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Rod Piazza
Rod Piazza
Rod Piazza
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Key Information

Rod Piazza (born December 18, 1947,[1] Riverside, California) is an American blues harmonica player and singer.[2] He has been playing with his band The Mighty Flyers, which he formed with his pianist wife Honey Piazza, since 1980.[3] Their boogie sound combines the styles of jump blues, West Coast blues and Chicago blues.

Rod Piazza.
Rod and Honey Piazza.

Biography

[edit]

Piazza grew up in Southern California, where he studied blues records and perfected his harmonica work. He originally started on guitar, an instrument he began playing at the age of six or seven.[4]

In the mid-1960s, Piazza formed his first band The House of DBS, which later changed its name to the Dirty Blues Band. The band signed with ABC-Bluesway and released two albums in 1967 and 1968.[1] The band broke up in 1968, and Piazza formed Bacon Fat that year.[1] Piazza's idol and mentor, George "Harmonica" Smith joined the band and they had a "dual harp" sound. Bacon Fat released two albums the following two years. Piazza left and worked in other bands before going solo in 1974.[2]

He formed the Chicago Flying Saucer Band the following year, which later evolved into the Mighty Flyers.[2] The band recorded their first album in 1980. Piazza started touring and recording as Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet, after the departure of long-time bassist Bill Stuve in the early 2000s. Piazza has recorded twenty-four studio albums between 1967 and 2009, including the live concert DVD Big Blues Party in 2005 (recorded at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California). In addition, he has appeared as a guest performer on over twenty-one releases since 1968.[5] Between 1995 and 2001, Rick Holmstrom played in the Mighty Flyers.[6]

Piazza has toured blues clubs, concert venues and festivals in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Spain, among other countries. He and his wife currently live in Riverside, California.

Discography

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Pre-Mighty Flyers Era

[edit]
  • 1967 The Dirty Blues Band: The Dirty Blues Band (ABC-Bluesway)
  • 1968 The Dirty Blues Band: Stone Dirt (ABC-Bluesway)
  • 1969 Live At Small's Paradise (Blue Moon [UK], issued in 1986) - Bacon Fat with Rod Piazza, George "Harmonica" Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, J.D. Nicholson, Buddy Reed, Jerry Smith, Richard Innes
  • 1970 Bacon Fat: Grease One For Me (Blue Horizon)
  • 1971 Bacon Fat: Tough Dude (Blue Horizon)
  • 1973 Rod Piazza: Blues Man (LMI)
  • 1979 The Chicago Flying Saucer Band Featuring Rod Piazza (Gangster)

With The Mighty Flyers

[edit]
  • 1981 Radioactive Material (Right Hemisphere)
  • 1984 File Under Rock (Takoma)
  • 1985 From The Start To The Finnish (Red Lightnin'; US release in 1986 on Pausa)
  • 1986 Harpburn (Murray Brothers; reissued in 1993 on Black Top; Rod Piazza solo album)
  • 1988 So Glad To Have The Blues (Murray Brothers; Special Delivery; Rod Piazza solo album)
  • 1988 Undercover (Special Delivery)
  • 1991 Blues In The Dark (Black Top)
  • 1992 Alphabet Blues (Black Top)
  • 1994 Live At B.B. King's Blues Club (Big Mo)
  • 1997 Tough And Tender (Tone-Cool)
  • 1998 Vintage Live 1975 (Tone-Cool) with Hollywood Fats
  • 1999 Here And Now (Tone-Cool)
  • 2001 Beyond The Source (Tone-Cool)
  • 2004 Keepin' It Real (Blind Pig)
  • 2005 Big Blues Party (Blind Pig) [DVD]
  • 2005 For The Chosen Who (Delta Groove) [CD+DVD]
  • 2007 Thrill Ville (Delta Groove)
  • 2009 Soul Monster (Delta Groove)
  • 2011 Almighty Dollar (Delta Groove)
  • 2014 Emergency Situation (Blind Pig)[7]
  • 2017 Live At Fleetwood's (Big Mo) [2CD] - recorded 1993

Selected collections

[edit]
  • 1970 How Blue Can We Get? (Blue Horizon)
  • 1991 Blues Cocktail Party! (Black Top)
  • 1992 Blues Pajama Party (Black Top)
  • 1992 The Essential Collection (Hightone) - compilation of Radioactive Material, File Under Rock, and From The Start To The Finnish.
  • 1992 Blues Harmonica Spotlight (Black Top)
  • 1995 Blues, Mistletoe & Santa's Little Helper (Black Top)
  • 1996 Instrumental Blues Dynamite! (Black Top)
  • 1997 California Blues (Black Top) - compilation of Harpburn, Blues In The Dark and Alphabet Blues.
  • 1997 Jump & Swing with Black Top (Black Top)
  • 1997 Blues Harp Power (Easydisc/Rounder)
  • 1997 Blues After Hours (Easydisc/Rounder)
  • 1998 Blues Joint (Easydisc/Rounder)
  • 1998 Blues Harp Hotshots (Easydisc/Rounder)
  • 2003 The Story of Tone-Cool, vol. 1 (Tone-Cool) [2CD]
  • 2003 Live at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards, vol. 1 (Tone-Cool)
  • 2003 Modern Master: The Best of Rod Piazza 1968-2003 (Tone-Cool) [2CD]
  • 2006 Blues Party (Tone-Cool)
  • 2008 His Instrumentals (Piazza Publishing; reissued in 2018 on Rip Cat Records) [2CD]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rod Piazza

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rod Piazza is an American blues harmonica player, singer, and bandleader known for his powerful amplified harmonica technique, which draws heavily from Chicago blues masters Little Walter and George "Harmonica" Smith, and for fronting the long-running, award-winning band Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers. Piazza grew up in Southern California, where he studied blues records from an early age and initially played guitar before focusing on harmonica. His career began in the mid-1960s when he formed the Dirty Blues Band in Los Angeles, releasing two albums on ABC/Bluesway before joining his mentor George "Harmonica" Smith in the band Bacon Fat, which toured and recorded with prominent blues artists including Big Mama Thornton and T-Bone Walker. In the late 1970s, he formed The Mighty Flyers with his wife, pianist Honey Piazza, developing a signature boogie-infused sound that combines jump blues, West Coast blues, and Chicago traditions. The band has toured extensively worldwide and released numerous albums across labels such as Black Top, Tone-Cool, Blind Pig, and Delta Groove. Piazza achieved broader recognition in the 1990s with critically acclaimed releases and multiple W.C. Handy Award nominations, winning Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica in 1998 and leading The Mighty Flyers to Blues Band of the Year honors in 1999 and 2000. His work as a session musician and his decades-long dedication to high-energy live performances have solidified his reputation as a vital figure in contemporary blues.

Early life

Birth and early years

Rod Piazza was born on December 18, 1947, in Riverside, California. He grew up in Riverside, where he spent his childhood and early years in Southern California. Details on his family background and childhood experiences are limited but include his older brothers introducing him to blues and R&B records from around ages 7-10.

Musical beginnings and influences

Piazza began playing guitar around age 7 but switched focus to harmonica in the early 1960s around the age of 15 after exposure to blues and R&B through records his older brothers brought home and an early spark from seeing Jimmy Reed perform. His primary influences were Little Walter and George "Harmonica" Smith. Little Walter became his all-time favorite harmonica player after hearing his recordings, which overshadowed earlier interests and shaped his approach to the instrument. Piazza drew from Little Walter for technique and control while learning strong attack, tonal quality, and stage presence from George "Harmonica" Smith. His early development of harmonica technique was inspired by Chicago blues masters, particularly through intensive study of Little Walter's amplified style and records that defined his foundational sound.

Music career

Early bands and professional start

Rod Piazza's professional career began in the late 1960s when his band, previously known as the Mystics, relocated to Los Angeles and secured a recording deal. In 1967, the group was signed to ABC-Bluesway Records and renamed the Dirty Blues Band, releasing their self-titled debut album that year as the label's only white act amid a roster featuring established blues artists like T-Bone Walker and George "Harmonica" Smith. The band followed with a second album, Stone Dirt, in 1968 before disbanding. That same year, Piazza formed Bacon Fat alongside his mentor and idol George "Harmonica" Smith, creating a distinctive dual-harmonica frontline that set them apart in the Los Angeles blues circuit. The band established itself in the Watts club scene and released Grease One For Me in 1970 on the Blue Horizon label, followed by Tough Dude in 1971. In 1970, producer Mike Vernon recorded the group at Johnny Otis's studio and captured a live performance at Small's Paradise in Watts, leading to an England tour that earned strong reviews and expanded their reach. Bacon Fat also backed prominent blues figures including Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, and Big Joe Turner during this period. Throughout the 1970s, Piazza continued his work in the California blues scene, releasing the solo album Rod Piazza Blues Man on LMI Records in 1973. He later formed the Chicago Flying Saucer Band in the mid-1970s, which released an eponymous album in 1979 and marked his ongoing activity prior to new ventures in the following decade.

Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers

Rod Piazza formed his long-running band, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, in 1980 with his wife Honey Piazza on piano and keyboards. The group specializes in a high-energy boogie sound that blends jump blues with Chicago blues influences, emphasizing West Coast blues stylings. Honey Piazza has remained a core member since the band's inception, providing essential piano support that complements Piazza's harmonica work and vocals. The Mighty Flyers began performing in clubs in 1980 and have maintained continuous activity for more than four decades. The band has sustained a worldwide touring schedule, performing at festivals and venues across continents while preserving their signature boogie and jump blues approach. This longevity has made Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers a staple in the contemporary blues scene.

Later career and ongoing work

Rod Piazza has continued to lead the Mighty Flyers into the 21st century, adapting his touring strategy in response to economic challenges facing blues clubs and road performances during the 2000s. He shifted away from frequent van-based national tours toward a more selective schedule that emphasized fly-in engagements, higher-paying festival appearances, and regular local shows in Southern California, while occasionally participating in events such as the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (with his last documented appearance in October 2018). Piazza has maintained that he still enjoys performing but prefers avoiding excessive travel to preserve his health and resources. The Mighty Flyers, featuring his wife Honey Piazza on keyboards alongside rotating supporting musicians, remain active primarily through regional live performances in the Long Beach and greater Southern California area. Recent shows include an August 18, 2024 performance at Malainey's Grill in Long Beach, where Piazza played harmonica and sang. Earlier appearances in the 2020s include a show at Campus Jax on August 27, 2023. The band continues to book occasional gigs, with a performance scheduled for August 31, 2025 in Long Beach. This ongoing activity reflects Piazza's sustained commitment to live blues performance on a more sustainable scale.

Musical style and contributions

Harmonica technique and boogie blues approach

Rod Piazza is renowned for his powerful, amplified harmonica technique featuring stratospheric wailing that owes a heavy debt to Chicago blues pioneer Little Walter and West Coast legend George "Harmonica" Smith. His playing adapts and extends the dynamic phrasing and amplified tone of Little Walter alongside the smoother, melodic phrasing of George "Harmonica" Smith. This synthesis results in a high-energy style that fuses jump blues rhythms, West Coast blues, and Chicago blues traditions, creating a boogie blues sound. Piazza's boogie blues approach emphasizes groove and intensity, often with the harmonica serving as both lead and rhythmic element in band settings. The style blends traditional postwar blues elements with exuberance.

Discography

Key albums and recordings

Rod Piazza has built an extensive discography primarily through his work as leader of Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, with the band releasing numerous studio and live albums since the early 1980s. These recordings showcase his signature boogie-woogie harmonica style and the band's tight ensemble playing, establishing them as a staple in the West Coast blues scene. The Mighty Flyers' early studio output includes Radioactive Material (1981), File Under Rock (1984), and Undercover (1988), which helped define their energetic sound following Piazza's prior band experiences. By the 1990s, the band produced several notable releases such as Blues in the Dark (1991), Alphabet Blues (1992), and the live album Live at B.B. King's Blues Club, Memphis (1994), with Alphabet Blues and the live set often highlighted for their strong performances and representation of the group's live energy. Subsequent decades saw continued productivity with studio albums like Tough and Tender (1997), Here and Now (1999), Beyond the Source (2001), Keepin' It Real (2004), For the Chosen Who (2005), Soul Monster (2009), Almighty Dollar (2011), and Emergency Situation (2014), many of which received attention for maintaining the band's traditional blues roots while incorporating fresh material. The compilation The Essential Collection (1992) offers a retrospective of earlier highlights. Later live work is represented by Live at Fleetwoods (2017).

Awards and recognition

Blues awards and honors

Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers have received substantial recognition from the Blues Foundation through the Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Awards). The band won the Blues Band of the Year award four times, in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2006. This achievement highlights their prominence in the contemporary blues scene, with the 2006 win marking their fourth such honor from the organization. Piazza personally earned acclaim as a harmonica player by winning the Blues Music Award for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica in 1998. His wife, Honey Piazza, has also been honored by the foundation with the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award in 2008. The Mighty Flyers accumulated 33 nominations across various Blues Music Award categories throughout their career, reflecting consistent recognition for their contributions to the blues genre. In addition, the band's 1993 live album Live at B.B. King's Blues Club received the NAIRD Award for Album of the Year from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors.

Film and television appearances

Credits and performances

Rod Piazza has appeared in several television programs and music videos, primarily as himself performing blues harmonica and vocals with his band the Mighty Flyers. His credits reflect his identity as a live performer rather than an actor in scripted roles. One of his earliest television appearances was on the variety series Playboy After Dark in 1969, where he performed as a singer with the credited Rod Piazza Group in one episode. In 1985, Piazza starred as himself in the music video for the Mighty Flyers' song "Too Young to Have Fun," directed by Terry Ingram. He appeared as himself in the 2005 TV movie Blues at the Brewery, a performance-based program capturing his live blues set. In 2006, Piazza performed harmonica and vocals as himself in an episode of the TV series Sierra Center Stage, delivering his signature West Coast boogie-woogie style. His composition "The Upsetter," performed by Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, was featured on the soundtrack of the 1993 film The Pelican Brief.

Personal life

Family and personal milestones

Rod Piazza has been married to pianist Debra "Honey" Piazza since 1989. The couple first met in 1973 when Honey joined Rod's band as the piano player, became romantic partners in 1977, and have since maintained a close personal and professional partnership characterized by mutual support and shared commitment to blues music. They are described as best friends who spend extensive time together both on and off the road without conflict, owing to compatible temperaments and aligned artistic goals. Honey Piazza has two children from a previous marriage: daughter Maya, born around 1968, and son Zoe, born in 1971. No children from Rod and Honey's marriage are documented in available sources. The Piazzas have a long-term association with California, where Rod was born in Riverside and Honey in Fairfield, and they have pursued their careers primarily in the Southern California blues scene.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rod-piazza-mn0000293614
  2. https://mojohand.com/glossary/rod-piazza/
  3. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rod-piazza/3931585
  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/511810-Rod-Piazza
  5. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rod-piazza-mn0000293614/biography
  6. https://travelingboy.com/archive-travel-tim-rodpiazza.html
  7. https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/featured-interview-rod-piazza/
  8. https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/rod-piazza-interview/
  9. https://www.discogs.com/master/511113-The-Dirty-Blues-Band-Featuring-Rod-Gingerman-Piazza-Stone-Dirt
  10. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1277410-Bacon-Fat
  11. https://www.last.fm/music/Rod+Piazza/+wiki
  12. https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zWkGcXh8YmA2CFDGUosWX
  13. https://music.apple.com/au/artist/rod-piazza-the-mighty-flyers/3927089
  14. https://bluescruise.com/lrbc-archives/
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRc8mUeGybQ
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF-XjwDijjc
  17. https://www.facebook.com/CadillacZackPresentsTheBlues/posts/this-sunday-aug-31-2025-rod-piazza-and-the-mighty-flyers-with-honey-piazza-and-a/1342256564571676/
  18. https://www.discogs.com/artist/599724-Rod-Piazza-The-Mighty-Flyers
  19. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rod-piazza-the-mighty-flyers-mn0000292153
  20. https://www.offbeat.com/articles/the-w-c-handy-awards-celebrate-20-years/
  21. https://www.deseret.com/2001/7/30/19598889/more-is-better-at-snowbird-jazz-festival/
  22. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/687165987/
  23. https://www.montereycountynow.com/news/local_news/rod-piazza-the-mighty-flyers-play-seaside-s-laguna-grande/article_a5a6ca90-78d7-50c4-a46a-23e57299537b.html
  24. https://bluesfestivalguide.com/rod-piazza-and-the-mighty-flyers-emergency-situation/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1935967/
  26. https://jazztimes.com/archives/rod-piazza-here-and-now/
  27. https://www.hazeltones.com/honey-piazza.html
  28. https://www.kunc.org/music/2013-08-17/the-piazzas-the-family-that-plays-and-stays-together
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