D.C. & THE CAPITALS

D.C. & THE CAPITALS IS A GROUP THAT PLAYS A FINE BLEND OF BLUES, RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL, AND ROCK & ROLL, LED BY VETERAN MUSICIAN AND ONE OF THE LAST ORIGINAL BLUESMEN IN DALLAS, DEMPSEY CRENSHAW.

Dempsey (On Vocals, Harmonica, and Guitar), sings and plays with feeling and a sultry impact over volume and flash. Dempsey’s harp style is reminiscent of Jimmy Reed and Little Walter. His guitar playing bring to mind B.B. King and Little Milton. This together with his gritty yet smooth vocal style leave the first time listener thinking and wondering where this man has been hiding. The answer to that, like a lot of great American musicians trying to make a living in the early 60’s, gigging became more difficult as the popularity of British rock groups forced many musicians to supplement their income finding other ways to make a living, and try to keep their musical career’s going at the same time.

Born in Alabama, Dempsey came to Dallas around 1961. After learning harp very early in life , he picked up bass guitar playing with and opening for many of the Blues and R&B Greats. Around 1957 he started touring with a list of artists that reads like a WHO’S Who of Rock & Roll and R&B. They include Sam & Dave, Jimmy Reed, Freddie King, Chuck Berry, T-Bone Walker, Eddie Floyd, Rufus Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Big Joe Turner, Etta James, and Little Richard’s guitar player. He also did a 2 year stint with The Drifters from 1963 to 64. Dempsey started his own band called Shame Shame, that had success and a following in Dallas. They toured and recorded a CD, and played B.B. King’s club in Memphis.

The current band includes some former Shame Shame alumni. Danny Banda- ( guitar & vocals ) Hailing from Oak Cliff, Texas, Danny played around DFW as a teenager, then left Dallas to join the military. Played around Europe in several bands, then played on the east coast, before coming back to Dallas. He was asked to join Shame Shame with current D.C. drummer Dave Isaacs after they had both worked together with The Dunn Deal. Danny worked with Dempsey for 3 years, then started his own band called The Cat Daddy’s in 1996 and recorded a CD. Then he and Dempsey started D.C. & The Capitals with The Cat Daddy’s rhythm section.

Mickey Carson- (bass guitar), from Denton, Texas. Mickey has played all styles of music in N.Texas for over 20 years. Playing with bands such as; Bluetail, Nothing, The Amazing Hypnophones, and The Cat Daddy’s. He also freelances with several bands. He is also a sound and audio expert, and added his expertise to the CD with The Capitals.

Dave Isaacs- (drums), had worked with Danny & Dempsey some years ago with Shame Shame, and Dunn Deal. He was in The Wee Bads with Memo Gonzales and Hash Brown. Then joined The Texas TopCats, who opened the 1993 Dallas Bluesfest at the Starplex for The Allman Brothers, and B.B. King. Doing revue shows with Robert Ealey, Curly “Barefoot” Miller, and Joe Jonas. Dempsey also did a show with The Topcats. Dave still finds time to work with 8 Ball & The Breakers also.

With the new D.C. & The Capitals CD-All Night Long, original material Dempsey has worked on for over 6 years, the band has the collective experience and it has been our pleasure working with one of the nicest, and modest guys in the business.
For CD & Booking info contact Dave Isaacs at;469-682-1954.

God Bless!