King of the World... After twenty-five years of playing with Harry Muskee, … Read Full Bio ↴King of the World... After twenty-five years of playing with Harry Muskee, the Dutch “John Mayal” who passed away in 2011, guitarist Erwin Java returns with King of the World.

The Dutch guitar hero, who played with acts like Herman Brood, Larry Carlton, Alvin Lee, Jan Akkerman and off course Cuby & the Blizzards, decided to form Holland’s next top blues & roots group. Together with singer/bass player Ruud Weber, known for his work with Snowy White, drummer Fokke de Jong and Hammondplayer Govert van der Kolm, he began writing material for the band in the beginning of 2012. After creating a buzz throughout Holland with their first live shows, they recorded the CD “Can’t go home” which will be released beginning 2013. A big sound that is heavily rooted in the blues, New Orleans, rock, jazz and soul, by four musicians who all played the scene for decades and know their way around their instruments. King of the World, the name refers to a song by the late great John Lee Hooker, is ready to move on the blues and roots into a new century proving that real music played by real musicians will never die.

Erwin Java (1956) started his professional career in 1978 when he co-founded the Dutch rock group “White Honey”. With this group he made 1 album “Some kinda Woman” (1979). In the beginning of 1980 this group fell apart and Erwin joined “Herman Brood's Wild Romance”. There was the promise of a USA-tour, which unfortunately was cancelled because of suspected drug abuse by the band's lead singer. Erwin decided to leave the band early 1981. In the following period Erwin played in several bands like “Blue(s)Kin”, “AA & the Doctors”, “ Second Skin” and “Dutch Concert”. Until 1986 when he was invited to join the “Muskee Gang”. The lead singer of this band was Harry Muskee, also known as “Cuby” from the legendary Dutch blues band “Cuby & the Blizzards”. With this band Erwin made several albums and was touring in Holland and abroad. In 1996 this group ceased to exist and together with Harry “Cuby” Muskee, Erwin started playing in a second edition of “Cuby & the Blizzards”. Not being just another revival band this group started recording new material and was touring from Holland/ Europe to Curacao and even South Africa. In 2009 the group earned their first golden record with “Cats Lost”. There was also a follow-up album scheduled but in September 2011. The band was struck by tragedy because of the death of Harry “Cuby” Muskee.This instantly meant the end of C+B. After a period of contemplation Erwin decided to pick up the pieces. Together with drummer Fokke de Jong, who he had played with in De Drentse Blues Opera, they found bass player/leadsinger Ruud Weber and hammond/keyboard virtuoso Govert van der Kolm to complete a new group: “King of theWorld”. They started gigging in March 2012 and the first CD is to be released in the beginning of 2013. Website: Erwin Java

Fokke de Jong started playing drums at age 10 and after having played in a lot of bands, was asked by the famous Dutch rock group Normaal to be there drummer, when he was doing a job as their support-act. For more than 20 years steady drummer with Normaal and is considered one of Holland’s best blues/roots/rock and roll drummers. He toured and played with David Gogo, Byther Smith, Boo Boo Davis, Catfever, Sunset Travellers, De Kast, Twarres, Shiner Twins, Spanjers en de Jong, Dee Dee Priest, De Drentse Blues Opera and many more. Facebook: Fokke de Jong

Ruud Weber Bass player, singer and songwriter Ruud Weber is known for his work with Snowy White. At a young age the Irish Barry McCabe introduced him to the blues. Together they toured throughout Europe for years and recorded three CD’s under the name Albatross. Over the years he developed the unique combination of singing and playing bass and became the front man in the Snowy White Blues Project and his own Ruud Weber Band. He also backed up artist like Mick Taylor, David Gogo, Nico Wayne Toussaint, Tony Vega and Carl Verheyen. As a songwriter he contributed tracks on two CD’s and one DVD by Snowy White and he’s currently productive writing material for King of the World. In 2011 the Dutch Blues Foundation nominated him “Bass player of the Year”. Website: Ruud Weber

Govert van der Kolm Govert grew up in a musical environment and at the age of 5 years old he already decided to become a musician. Through drums and percussion he eventually settled with piano. From the age of fourteen he actively started giving concerts with a lot of bands. He studied piano, music teacher and hammond organ at the Conservatories of The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. At the age of 20 he was introduced to soul and blues and two years later he started as a sideman for national and international blues artists. Monster Mike Welch and the Backbones was his first big tour. After that first tour many European and American tours followed for Ruf Records. Govert was sideman for Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Candye Kane, Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman, Coco Montoya, Shakura S’aida, Dani Wilde, Roxanne Potvin, Matt Schofield, Dede Priest amongst others. He also does concerts on a regular base with his own trio OrganIcedCrime, Elijah Gospel & Soul Choir and The Rare Groove Orchestra. Facebook: Govert van der Kolm

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