The Lotus Kings

 The Lotus Kings feature 7-time Grammy winner Paul Wertico, Steven Kikoen, & Cecy Santana.  The Lotus Kings is truly a labor of love for Deacon Blues founder and guitarist Steven Kikoen. Being one of his earliest influences, Kikoen’s discovery of Carlos Santana in his teens changed the path of his musical direction dramatically. With such a strong connection to the sound, the sustain, and the phrasing of Santana’s work, fused with the innovative joining of Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms to rock, funk, and later jazz–the stage was set for the future award-winning guitarist, music educator and impresario. Today, a quantum leap later and after the success of Deacon Productions’ first two All-Star bands (Deacon Blues: The All-Star Grammy® Tribute to Steely Dan and BIG SUIT: An All-Star Tribute To Talking Heads) Kikoen has returned to his earliest roots and rediscovered Santana while reinventing his music–not unlike what Clive Davis did for Maestro Santana back in 1999 with Supernatural. Taking a cue from Davis, and in the true ‘Deacon’ form of using only the leading, preeminent musicians Chicago has to offer, Kikoen’s aim was to create an All-Star tribute devoted to honoring the copious and prolific Santana repertoire–while capturing the innate mystique and the unique vibe of adding a Brazilian take to the Santana experience. The All-Star Lotus Kings collective includes guitarist Steven Kikoen (Deacon Blues, BIG SUIT, River North Allstars, The Deacons); Brazilian vocalist Cecy Santana (Cecy Santana Band); master congero Joe Rendon (Chevere, Joe Rendon & Friends); virtuoso keyboardist Ben Lewis (Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band), Iconic bassists Richard Patterson (Miles Davis, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald); Chuck Webb (Deacon Blues, Al Di Meola, Aretha Franklin), and Wally Hustin (Deacon Blues, Dave Mason, Phoebe Snow, Mike Stern); 7-time Grammy winning drummer Paul Wertico (Deacon Blues, Pat Metheny Group, Wertico, Cain, & Grey) and drummer Ben ‘Jammin’ Johnson; premier timbalero Jaime Claudio, and award-winning percussionist Janet Cramer. Musical Direction and Vision by Steven Kikoen & Joe Rendon. The Lotus Kings have their debut original album OBRIGADA set for a 2019 Release. As Carlos would say …“Be Ready to Rearrange the Molecules with The Light”… as The Lotus Kings prepare to transport you into the mystical and magical world of SANTANA. In the words of another famous band …“A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All!” 

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