About the Band
The Freddie Dixon Blues Band consists of the inimitable Freddie Dixon on bass and vocals, Tom Stober on guitar, Robert Lassandrello on guitar and vocals, Grant Neibergall on drums, and featuring classically trained violinist Judy Lei. The band can play at events ranging from small acoustic performances to larger shows. Popular with multi-generational blues lovers as well as blues newcomers, you can’t keep still when listening to this inspirational soul-moving music.
Freddie Dixon
Band Leader Bass/Vocals
Freddie is the embodiment of the Chicago Blues. The 2nd son of the world-famous 7th Son, Willie Dixon, Freddie has been surrounded by the Blues since the day he was born. His father is a blues legend as a songwriter, producer, and musician. Willie was at the helm at Chess Records for many of the sides cut in the 1950s, 1960s, and into the 1970s.
Freddie began his blues career learning his chops by playing with a number of musicians in south-side blues clubs. He was soon hired to play in his father’s band, The Chicago Blues All-Stars, and traveled around the world spreading the gospel of the blues.
The torch was handed to Freddie in the early 1990s when his father passed away. Since then, Freddie has continued as a blues ambassador playing to crowds from Europe to Australia as well as locally in Chicago. In 2020 Freddie, along with Chicago Blues legends John Watkins and Maurice John Vaughan produced a 2 disc CD called “3×3,” which is available at most on line retail outlets.
Freddie is a member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame and currently resides in Chicago with his wife Linda.
Judy Lei
Violin
Born in China, Judy Lei comes from a family of internationally renowned music composers and authors. Her musical talents emerged at a very early age. At 15, she was awarded first violin position with the Symphony Orchestra of Liao Ning Opera House, later earning a violin performance degree from a top music institution, The Shen Yang Conservatory. Ms. Lei arrived in the United States in 1988 to continue her music studies and share her knowledge. As a music educator, Judy Lei brought her outstanding string program to Chicagoland. For over 25 years, thousands of children have trained under her tutelage.
In her long music career, Ms. Lei views herself not just as a violinist, but as an ambassador who can build connections between music and people’s spirit, bringing different cultural experiences to people of the world. Her powerful performances continue to inspire audiences worldwide.
Since joining the Freddie Dixon Blues Band she has focused her considerable talents on the Blues, quickly becoming a show-stopper at every appearance.
Robert Lassandrello
Guitar/Vocals
Bob realized his life-long dream of being a working musician after meeting up with Freddie Dixon and John Watkins in 2015. Their combined efforts at mentoring him have paid off as he now happily plays and sings, backing up the Blues Legend Freddie Dixon. Other important mentors have been Doktu Rhute Muuzic and Maurice John Vaughan. He would like to extend his heartfelt thanks to these gentlemen as well as all the other blues men and women he has met along the way. Bob is married to Noreen, with 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. He lives in Hinsdale Illinois.
Tom Stober
Guitar
Tom Stober has been interested in music since childhood, trying many instruments before focusing on guitar and bass. An accomplished audio engineer and self-produced artist, his works can be found in short film and documentary media spanning multiple genres.
Tom’s musical approach combines traditional and contemporary Lakota musical forms with his other influences including Classical, Jazz, Blues and Country. Notable mentors and affiliations include Bobby Simms (Rotary Connection), England Dan & John Ford Coley, Tim Holcomb (Nashville singer, songwriter, and dear friend), and Buddy Miles (Hendrix Band of Gypsys).
Tom’s other passion is cultural preservation thru audio production of Lakota Traditional and contemporary music of artists residing in his community on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Grant Neibergall
Drums
According to Freddie, Grant’s drumming is as “solid as the Geneva atomic clock.”
One of the Midwest’s top drummers for over 30 years, Grant Niebergall sets a standard for excellence as a percussionist. His influences range from classical and jazz including pop, folk, and rock, as well as Blues.
In addition to playing with the Freddie Dixon Blues Band, Grant performs with the top Doors tribute band American Prayer. He is also a business owner, owning and operating his multiplex music company in Elliott Grant Drum Shop
