Red House
Five highly skilled Northwest-based musicians and singers—veterans of the groove—playing blues, R&B, soul, and funk. Their repertoire blends tight covers with original songs. Since forming, Red House has appeared at the Mt. Baker R&B Festival, Sunbanks R&B Festival, North Bend Blues Walk, Snohomish Taste of Music, International Blues Challenge Finals, Washington Blues Society Blues Bash & Awards, Indigenous Cultures Day at the EMP Museum, and the Lincoln Theater (opening for national acts including Coco Montoya), along with numerous clubs and venues throughout the Puget Sound region.
Robin Crane – Drums, Vocals, Songwriter: Robin first played with Mark in the 1970s club band Glory, then continued with local groups including Sluggo, Shirley Lorrene, Jeff Simmons (Frank Zappa), Epicentre, and Clear Logic. In California he worked with session guitarist/producer Louie Shelton (Seals & Crofts) and opened for Cold Blood, The Grass Roots, and Larry Graham. Returning to Seattle, he co-founded the blues/rock band Pale Men (nominated for Washington Blues Society Best New Blues Band) and later joined the Dick Powell Band.
W. Michael Jaap (Doctor Jop) – Keyboards, Vocals: A lifelong Northwest musician known as a “musician’s musician,” Doctor Jop has worked across studios, cruise lines, churches, concert and club stages, and USO/DOD tours for more than five decades. As a pianist, keyboardist, percussionist, and bassist he has performed and recorded with blues and R&B greats including B.B. King, James Brown, Al Jarreau, The Temptations, and Elvin Bishop, as well as jazz artists such as Bud Shank, George Benson, Ernie Watts, Larry Coryell, Eddie Harris, and Stanley Turrentine. In recent years he has also taught K–12, college jazz bands, improvisation, and private students.
Mark Noftsger – Guitar, Songwriter: Mark began with Tim and Robin in Glory, then played with Robin in the band Sluggo. After moving to Hawaii he formed an R&B/soul horn band that opened for Seawind and Tina Turner. Back in Seattle he worked with local groups including News and Transit before reuniting with Robin in Pale Men (later the Dick Powell Band). The group performed at clubs and festivals including Bumbershoot and earned a Washington Blues Society Best New Blues Band nomination. Mark most recently appeared as featured soloist with the Curtis Hammond Band.
Jon Bayless – Bass, Vocals: In the 1980s Jon was an active R&B and gospel bassist in Minneapolis, including television appearances with recording artist J.D. Steele and the glam-funk band Sister Max. After relocating to Seattle he played with cover and original acts such as Orphan, Who Found Who, Boy Toy, and Impact Records artist Gregg Tripp, then joined the funk powerhouse Soul Kiss and Loosegroove artist Elaine Summers. From 1995 to 1999 he toured with Ann Wilson/Heart, appearing on VH1 and The Tonight Show. He was also a member of the Blues Society award-winning Americana band Toast, contributed to the Almost Famous soundtrack (as Stillwater), and helped found the Seattle urban funk/R&B bands 7 Deep and Chapter 5 as well as the jazz-funk project Dreamwreck. He continues to perform with regional Americana acts including Fretland and Luke Francis Martin.
John M. Deely – Blues & Chromatic Harmonica, Vocals: John has been a fixture on the greater Seattle club and festival scene since the early 1970s. After a period in his native Texas working with notable musicians at legendary venues, he returned to the Northwest in the 1980s and has remained in demand as both a session player and live sideman. He reunited with longtime friends and former junior-high/high-school bandmates Tim, Robin, and Mark to form Red House. Previous affiliations include the Rocky Hill Band, Ivory Lee Semien, Neto’ Jet, Bonneville Streamliners, Western Electric Show, The Breakers, Bain Blues Band, Back Burner, and The Rent Collectors Blues Band. He has shared stages with national and international artists including Albert Collins, Rocky Hill, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters and Otis Taylor.
