We have had five Gigmaster stars, five active bands and are rated number one in the Gigmasters roster for four consecutive years thanks to raving client reviews:
1. John 'Raddy' Lowery as soloist
2. Jazz Ensemble (Raddy & The Cats) - Trio/Quartet/Quintet or more
3. Raddy's Authentic New Orleans Second Line Band
4. Latin Band 'CaliClave'
5. The Wedding Band (9-12 piece)
Grammy nominee John "Raddy" Lowery has performed with such artists as Mose Allison, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Aaron Neville, Ernie K-Doe (World Fair 1984), Jimmy Smith, and New Orleans legends such as Prof. Longhair, Deacon John, Gary Brown, Devell Crawford, Thomas Jefferson, Marva Wright, Germaine Basil, George French, among many other New Orleans musicians.
"Raddy" was signed to the A&M record label for two years and nominated for the Grammy Avant Garde Album of the Year in 1976 with "Symphonic Slam", time during which he did extensive travel abroad. Over his 40 years of experience, "Raddy" has demonstrated to be a strong and versatile vocalist and Latin percussionist. His songs are registered in the Library of Congress. Before Katrina, he performed regularly with the Jazz Cats in New Orleans. Not only a versatile performer, he currently teaches privately in his studio.
John attended the Joy Bill School of Music, Los Angeles for three years under the guidance of Billy More. He graduated from Musician's Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA in 1987 were he later became a summer instructor. Since his relocation to the DC metro area in 2005 "Raddy" became a full time Music "Straight A" Dean's List student in Montgomery College. During Fall '05 he performed in the MC Arts Star Awards in the AFI Silver Theatre (with the Soulutions of the MC World Ensemble and the Sweetbriar Jazz group under the leadership of Roger Coleman) and the MC Jazz Ensemble in the Performing Arts Center. In Spring '06 he participated in the 15th East Coast Jazz Festival 2006, performed Mozart's Requiem with the MC Chorus, and was the vocalist with the MC Jazz Band in "Fly me to the moon". In Fall '06, Raddy & The Cats was showcased in the Dec 5th Jazz Concert organized by Prof. Alvin Trask in Montgomery College; his Jazz Ensemble Raddy & The Cats collaborated in an institutional Christmas CD '06 sponsored by the Office of Institutional Advancement of Montgomery College, produced by Marcus Johnson's Three Keys Music Studio. By the end of 2006, based on his academic and professional achievements The Katrina Fund Relief from Montgomery College awarded John with a year-long full tuition scholarship. In Spring '07 due to his academic accomplishments, he obtained the Dr. Harry Harden Jr. award for Black African-American students in Montgomery and was showcased by the MC Alumni Association for their Annual Dinner Gala, as well as for the MC President's Gala. In Summer '08 Raddy's bands were showcased in the Little Yough Summer Music Festival. In Spring '09 he participated in several Presidential inaugural gala events in DC; performing with Charmaine Neville in Snug Harbor in New Orleans; as main vocalist for the National Association of Realtors HOPE '09 awards and traveled to the Austria (Eisendtadt and Bruck on de Mer) with Jerry Embree and 'The Flavors of New Orleans' to perform at various European restaurants and outdoor festivals.
His engagement calendar usually includes weddings, commencements, bar mitzvahs, gala balls and corporate parties at premier locations such as the Mount Vernon, Grand Hyatt, Hay Adams rooftop, Nationals Stadium, National Museum of the Marine Corps and National Building Museum in the DC metro area, as well as many historic venues around Alexandria, VA and Baltimore, MD among many others.
His self-produced CD "Re-Creation" was financed by the company of which he is co-founder and Managing Director, Raddy International LLC, which has been a platform for the creation of at least 5 different bands: "Raddy" as Jazz Soloist, Raddy & The Cats Jazz Ensemble, Raddy's Authentic New Orleans Second Line Band, The Wedding Band (10/12-piece band), and 'CaliClave' (Latin band). He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496 and the Washington Area Music Association. Even though he frequently travels to New Orleans, he lives with his family in Derwood, Maryland with his wife Dr. Maria Trujillo-Lowery, co-founder and Managing Director of the same company.