About
The Otis Kry Band
Otis Kry, a prolific songwriter with hundreds of original songs, has produced a number of original studio releases and albums over the last few decades. His desire to perform them live has resulted in the assemblance of a handful of creative music collaborators to breathe old experience and new life into their creations.
Never has the music sounded sweeter.
This “performance ready” transition of the songs and show that make up The Otis Kry Band has taken a long time to form and get all the right pieces together to create this exciting new live project.
"I am truly thankful for all these special people." - Otis Kry.
Otis - Vocals & guitar
Otis Kry is a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for writing songs, almost daily.
A product of the 60's Otis Kry played with the “Back Street Carnival” in the years of 67 – 68. From Prince Rupert he moved to Kamloops B.C. And ended up playing with “Wickram Stew” and “The Brody Blues Band.”
Then fast forward through marriage and raising a family to the year 2000.
He was playing bass for another Blues Band, “Bad Credit” when “Rough Edges” found him, and he played with them until 2006.
He went on to form his own band “Brick Yard” and in 2010 Otis formed yet another cover band called, “TOAD.”
After two years of playing with TOAD he wanted to get his own music heard by the masses and went into “Marpole Studio's” in Langley, B.C. to record his third album “From The Deep.” The album was produced by long time friend Rob Begg. He is heard on countless online Radio Stations in Canada and throughout the world and is a favorite with many DJ's. He has fans as far away as Europe.
Since 2016 when the album was released, Otis Kry has performed with “Stage Fright” and appeared with such artists as “Clive Barrett.”
Art - Lead guitar
A singer songwriter in his own right, Art scatters a few of his originals into Otis’s show that adds an interesting shift in focus. He is also responsible for adding most of the stunning lead guitar riffs around Otis’s rhythm guitar.
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Art has toured with a number of bands throughout BC and all over Canada in numerous bands including “The Rand”, “Daily Planet” and “Walker’s Road”. He has also spent many hours in studios recording Albums and CD’s, and back room songwriter compilation sessions.
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Art’s early training in Conservative Piano introduced him to music theory and scales which he would later apply to a much more portable instrument. His parents insisted he reach a certain Conservacy piano level before he could switch to the guitar.
He still enjoys writing, recording and playing guitar with the ‘Otis Kry Band’.
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Art brings a significant amount of road and performance experience to the Otis Kry Band, as well as cleverly crafted lead guitar riffs that speak of decades of creativity and expression. A singer songwriter in his own right, he has played all over Canada
After the touring years he taught guitar and bass at the Sound of Music for 10 years.
Mark Ardley - Keys & Harmonicas
Introduced to music in the early 1960’s with preschool piano lessons, it became part of his DNA.
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Owner of LittleHorse Music Studios and LittleHorse Entertainment, he has spent decades promoting and developing bands and operating as a booking agent for several venues in the Lower Mainland. Known as a “Live Music Ambassador” he develops win/win situations for audiences, bands, venues, and supportive agencies. He manages and promotes the band.
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Raised as a keyboardist, he later added the harmonica when arthritis started to suggest a short rest every half hour.
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He has previously played with local bands like, “Thin Line”, “Cinnamon Skwerl”, “Platinum Blue”, and two of Otis’s bands “Toad” and now “The Otis Kry Band
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Mark and Otis used to play together in a band called "Toad" and he has been instrumental in helping get "The Otis Kry Band" out of his LittleHorse Studio in Langley BC, and out on the stage.
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Johan - Bass guitar
On double bass and electric bass, Johan brings a wide scope of experience in many different styles of music.
His big band jazz experience includes The Night Band at Douglas College, The Moonlighters in Abbotsford, The Urbana Jazz Ensemble in Vancouver and The Other Big Band in White Rock.
Some of his small group jazz and rock experiences in the lower mainland are with Lloyd Bates, The Nelson Boschman Trio, The Bottom Line, Groovedaddy, Horizon, Lee and Rankin, Now's The Time and Linda Szentes & Jazzlinks.
As well as these groups, Johan enjoys working in many other styles of music including blues, rhythm & blues, country, folk and classical such as:
In Vancouver, he loved playing in Big City Soul and Feelin’ Alright a Joe Cocker tribute, while in Abbotsford and Mission his various country and folk experiences include past work with groups such as Texas Gait, Blue Magnolia and JD Miner.
In a classical vein, he has enjoyed 20 seasons playing in the bass sections of The Fraser Valley Symphony in Abbotsford and The Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra in Chilliwack.
On the 'Broadway' end of things, he's played in the orchestras for The Fraser Valley Stage productions of Iolanthe and two productions of The Starlight Radio Theatre Hour. With Secondary Character's productions he's played in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, “Oklahoma!” and The Wizard of Oz.
He is an alumnus of the Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Hugh Fraser’s International Jazz Orchestra and Capilano University in North Vancouver where he had the privilege of studying with André Lachance, Chris Tarry, Torbin Oxbol and David Brown.
Robert - Percussion
“Music is like a universal language. We can all participate.”
Robert has always loved music and at 12 years old he joined his first band, which his mom and her friends had.
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Robert gained extensive experience in playing both drums and saxophone (not necessarily at the same time) by playing in several local Lower Mainland bands in his teens and during his long career as a firefighter. Bands like "Gordon Edmons Jazz Trio" and the "Gibson & Gretsch Jazz Band" and a number of other Blues, Classic Rock and Jazz weekend bands.
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With a Jazz, Classic Rock and Blues background, Robert is known to occasionally throw in a little spice into the foundation. Now retired, with 3 grown kids and 6 grandchildren, he has a bit more time to contribute his vast experience by keeping the band’s engine finely tuned.