In the early nineties Taj Mahal recruited some musicians to become his backing band. That’s the way the Phantom Blues Band was born. After working a good number of years with Mahal, the Phantoms decided to carry out their own project, they combined with their career as the master’s backing band, releasing their first album as Phantom Blues Band “Out Of The Shadows” in 2006.

The band included Mike Finnigan on vocals and keyboards, Joe Sublett on sax, Darrell Leonard on trumpet, Johnny Lee Schell on guitar and vocals, Larry Fulcher on bass and vocals and Tony Braunagel on drums. Over the years they have been requested to back artists like Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Robert Cray, Eric Burdon or Bob Marley, besides working independently as Phantom Blues Band.

In 2020 Mike Finnigan was diagnosed with cancer and had to stop to play professionally, so the group has recruited Jim Pugh on keyboards while vocals are shared between Johnny Lee Schell and Larry Fulcher. With this line-up they have recorded this album as a tribute to their colleague and friend Mike, where among others they have also counted with the special collaboration of Ruthie Foster, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Salgado or even the late Mike Finnegan in one song. Proceeds from the album sales will be donated to the Mike Finnigan School of Music in Salina, Kansas.

Twelve excellent vibrant powerful songs give shape to a splendid impressive album in all aspects, with an amazing musical quality from the beginning to the end and a faultless final production that will immediately catch listeners.