The year was 1977 and Rock & Roll was reaching its zenith. In the small North Georgia town of Chickamauga, Randy Johnston and Larry Hilburn were performing with one of the most popular bands in the area, while at the same time; Kenny Malone and Terry Holbrook were burning-up the stage with another hot band. When these four kindred spirits met, they instinctively knew that together they had something special. Needing keyboards to energize their sound, they looked no further than Chattanooga’s well-known musician, Ralph Herman and the super-band called BLAZE was forged.

BLAZE became a fitting name as they began burning-down-the-house at every seat-filled venue. With the driving rhythms of Malone and Holbrook, the flawless keyboards of Herman and the smoking guitar of Johnston, the music created a thundering firestorm for Hilburn’s soaring vocals. Their dedication to detail in every rehearsal quickly set them apart from the others and ignited a BLAZE throughout Chattanooga.

Before long, BLAZE became the opening act for many recording Artists and Headliners and soon became known as “The Kings of the Cover Bands.” The hot news about BLAZE spread quickly and they signed with the top booking agency in the south, Century Artists of Atlanta. They began touring and setting the Southeast on fire, becoming the top draw on CAA’s talent roster.

During their time on the road, the boys were writing original songs and performing them along with their cover tunes. The response was wonderful and fueled their passion to begin recording, but as is common, life on the road was taking its toll. Bill Cain of CMC Management Group in North Carolina unsuccessfully pitched BLAZE to different recording labels as the band returned home to reconnect with family and rekindle their energy. The boys began performing five-nights-a-week at a local hot spot until life and financial responsibilities temporarily extinguished the BLAZE.

Going their separate ways, the boys each continued to hone their skills and performed with and opened for many great recording artists over the years. Like burning embers, the cheering crowds, stomping feet and shouts of “more, more, more” still echoed in their heads.

FAST FORWARD 23 YEARS to one of the largest music festivals in America, Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival 2005... and back by popular demand, BLAZE reunites and they are still burning-up the stage. The veteran rockers are now hotter than ever, proving that great Rock & Roll never dies.