Katie Whitney and The Draw is one of the hottest groups on the scene in Southeast Texas
headlining local festivals and opening for top national acts including Tracy Byrd, Easton
Corbin, The Bellamy Brothers, Aaron Watson, Zane Williams, Cory Morrow, Stoney Larue, blues legend Barbara Lynn, Grammy Award Winner Jo El Sonnier, and Bri Bagwell. Katie and the boys have entertained huge crowds at The Texas Rice Festival and Frogfest, headlined The Village Creek Festival and Lobsterfest, and have played countless galas and benefits including, The Baptist Hospital La Soiree Gala, Beaumont Children's Museum Benefit, Habitat for Humanity Benefit, Taste of the Triangle, and Stark Museum Benefit. Katie is also a regularly scheduled performer at Lauberge Du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles. The band's repertoire includes classic rock, blues, and country
as well as a growing body of original music. Katie and the guys released their first EP GET OVER IT in 2013 which is
available on ITUNES. Recently, the band released two singles, GOOD MEXICO, and RAGIN LOVE, also available on ITUNES.
KATIE WHITNEY (CELLI)--Vocals:
As story tells it, Katie Whitney was singing before she could speak. She
grew up in a vibrant musical family in Oklahoma
entertaining her friends in the elementary school yard, her congregation at
church and audiences who attended her show choir concerts in High School. Her
mother, Robyn, was in the music business from the time Katie was 6 years old and
eventually moved the family to Nashville,
Tennessee. Growing up in Nashville, Katie
experienced all the “ins” and “outs” of the music world. Moving back to Beaumont, Katie took time off
from music to focus on her education and graduated from Lamar University
with a Business Degree but music was never far from her heart. In 2009 she renewed her love and
passion for singing by sitting in with local bands. In 2010, Katie Whitney
& The Draw was formed and they haven’t stopped jamming since. In 2013, Katie married Frank Celli who serves as sound engineer for the band and is a major contributor to the original songs the band performs.
JOEY BREAUX—Guitar, Vocals: Joey began playing guitar at age twelve and
was soon jamming with other area musicians including Mark Chesnutt, packing
local clubs much to the chagrin of area law enforcement. In 2003, Joey and Chip, friends since high
school, formed The ACME Bar Band which became a favorite at local clubs. Joey loves Led Zepplin and Thin Lizzy and is
running out of room to store his collection of vintage Fender Amps.
JOSH CRAWFORD—Guitar:
Josh grew up in a musical family and cut his teeth with pickup bands in
the jazz and blues clubs of Houston. After studying jazz and acoustic guitar, Josh
took up lead guitar duties for Shotgun and the Bayou Dogs, and The Ronnie
Bennett Band. His influences include
Amon Tobin, The Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd.
CHIP RADFORD—Keyboards, Vocals: Chip became fascinated by synthesizers at an
early age and studied music at The University of the South by day while playing
keyboards in frat houses at night. In
1988 he released his first album Images with Into the Night. Moving back to Southeast
Texas, Chip gigged extensively and released his second album, Evesdreams
with Shotgun Mickey in 2000. He has performed
with Roger Daltry (The Who), Cheap Trick, and Bruce Kulick (Kiss, Grand Funk
Railroad) and has recorded with Nick Catanese (Black Label Society), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) and Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osborne). He cites YES, Rush, Saga, and ELP as major influences, and collects vintage keyboards.
MICKEY ROUSE—Bass Player Emeritus: For over fifty years, Mickey Rouse has been
holding the groove in clubs from Austin to New Orleans. "I'm
going till I can't go any longer." Mickey claims proudly. He has played
with Jerry LaCroix, Johnny and Edgar Winter, the Boogie Kings, swamp rocker
Charles Mann, Bobby Kimble (Toto), Jivin' Gene,
Johnny Preston, Glenn Wells, and has opened for the likes of Stevie Ray
Vaughan, The Pointer Sisters, Cookie and the Cupcakes, John Fred and the Playboys, Major Lance, and Roy Head, just to name a few.
ROD SAVELL—Drums: Rod
picked up his first set of drum stick at age ten and never put them down. After a stint as a session musician, Rod toured extensively across the country with a number
of bands opening for such acts as ZZ Top, Savoy Brown, and Trapeze. Rod also performed at the Texas World Music Festival opening for Billy Thorpe, Bob Welch, The Little River Band, Steve Miller, and Fleetwood Mac.