Blue Riddim Nation - Legendary K

Though it may be freezing outside, it's a guarantee that come New Year's Eve it's going to be hot inside Liberty Hall.

That's because Blue Riddim, a somewhat legendary local reggae band, has been tapped for a gala bash that promises to ring in 2001 with warm, sultry Caribbean music.

It's enough to put anyone into a party mood, though the band members themselves have developed a very low-key lifestyle. No groupies and no backstage parties follow the Riddim gang. Instead, when they're not playing, they hold day jobs, pay mortgages and raise their families.

"I don't know if there is a whole lot of storyline here," band member Todd "Bebop" Burd says with a laugh. "We've all settled down with our families and businesses. I'm in my 30s, and I'm the young guy in the group."

Though wild times and tours are not their forte, they are still heavily into reggae grooves, and it was that love of the Jamaican sounds that caused the members to regroup. Achieving its biggest popularity in the '80s, the band won a Grammy nomination for 1987's "Alive in Jamaica," a live concert recording made at an international festival. It marked the first time that an all-white act from the United States had been honored with a Best Reggae Recording Grammy.

In the group's heyday, it played and traveled extensively, but a bad record deal made the band rethink its goals. So Blue Riddim broke up, but many of the band members remained in the Kansas City area and played through the '90s together as SDI before deciding to reform as Blue Riddim last year.

"We were backing up people like Ernie Smith, who was around even before Bob Marley, and who's huge in Jamaica," Burd says. "We backed up Big Youth, who are the predecessors to modern Jamaican rappers, and that was the impetus to do Blue Riddim again."

The current lineup is composed of Steve "Duck" McLane, Andrew "Drew" Myers, Jack "Blackie" Blackett, Jack Lightfoot, Scotty Korchak, Joe Miquelon, Jeff Porter and Todd Burd.

"There are a lot of guys in reggae bands," Burd says with another laugh.

Blue Riddim is not planning any CD or touring projects and has only been accepting gigs whenever venues approach the act. Though continuing to play in the Midwest, the group is helping lay down some tracks for musician Jimmy Becker, a popular reggae harmonica player.

"He's played with all the bigwigs � anybody and everybody. So we're doing a recording of his material, both a backlog of stuff and new material," Burd says.

Since Blue Riddim doesn't do many appearances, the group makes the most of its time onstage. Many of the members are also in the Loose Cannon Brass Band, a New Orleans-style acoustic brass act that will take the stage before Blue Riddim.

Burd says, "Considering the amount of time we get to play together, we have to take advantage of the time we have."

	Blue Riddim Nation - Legendary KC Reggae Band Set For New Year's Bash
	Lawrence.com - Thursday, December 28, 2000
	By Mitchell J. Near
	Though it may be freezing outside, it's a guarantee that come New Year's Eve it's going to be hot inside Liberty Hall. That's because Blue Riddim, a somewhat legendary local reggae band, has been tapped for a gala bash that promises to ring in 2001 with warm, sultry Caribbean music. It's enough to put anyone into a party mood, though the band members themselves have developed a very low-key lifestyle. No groupies and no backstage parties follow the Riddim gang. Instead, when they're not playing, they hold day jobs, pay mortgages and raise their families. "I don't know if there is a whole lot of storyline here," band member Todd "Bebop" Burd says with a laugh. "We've all settled down with our families and businesses. I'm in my 30s, and I'm the young guy in the group." Though wild times and tours are not their forte, they are still heavily into reggae grooves, and it was that love of the Jamaican sounds that caused the members to regroup. Achieving its biggest popularity in the '80s, the band won a Grammy nomination for 1987's "Alive in Jamaica," a live concert recording made at an international festival. It marked the first time that an all-white act from the United States had been honored with a Best Reggae Recording Grammy. In the group's heyday, it played and traveled extensively, but a bad record deal made the band rethink its goals. So Blue Riddim broke up, but many of the band members remained in the Kansas City area and played through the '90s together as SDI before deciding to reform as Blue Riddim last year. "We were backing up people like Ernie Smith, who was around even before Bob Marley, and who's huge in Jamaica," Burd says. "We backed up Big Youth, who are the predecessors to modern Jamaican rappers, and that was the impetus to do Blue Riddim again." The current lineup is composed of Steve "Duck" McLane, Andrew "Drew" Myers, Jack "Blackie" Blackett, Jack Lightfoot, Scotty Korchak, Joe Miquelon, Jeff Porter and Todd Burd. "There are a lot of guys in reggae bands," Burd says with another laugh. Blue Riddim is not planning any CD or touring projects and has only been accepting gigs whenever venues approach the act. Though continuing to play in the Midwest, the group is helping lay down some tracks for musician Jimmy Becker, a popular reggae harmonica player. "He's played with all the bigwigs � anybody and everybody. So we're doing a recording of his material, both a backlog of stuff and new material," Burd says. Since Blue Riddim doesn't do many appearances, the group makes the most of its time onstage. Many of the members are also in the Loose Cannon Brass Band, a New Orleans-style acoustic brass act that will take the stage before Blue Riddim. Burd says, "Considering the amount of time we get to play together, we have to take advantage of the time we have."
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