RANDY CHORTKOFF
Vocals / Harmonica / MC

Randy Chortkoff's passion for music was instilled in him at an early age. His father, who was a dedicated jazz fan, used to invite Louis Armstrong and members of his band into his home for dinner which often resulted in spontaneous and informal jam sessions. Randy's exposure to live blues came later in the '60s, as he frequented the now historic Ash Grove in Los Angeles, in addition to Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium and Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco where he witnessed performances by Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddy King and Jimmy Reed. By the early '80s, Randy had formed his own band and over the years began building relationships amongst the local music scene that included close friendships with Rod Piazza, Lester Butler, Debbie Davies and Alex Schultz. His first project as an independent record producer was Billy Boy Arnold's highly acclaimed comeback release "Back Where I Belong," which helped signal the path that would eventually lead him to the formation of Delta Groove Productions. With the formation of Delta Groove came the formation of the supergroup, The Mannish Boys, featuring the best of the best. These days Randy divides his time between performing with The Mannish Boys, running both the Eclecto and Delta Groove labels, as well as applying his considerable talents to financing and production for feature films where he ultimately hopes to combine his passion for blues with film to reach a much larger audience.