Gus Harless
Gus Harless was born in Phoenix, Arizona to a musical family and bagan playing music at the age of eleven. Taking drum lessons from the great Chico Chism, Howlin wolf's last drummer. The son of Joe Harless, inventor of the Shaker Microphone line, a blues lover & musician. Raised in the music business, early on coming into contact with many great musicans. One that stands out as a profound influence is soul brother "Walkin' Cane Mark" a truly great performer and true mentor.
In 1993 the Harless family moved to Payson, AZ, opened Shaker Music, started the June Bug Blues Festival and instituted what became known as Shakey's Joe's Songwriters Cafe. It was at this weekly gathering of musicians, songwriters, poets, and music lovers in which Gus bagan shaping his craft. By age fifteen he was writing and performing original music every Friday night. At age seventeen a local resort, Kohl's Ranch in the White Mountains of Arizona, made Gus a weekly fixture as a solo act, through most 1999.
The Phoenix Blues Society was really great and very active having many competitions. During this time Gus competed at the Blues showdown two years as a solo act and one year as "Smoke Dogs", with drummer T. Riemersma. In 2000 he formed "The Backseat Howlers", a wah soaked blues & rock power trio with Jim and Nathan Haapala. Playing the Route 66 Days celebration, Cooper's Town AZ, and the 2001 June Bug Blues festival, amongst other venues in Arizona.
During the winter of 2000 Gus went to Amsterdam playing a three night gig at the Cannabis Cafe DE KUIL. He was than featured on thier local TV station.
In 2003 Gus took guitar in hand and hit the streets of Helena, AR for the King Biscut Blues Festival, playing the same streets as blues idols Sonny Boy, Frank Frost, and Howlin Wolf had played in the 40's and 50's. Later that year the Shaker Microphone Company relocated to northern Arkansas and Gus has been working through the summers in Alaska as a concrete finisher and through the winters in Arkansas building microphones and recording. In 2005 Gus was booked at the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival in Alaska.
For the last four years Gus has been working & recording in Arizona, Alaska, and Arkansas packing his portable studio wherever he goes. The recently released album, Through Windows, was mostly recorded during this time.