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Big Mike DeVita

Article from Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation website

"Pony-Up For Hubert", The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, March 2, 2003 In the 1960’s Mike became interested in the blues, singing and playing the blues harp. He played to the Long Island club scene at such venues as The Barge, The West Hampton Beach Club on the same bill with Steppenwolf with John Kay. He also played with such noteworthy musicians at the time as The Vagrants with Lesley West, and John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful. Later he moved to Woodstock, NY and played with Tim Hardin, Happy and Artie Traum, and Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys. He appeared at the Night Owl in Greenwich Village, NYC in 1967 all the while playing club and college dates throughout Long Island and New York City.

During the 1970’s he raised a family and occasionally jammed with his buddies.

In the 1980’s he founded Silk City Blues Band recognizing his early Paterson New Jersey roots, playing the local northern Jersey club scene. In 1997 he made a self-titled CD by the same name - Silk City Blues Band. With "Big Mike" as the only constant member of the original band, they played through 2001.

In 1993, he got involved with the Perpetrators through 2001 and was "Big Mike" and the Perpetrators. They played local clubs in NJ, NY and CT. They made a self-produced CD entitled "BAD WHISKEY."

In 1996 the "Perps" as they were known, won The Stanhope House Blues competition and got to compete in Helena, Arkansas at the International Blues Competition. They also were featured in the first Stanhope Blues Festival. They got some television airtime on "New Jersey’s Talking" with host, Lee Leonard.

He is appearing regularly with Dean Shot and his Blues Revue, in NJ, NY, PA. Dean Shot is a rising young star in the regional blues scene and one of NJ’s top guitarists. The veteran lineup features Brad Vickers on bass, Jim Davis on tenor sax, and Tom Rispoli on drums.

Mike founded the on-going weekly Sunday blues jam at Max Daniels, in West Orange, NJ.

Big Mike & The Perpetrators

Big Mike & the Perpetrators were one of New Jersey's hottest blues band performing in such well known clubs as The Turning Point and Manny's Carwash.

The band played classic blues by artists like Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter and new material by Rod Piazza, William Clarke and other artists.

The members of the band were:
Mike Devita, vocals & harmonica
Don Leich, guitars
Steve Legensky, bass
Herb Protin, drums
Carl Tramontana, keyboards

Contact Big Mike