Barrelhouse Blend

Kathleen Dooley and Gary Krause combine rock & roll, jazz,R&B, blues, and coffeehouse folk roots to cover such artists asJames Taylor, Carole King, U2, The Eagles, Ray Charles,Kansas, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jim Croce, Aretha Franklin, Melissa Etheridge, Foo Fighters, Green Day, and many more.  Kathleen and Gary have played all over Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin in different bands and as solo performers for over twenty-five years. Both are classically trained musicians with extensive backgrounds in musical theater, worship music, jazz, and pop performance.

 

Through mutual friends and performing opportunities over the years, they found that they had an instant blend when they sang together.  They enjoyed it so much, that they decided in 2014 to officially join their folk guitar, honky-tonk piano, and extensive catalog to form the duo, Barrelhouse Blend.

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In 2017, Sherry Winchester Schultz (vocals/percussion) joined Kathleen and Gary with an infectious energy and her big congas to form the Barrelhouse Blend Trio.  Kathleen and Sherry performed together for almost 30 years in the trio Acoustic Alternatives, and then in the group Collective Feat.  They also perform as a duo, The Heels on occasion.  Are you at a local Chicagoland bar to listen to a band and suddenly hear perfect harmonies from the crowd?  Don't be surprised if you turn around and see Kathleen and Sherry.  No, really.  They can't help themselves.

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Both combinations are driven by audience requests and adapt quickly to the environment to create a lively and interactive musical experience.