Formed in 2006 by two top Detroit musicians, Leo Rea, a trumpeter, and Vaughan Klugh, a guitarist, the ReaDeal Band began rehearsing with 6 players and quickly grew to a full sized 17 piece big band with 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and a rhythm section including piano, bass, drums, and guitar. Their first opportunity to play in public was at Bert’s Marketplace in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, where they performed many times with several top Detroit area singers, including Gary Sacco and Joan Crawford. The band continued to perform at many venues in the metro area including clubs & outdoor park concerts.
With the passing of Leo Rea in 2012, the band members decided to continue playing the fine book of arrangemnts that Leo had assembled and began rehearsing at the Birmingham Unitarian Church in Bloomfield Hills, under the leadership first, of Wally Fitz, and later, John Hammer. The band is now basically a rehearsal band, playing in public only once a year or so at a benefit concert at the church. We’re pleased and honored to be performing at Cliff Bell’s this next May 13.