great vocals. The drums were tight. ...Loved it!"
"BC, no one has topped your delivery on Hip Shakin Mama yet!"
"Great vocals, great harmonies. Obvious seasoned veterans. Perfect fit for one another. Great job!"
"You and your mates are the best combo I have ever heard. Thank you so much for making this day one of the most memorable I've ever had."
Performance History
• The Pennsylvania Blues Festival, Musikfest, Das Awkscht Fescht, and The Lehigh River Blues Jam
• Steel Stacks Musikfest Cafe and Blast Furnace Blues Festival
Cocoa Cola Park - Home of the Iron Pigs, Allentown West Park Band Shell
• Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
• Central Pennsylvania Jazz Fest / Berk's Jazz Fest
• Kutztown Fair and Allentown Fair / Kapona Music Fest / Pinnacle Blues Fest / Neff's Church - Blues Nite out
• Kempton Music Festival and Bethlehem's Harvest Fest / Media Blues Crawl
• Mayfair | Godfrey Daniels
• Pocono Blues Festival Weekend – Big Boulder Corp. Sponsored Club Act
• Briggs Farm Blues Festival | Destination Blues - Bloomsburg Blues Festival | The Exchange - The Listening Room
• Mosconetcong Blues Festival / Knowlton Blues Fest / Cape Cod Blues Festival
• Memphis in May Festival
• Baltimore Blues Festival
• Billtown Blues Society Blues Festival
• Lehigh Valley (Cementon) Blues Fest | Blues 2000 & Beyond
• Split Rock Wine Fest | NJ State Wine Growers Assoc Wine Fest | Penns Peak Wine Fest
• Bernie J. Crum Stadium July 4th Celebration
• 2nd Harvest Food Bank Gala / NJ Foodshed Wine, Beer & Food Festival
• Illicks Mill Galas, United Way Galas, Angel 34 Foundation Gala,
• Anglesea Blues Festival, Alba Food Truck & Wine Festival
• Lehigh Valley Health Network Galas
• Annapolis Yacht Club Luekemia Lymphoma Fundraiser | MDA Galas
• The Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge
• Mauch Chunk Opera House, State Theater, Allentown Symphony Hall, Sellersville Theater, Roxy Theater, Civic Theater
More of what people and venues are sayin...
"Thank you for being the first to christen the stage. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The band sounded great!" Dorothy & Tom (Alba Vineyard Food Truck and Wine Festival 2018)
• Central Pennsylvania Jazz Fest / Berk's Jazz Fest
• Kutztown Fair and Allentown Fair / Kapona Music Fest / Pinnacle Blues Fest / Neff's Church - Blues Nite out
• Kempton Music Festival and Bethlehem's Harvest Fest / Media Blues Crawl
• Mayfair | Godfrey Daniels
• Pocono Blues Festival Weekend – Big Boulder Corp. Sponsored Club Act
• Briggs Farm Blues Festival | Destination Blues - Bloomsburg Blues Festival | The Exchange - The Listening Room
• Mosconetcong Blues Festival / Knowlton Blues Fest / Cape Cod Blues Festival
• Memphis in May Festival
• Baltimore Blues Festival
• Billtown Blues Society Blues Festival
• Lehigh Valley (Cementon) Blues Fest | Blues 2000 & Beyond
• Split Rock Wine Fest | NJ State Wine Growers Assoc Wine Fest | Penns Peak Wine Fest
• Bernie J. Crum Stadium July 4th Celebration
• 2nd Harvest Food Bank Gala / NJ Foodshed Wine, Beer & Food Festival
• Illicks Mill Galas, United Way Galas, Angel 34 Foundation Gala,
• Anglesea Blues Festival, Alba Food Truck & Wine Festival
• Lehigh Valley Health Network Galas
• Annapolis Yacht Club Luekemia Lymphoma Fundraiser | MDA Galas
• The Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge
• Mauch Chunk Opera House, State Theater, Allentown Symphony Hall, Sellersville Theater, Roxy Theater, Civic Theater
More of what people and venues are sayin...
"Thank you for being the first to christen the stage. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The band sounded great!" Dorothy & Tom (Alba Vineyard Food Truck and Wine Festival 2018)
"I thought your set was fabulous--your band filled the music to perfection. Dave Smith is such an important part of your show - loved it..." Michael Cloreen (Blast Furnace Blues Festival 2012)
"What a superb performance you and the whole band put in on Friday evening – it was magnificent! Thank you for all the extra preparation that you put in for this performance, adding new jazz material to your playlist like Memphis Underground, or new material in the jazz tradition of jazzy takes on popular traditional material like Scarborough Fair and House of the Rising Sun and other popular songs, as well as your fabulous rendition of Summertime. I’m sure that you won over a number of new fans that had not been exposed to your music before. It’s a pity it wasn’t recorded, it would have made an excellent live album. Thanks again for all of your effort and for the tremendous performance." August 2012, Allentown Symphony Hall Jazz Cabaret Series - Bill Dautremont-Smith - Executive Director WDIY
"Ditto Bev, one of the top 3 shows in the Cafe so far. Great job Bev!" February 2012, Musikfest Cafe - Jeffrey Parks - ArtsQuest President
"Bev, Unbelievable show! It was among my top favorites at the Café so far! Next year - a dance floor for sloooooow dancing." February 2012, Musikfest Cafe - Robin Zaremski - Performing Arts - Business Development
"Bev, What a beautiful and outstanding performance you and the Combo put on at the Lehigh Valley Christmas Concert this evening - it just bristled with feeling! What a great idea turning Fly Like an Eagle into Fly like a Reindeer to make it fit the bill as a Christmas song while still allowing you to contribute a really soulful and jazzy blues performance - it was the highlight of an excellent evening for both Charleyne & I. And it was great that Dave Smith was with you - his performance on alto was phenomenal. We don't get to hear him often enough in recent years!" November 28, 2010, Allentown Symphony Hall - Bill Dautremont-Smith, Executive Director WDIY Radio
"Bev, I really enjoyed the arrangement on "Fly Like An Eagle" and was amazed at how the trio sounded like a 5 piece band. Wayne's musicality on guitar and drums at the same time is something special to experience and watch. I really loved your set overall and was really impressed with your sound." October 17, 2009, Sellersville Theater - Bruce Ranes
"...featured Bev Conklin on vocals, accompanied by bassist Nick Franclik and Wayne Smith, who handled not only the guitar but a bass drum pedal. Conklin belted out originals and covers and reminded us why some locals refer to her as Queen of the Blues. Jodi Duckett, The Morning Call, posted May 25, 2009 - Mayfair
"What a superb performance you and the whole band put in on Friday evening – it was magnificent! Thank you for all the extra preparation that you put in for this performance, adding new jazz material to your playlist like Memphis Underground, or new material in the jazz tradition of jazzy takes on popular traditional material like Scarborough Fair and House of the Rising Sun and other popular songs, as well as your fabulous rendition of Summertime. I’m sure that you won over a number of new fans that had not been exposed to your music before. It’s a pity it wasn’t recorded, it would have made an excellent live album. Thanks again for all of your effort and for the tremendous performance." August 2012, Allentown Symphony Hall Jazz Cabaret Series - Bill Dautremont-Smith - Executive Director WDIY
"Ditto Bev, one of the top 3 shows in the Cafe so far. Great job Bev!" February 2012, Musikfest Cafe - Jeffrey Parks - ArtsQuest President
"Bev, Unbelievable show! It was among my top favorites at the Café so far! Next year - a dance floor for sloooooow dancing." February 2012, Musikfest Cafe - Robin Zaremski - Performing Arts - Business Development
"Bev, What a beautiful and outstanding performance you and the Combo put on at the Lehigh Valley Christmas Concert this evening - it just bristled with feeling! What a great idea turning Fly Like an Eagle into Fly like a Reindeer to make it fit the bill as a Christmas song while still allowing you to contribute a really soulful and jazzy blues performance - it was the highlight of an excellent evening for both Charleyne & I. And it was great that Dave Smith was with you - his performance on alto was phenomenal. We don't get to hear him often enough in recent years!" November 28, 2010, Allentown Symphony Hall - Bill Dautremont-Smith, Executive Director WDIY Radio
"Bev, I really enjoyed the arrangement on "Fly Like An Eagle" and was amazed at how the trio sounded like a 5 piece band. Wayne's musicality on guitar and drums at the same time is something special to experience and watch. I really loved your set overall and was really impressed with your sound." October 17, 2009, Sellersville Theater - Bruce Ranes
"...featured Bev Conklin on vocals, accompanied by bassist Nick Franclik and Wayne Smith, who handled not only the guitar but a bass drum pedal. Conklin belted out originals and covers and reminded us why some locals refer to her as Queen of the Blues. Jodi Duckett, The Morning Call, posted May 25, 2009 - Mayfair
"I have been following Bev around the Lehigh Valley for over a decade. Bev is the most verstatile and talented entertainer in a hundred mile radius. I have to stop at 100 miles because BB King has a place in NYC and Patty LaBelle has a place Philly. But I need to add, Bev is as good as both of them... " Fran Abuisi, March 2009
"... featuring Bev Conklin (known by her blues friends as BC), filled extra time with aplomb. BC has a strong fan base in the Lehigh Valley, and on Tuesday (@ The Ice House with Duke Robilliard), she showed why... " Daryl Nerl, The Morning Call - Musikfest Blognotes, August 2006
Photographers: Jeffrey Heller and Dave Snyder provide numerous photos over the band and we can thank them enough.
"... featuring Bev Conklin (known by her blues friends as BC), filled extra time with aplomb. BC has a strong fan base in the Lehigh Valley, and on Tuesday (@ The Ice House with Duke Robilliard), she showed why... " Daryl Nerl, The Morning Call - Musikfest Blognotes, August 2006
Photographers: Jeffrey Heller and Dave Snyder provide numerous photos over the band and we can thank them enough.