Born in Philadelphia, Gerald Veasley has a varied and impressive resume' that includes recording stints with Joe Zawinul of Weather Report, his longtime friend and mentor, the late Grover Washington Jr., McCoy Tyner, and many more.  He has shared stages and tours with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.  Gerald was named "Best Electric Bassist" in Jazziz magazine's annual readers' poll and Philadelphia Magazine named him Best Jazz Band.

     He started playing the bass at age twelve and recalls learning a great deal from in-home jam sessions with friends of his musically inclined parents.  He was inspired by his parents’ hard work and sacrifices as they gave him a good stable home life and appreciation of education.  As an outstanding academic high school graduate he earned a complete four year full academic scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania.  During his third year, Veasley lost his father.  To deal with the loss, he focused on music, listening to records featuring Charles Mingus, Wes Montgomery, Grand Green and Ron Carter.  These all-night affairs would also include Veasley teaching himself how to improvise, transcribe solos and studying chord progressions.  Veasley took up studying classical guitar to expand his range as a musician.

     "There were several factors which led me to choose music as a profession," he says. "Basically, it always moved me emotionally and offered me a way to express things I couldn't find words for.  When my father died, I had a hard time coming to grips with the trauma, and music proved very therapeutic."

The mostly high-profile sideman gigs came in rapid succession for Gerald starting in the early Eighties.  Depending on who he was hooked up with, he displayed a starting affinity for all sorts of styles.  He played avant-garde music with saxophonist Odean Pope, did orchestra dates with the flutist Leslie Burrs, and joined violinist John Blake's group for a U.S. tour and three albums on Gramavision.

"Big James" Montgomery got his first taste of the blues when as a young teenager he would stand outside of a club on the southside of Chicago and listen to B.B. "Big Voice" Odum sing with Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. Eventually, he was allowed to sit in with the band and as the old saying goes, "The rest was history."
At nineteen years old he joined the legendary "Little Milton Band". After playing with Milton for two years, he joined Albert King's Blues Band.

After playing with Albert, he returned to the local scene in Chicago and began to play with many blues bands in the area too numerous to mention.

But, it was his association with the late Johnny Christian that really changed things for him. "Big James" says, "Little Milton gave me my start, but Johnny really turned me loose. He was such a great singer and a major influence on me that I will always be grateful to him.

In 1996, along with fellow sdekick, Charlie Kimble on saxophone "Big James" joined the Buddy Guy's Blues Band. They performed all over the world with the master bluesman, with the highlight being the "House of Blues Barnburner Tour" and a performance on the "Tonight Show" featuring Jay Leno. Also in 1996, The Chicago Playboys rocked the main stage of the Chicago Blues Festival featuring the dazzling Nellie Travis and Phil Guy. Big James has also shared a stage with such performers as; Eric Clapton, George Clinton, & Parliament Funkadelic, Public Announcement, Dan Ackroyd, Larry Coryell & Lou Rawls.

Now lead by "Big James" on trombone and lead vocals, The Chicago Playboys are performing at many of the well known blues clubs in the Chicago area such as: The House of Blues, Buddy Guy's Legends, Famous Dave's in Chicago-Minneapolis & Champagne, Koko Taylors, B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, Chord on Blues in St. Charles, The Slice of Chicago in Palatine, Porter's Oyster Bar in Crystal Lake and The Up & Under Club in Milwaukee,WI. The horn section has alson been active in the recording studio having recorded several albums with Johnny Christian, Lee "Shot" Williams, John Primer, L.V. Banks, Vance Kelly and on Chico Banks first solo project entitled "Candy Lickin' Man", on Evidence records. "Big James" is featured on lead vocals and trombone on a sizzling arrangement of Magic Sam's "All of Your Love."

"Big James" has recorded 2 solo projects on the independent Jamot Music Label. The first entitled "Funkin' Blues" received rave reviews from musicians, critics and the general public from all around the globe. The newest release entitled "If It Wasn't 4 Da Blues" is proving to follow suit! Be on the lookout for this young and exciting bluesman.

Entertaining has been a way of life for Frank, starting at the tender age of four. Growing up in Millen, Georgia and the son of a gospel singer, Maggie Jordan, Frank learned at an early age that singing was his God-given gift. Frank says, "I can remember singing as early as I can remember talking."
Later, in the 1960s during his teenage years, Frank toured with the Otis Redding Review. He later Joined "Archie Jenkins & The Incredible Saxons," touring extensively in the United States and as far away as Canada, Alaska and Spain. In 1977 Frank left the music business.

"A voice this wonderful should not have been silent for so long..."
Bill Mitchell, Blues Bytes, MARCH 1998

Frank began performing again in 1996 and released his debut CD, "Steppin' Out" in 1998. "Steppin' Out" clearly demonstrates Mr. Bey's ability to perform multiple blues styles including swing, standard slow blues, delta, country, folk.. At live performances, Frank's rich and exquisite style is presented with such feeling that each member of the audience can relate it to his or her own experience.