Interview / Edit by Kevin Cummings, SSBA VP / Editor and Billy Spaulding of Soulful 88’s

The Soulful 88’s are a dynamic rockin’ blues and classic rock band with a whole lotta’ soul, playing classics and a few original tunes, with more on the way. To anyone lucky enough to see them perform live, it is obvious that they take their music seriously but are prone to having more fun than may normally be allowed – and the audience is the big winner!

The band is led by keyboardist and vocalist Billy Spaulding, who has played drums with many of the A list bands of the Northwest, including Seattle Slim, Kathi MacDonald, The Blue Healers and many others such as Kim Field and Tim Turner. He has opened for many national acts such as B.B. King, Duke Robillard, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and many more. Spaulding has been on more than a dozen recordings, including one with Larry Knechtel who received a Grammy Award for his work on “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

Local legend Tom “T-Boy” Boyle – one of the finest and fiercest blues guitarists in the region who has won multiple WBS awards, plays guitar.  He has played in some of the best line-ups in the Northwest Blues scene including The Slackmasters, Drivin’ Wheel and multiple award-winning band Becki Sue and her Big Rockin’ Daddies.

Bass player Patrick Mosley holds down the bottom end for the band; his blues influences come from his grandfather. Mosley started playing at Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland at the young age of 18, He has played with Eric Rice, Erik Scott and also Bluesberry Marmelade.

Scott Rongey is the rhythm foundation as he masters percussion and creates a powerful base with Mosley. Scott has had a long career in the Northwest playing with many top acts including The Red-Hot Blues Sisters and The Rece Jay Band. He has competed in the International Blues Challenge with Suze Sims and her band as is a sought-after session player.

The band recently recorded at Jimmy Free Recording Studio in Shoreline. It is a 9-song recording of selected covers. We were a 5 piece at the time with Steve Yonck on the 2nd guitar.

Billy Spaulding has been a professional musician for over 25 years.  He was musically influenced by his Grandpa Rufus and Uncle Leroy at the early age of six.  Both were accomplished piano players and encouraged him to take lessons.  Most of his career has been as a drummer and vocalist, but more recently he has added piano player to his credits.

Billy has been on many recordings as a drummer, but this is the first as a keyboard player and vocalist, getting back to his first instrument of choice; however, he continues to play drums with several local bands – insisting that he will “never lose that passion!!”  After years of fans and peers saying “Billy, you need to sing more”, he is answering the call.

Spaulding has lived in the Seattle area his entire life and has performed at festivals including Bumbershoot, Winthrop, Folk Life, Sun Banks and several others – just about every place in the Northwest that would put a band inside their walls. Spaulding credits music with blessing his life in many ways, including that path that let him meet his wife, Cindy. He says, “this is what keeps me working so hard, love, that is what it is all about!”