The Band

Suzy & the Smokers is made up of the following Springfield, Illinois musicians…

Suzanne Carnes- Lead Vocals- Covering Big Time Sarah, Candye Kane, Lou Ann Barton, Debbie Davies, Sue Foley and other great female artists. Suzanne has sung in the past with Magnum Force, Just For Kicks, Mojo Jones and most recently back-up with Jack Flash.

John Turner- Drums- started out with the legendary Joe Cooke, then played with one of the first area blues bands, Velvet Jones with Doc Hughes and Frank Herrin, then later with the Rockin’ Rebels, Just For Kicks, Jump Street and most recently with Jack Flash. 

Blake Everist- Bass and Vocals- played with his brother (Mark) in the Young Swingers and more recently with the Groove Daddies and the Sofa Kings.

Rob Judd- Guitar- Played with Ramblin’ Fever for 13 years.  First working band was Lady Luck featuring Suzanne Carnes.

Rick Speer- Keyboards and backup Vocals- played in the past with Strange Brew, Still Crazy and Mojo Jones.

Suzanne Carnes and John Turner got the band started in late 2005.  Both had been playing in various bands for awhile and wanted to try something on their own.  Both were interested in trying a wider variety of blues and hoped to bring all its forms to an audience that might not have had the opportunity to experience it before.  They knew they would need a good bass player and were lucky enough to find Blake Everist.  He has added vocal harmonies and his sense of timing is awesome.  Rick Speer was next (Suzy knew him from Mojo Jones), adding a whole new dimension on keyboards.  As it turned out, he also knew Blake.  And then, to put the icing on the cake, along came Robbie Judd, who liked the style of music we were playing and seems to have been born with a silver guitar in his hands. 

Mix it all up and the result is Suzy & the Smokers!  Featuring Suzanne, singing expressive lyrics, and a band that keeps your feet moving.  Suzy & the Smokers plays a variety of classic blues music, ranging from "Chicago blues" to "jazz influenced blues", with "honky tonk boogie" and "swing" thrown in.   We think you’ll like what you hear!