KING LOUIE & ANDY STOKES
Andy Stokes is a Northwest singing legend—inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame not once but twice! He’s earned the moniker “The Northwest King of Soul Music.” As fellow NW vocalist Curtis Salgado puts it, “Andy Stokes is one of the best singers anywhere. I think he’s just amazing!”
Andy and Louis first began teaming up during the heyday of Jimmy Mak’s—Portland’s premier blues & jazz venue for two decades. At first, beginning in 2006, Louis featured Andy along with other standout vocalists in his “Portland Soul All-Stars” shows (both at Jimmy Mak's and at the Waterfront Blues Festival). Those gigs were heartfelt tributes to soul music legends Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Etta James, and others on their passing. Later, Andy & Louis began co-producing “Andy Stokes Sings…” shows, which were celebrations of the lives & music of some of Andy's personal favorites, including Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross.
In the years following the close of Jimmy Mak's in 2016, Andy moved north and the two only played the occasional gig together, e.g. at Lake Oswego's Lake Theater. But the dynamic duo reunited in 2024, playing a series of sold out shows with the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group at Portland's Jack London Revue and at Rock & Blues in Ridgefield, WA. Mel's band includes saxophonist Renato Caranto, who played with Andy & Louis on all those soul tribute shows back in the day. A few months following the Jack London & Rock & Brews shows, Louis, Andy, and Renato travelled to Tacoma, WA to perform at The Spars Tavern and at the Dock Street Jazz & Blues Festival. Both times, the audience response was overwhelming! As The Oregonian’s Marty Hughley wrote, “Andy Stokes sings with an earthy intensity that matches the magnetism of his extroverted showmanship on stage!” Add Louis & Renato to the mix, and the excitement goes off the charts!
