Dave Riley was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on March 18, 1949. His parents
moved to Chicago when he was a small child, leaving Riley and four siblings
in the care of his grandparents. Dave Riley’s grandparents owned cotton fields
and he worked in them. Riley started playing the guitar at age nine but didn’t
get serious about the guitar until he met up with his parents in Chicago in
1961. Riley’s father was a preacher in the Church of God in Christ. When the
rest of the family moved to Chicago. Shortly after Riley’s arrival in Chicago,
his family moved from the North Side to a housing project on the West Side
near the Maxwell Street Market, where he first heard live blues. Dave Riley
also recalls watching
Howlin’ Wolf
perform through the open doors of a local club. After graduating from high school,
Dave Riley was drafted for duty in Vietnam. After basic training Dave Riley was
stationed briefly in Washington State, where he attended a show of
Seattle-area native Jimi Hendrix, who became a major influence on the young
guitarist. During the time he served in the army Dave Riley was exposed to
many types of music, not only the blues but big band, rocknroll, and jazz.
Dave Riley found himself in the 1970’s playing bass, and occasionally sitting
in, with
Muddy Waters,
Junior Wells,
Buddy Guy, and
Howlin' Wolf.
In 1973, Dave Riley gave up his on the road musical career to help raise his
only son, Dave L. Riley, Jr. Now that his son is grown, Dave Riley is
continuing with his music career. Dave Riley formed his own band in 1996 and
soon enlisted his son, Dave "Yahni" Riley, Jr., to play bass. Dave
Riley met up with Blues legends
Sam Carr and
Frank Frost
and revitalized his career in the mid 90s and they formed a friendship and a
music bond which would lead Dave Riley back to the Delta and back into Blues
full time. Dave Riley has been playing music in the Delta and taking the
Delta back to Chicago just like all those Blues men before him. In 2002 his
first CD, Living on Borrowed Time, is the story of his own personal
tragedies. His second CD, Blues Across America has been a great success.
Where is Dave Riley's official website?
Please email us!
Visit Dave Riley's and Bob Corritore's page at myspace.com.
Visit also these related Sites:
Biographical Information on Dave Riley
Dave Riley biography and photos at deltaboogie.com.
Various Articles on Dave Riley
The Delta Jukes - Working for the Blues. Article at munichrecords.com.
Reviews and Critiques of Dave Riley Live Performances and Recordings
Whiskey, Money & Women - Dave Riley. CD review by Alan Jones.
Helena to Host Bluesman. Live review by Garrick Feldman.
Dave Riley Photos
Two Dave Riley photos by Dragan Tasic.
Dave Riley photo at surlaroute66.free.fr.
Dave Riley photo at loreillebleue.free.fr.
Do you miss an important site? Anything wrong?
Is there any broken link? Please email us!
