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Bio

Mitch Woods is a seasoned blues and boogie-woogie pianist whose dynamic sound has earned him a place in the hearts of music lovers worldwide. For over three decades, Woods and his band, The Rocket 88s, have been torchbearers of a great American musical tradition, mixing early jump blues, rhythm & blues, and New Orleans-inspired rhythms into their unique rock-a-boogie style. Drawing influence from legends like Louis Jordan, Professor Longhair, and Fats Domino, Woods blends raw energy with sophisticated piano playing, creating a sound that feels timeless yet fresh.

Born in Brooklyn in 1951, Mitch’s musical journey began early. By the age of eight, he was introduced to boogie-woogie piano, sparking a lifelong love for the genre. His teenage years in Greenwich Village immersed him in a world of jazz and blues, where he honed his skills as both a pianist and bandleader. Moving to San Francisco in the early ’70s, Mitch formed Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s, eventually becoming a fixture on the Northern California club scene. The band’s energetic performances and Woods’ piano prowess quickly earned them widespread acclaim.

Woods’ music reflects his deep passion for the roots of American music, and his influence stretches far beyond the blues scene. Over the years, he’s performed at prestigious festivals across the globe, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, and has shared the stage with some of the genre’s greats. Whether through his powerful piano solos, soulful vocals, or vibrant live shows, Mitch Woods continues to be a driving force in keeping the spirit of classic American music alive and relevant today.

Booking Information

Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88s are available for private parties, corporate events, concerts, festivals and clubs. We will be glad to talk to you about customizing the band for your event requirements, from solo to big band.

Bookings & Questions to Mitch Woods:
Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s
P.O. Box 545
Mill Valley, CA 94942
Mobile: (415) 606-1882

e-mail: info@mitchwoods.com

Photos

All images below are high-resolution images and available for download.
To Download: click the thumbnail to view a larger version, right click this larger version and select ‘Save Image As’. You may then select the folder where you’d like to save the image to and proceed normally from there.

Musician Mitch Woods and his 1953 Cadillac

Reviews

“It’s not easy to play that Professor Longhair piano lick – those rippling rumba triplets in the right hand against a driving, eight-to-the-bar boogie in the left – but San Francisco’s Mitch Woods plays it as well as anyone outside New Orleans ever has… This may be complicated music to play, but it’s very easy music to hear. There’s something about the syncopated bounce of boogie-woogie that lifts one’s spirits even as it shifts one’s shoulders and hips.”
— Geoffrey Himes, Washington Post

“Mitch Woods…give heart and soul to jump blues… Woods sings with smooth ebullience and hammers the piano keys with the unchecked gaiety of mentors Professor Longhair and Amos Milburn.”
— Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat

“One of the top boogie/blues piano men around…”
— Dan Aquilante, NY Post

“’Keeper Of The Flame has to be one of the most uplifting recordings to have vibrated my woofers in a long time…it’s like witnessing one of those breathtaking moments of music where the unspoken communication and the resulting musical dialogue can raise a goose bump or two. .It has the power to charm and to entertain the power to inspire and to motivate. …Definitely do not miss out.”
— Maureen DelGrosso, Blues Revue

“Your music was great as always! That last set I thought the floor was going to cave in so many people were really dancing their hearts out. You added a great spirit to the evening and everyone enjoyed your music so very much. Thank you and thank you again.”
— Charlene Telford-Tims, Event Chair, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Discography

Steady Date with Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s (1984) – Blind Pig

Mr. Boogie’s Back in Town (1988) – Blind Pig

Solid Gold Cadillac (1991) – Blind Pig

Shakin’ the Shack (1993) – Blind Pig

Keeper of the Flame (1996) – Lightyear

Jump for Joy! (2001) – Blind Pig

Big Easy Boogie (2006) – Club 88 Records

Jukebox Drive (2008) – El Toro

Gumbo Blues (2010) – Club 88 / Vizztone

Blues Beyond Borders, Live in Istanbul (2012) – Club 88 Records / Vizztone

Jammin’ On The High C’s (2015) – Club 88 Records

A Tip of the Hat to Fats- live @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2019) – Club 88 Records

Friends Along the Way Deluxe Edition (2023) – Club 88 Records

Promote a Live Date

We encourage you to download either of the two 8.5″ x 11″ PDFs to display at your venue. There’s room at the bottom to fill in the details of dates and times. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help make the show a success.

Click on the image to open a PDF for download in a new tab.

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Bands in Town

A Night in New Orleans

Mitch Woods