Mighty Blue Kings

Biography

The Mighty Blue Kings are a Chicago-based band formed in 1995 during the 1990s swing revival, led by vocalist Ross Bon. Emerging amid the lounge music craze alongside acts like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the group consisted of talented Chicago musicians who began playing in local clubs before securing a house band residency at the legendary Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. They toured the Midwest and West Coast, formed their own label R-Jay Records, and released their debut album 'Meet Me In Uptown' in 1997, followed by 'Come One, Come All' on Sony's Work Records the same year.[1][2][4]

The band's career gained momentum with their 1998 live album 'Live In Chicago,' capturing their energetic performances, and appearances on movie soundtracks like 'Kissing A Fool' and 'Three To Tango' featuring Ross Bon. Known for blending swing, jump blues, boogie-woogie, jazz, and R&B—described as 'sometimes dirty, sometimes martini-smooth'—they broke the Billboard Top Ten Blues Chart, released five independent records, and performed at major venues like the Aragon Ballroom.[1][2][3][4][5]

Celebrating 25 years by around 2020, Ross Bon and the Mighty Blue Kings returned to the Green Mill for residencies, maintaining their legacy in Chicago's music scene with high-energy shows that evoke the swing era's swagger and bravado. Members have rotated over time, with current lineup including Ernie Adams on drums, Matt Thompson on bass, Scott Tipping on guitar, and Jerry DeVivo on saxophone.[3][4][5]

Fun Facts

• Formed in 1995 when Ross Bon and Jimmy Sutton were introduced by a mutual friend, leading to their first show at the Green Mill and a massive CD release at the Aragon Ballroom selling 2,000 tickets instead of the expected 800.[4]
• Held a two-year Tuesday residency at the Green Mill, arriving at noon to set up and drawing long lines of fans during the swing club era.[4]
• Their music appeared on soundtracks for 'Kissing A Fool' (starring David Schwimmer) and 'Three To Tango,' boosting national recognition in 1998-1999.[1][2]
• No internet in 1995 meant fans discovered them via word-of-mouth, The Reader newspaper, and swing clubs like Frankie's Blue Room.[3][4]

Members

• Ross Bon
• Sam Burckhardt

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jimmy Sutton - Mutual friend introduced them; co-founder and early collaborator who played on one side of Chicago (Original Mighty Blue Kings lineup formation) [1995]

Key Collaborators

• Jimmy Sutton - Key early band member and co-founder (Formed original lineup) [1995]
• Ernie Adams - Current drummer (Ongoing band performances) [Recent (post-2020)]
• Matt Thompson - Current bassist (Ongoing band performances) [Recent (post-2020)]
• Scott Tipping - Current guitarist (Ongoing band performances) [Recent (post-2020)]
• Jerry DeVivo - Longtime saxophonist, previously on horns then sax again (Albums including sax work) [1990s-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz