History

The members of The Jukes have a great deal of experience together in other musical outfits.

Immediately prior to The Jukes existence, the members comprised the final line-up of Toronto blues band Redbird. Redbird played clubs in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond from 2001 until 2004 and received praise from reviewers, audiences, and club owners. However, due to the significant membership change, as well as redefining direction, the band decided it was approrpiate to officially end Redbird and start fresh as The Jukes.

Through Redbird's existence, some of the clubs the band appeared at include Mojo's Juke Joint, Dior Lounge, Boomer's Basement, The Rivoli, Roxy's Little House of Blues, The Main Event Centre, Father's, the Thirsty Monk, and Harwood Blues. Josh Gordon was amongst the original line-up, and helped the band entertain crowds from corporate gigs to downtown clubs. Andrew Taylor joined the band in time to record the band's first EP in 2001. Redbird kept playing the clubs, and appeared at the 2002 SpringRise Festival and Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival.

Peter Charles joined the band in 2003, and the 3 members were once again at the SpringRise Festival that year. On top of more club gigs, the band was also in the studio that year, recording several original tunes.

During the group's existence, the band received high accolades from blues reviewer John Taylor, as well as T.O. Nite Magazine.

Outside of The Jukes, Andrew and Josh work together in jazz combo The Midnight Club Trio. This ensemble has only been together for a short time, but has received great response from audiences and establishments' ownership and staff.

Years before The Jukes, Chris Chiarelli and Andrew worked together in several outfits in the Peterborough area. The friends met in blues & rock group The Blueshounds, and shortly after, worked together as music instructors. The duo went on to become the backbone of several acts, including the Eve Simmons Quartet, the Cheryl Beatty Band, and Chiarelli's own quartet. Together, Andrew and Chris played the Kawartha Jazz Festival, the Orillia Blues Festival, First Night Peterborough (1995-1998), Trent University's Dionysus Festival, and were regular performers at the Legendary Red Dog Tavern.

In early 2003, Chris and Andrew worked together as supporting players in folk group Tumbleweed. Today, they are members of Toronto rock-party band, The Brewski Boys.