Walter Trout was born in Ocean City, New Jersey in 1951. He started playing clubs in the late 60's. He played with artists such as Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked in the bands of John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex. In the 80's he joined Canned Heat and later hooked up with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He formed his current band, Walter Trout and the Radicals in the late 90's.

Mike Zito grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He decided he wanted to play guitar after receiving a Van Halen record for his 6th birthday. At 19, he hit the local St Louis music scene and released his first album "Blue Room" in 1996. He currently is signed as an artist with the Delta Groove label.

Catching either of these blues slingers in concert is cool, Seeing them together for one intimate and up-close concert was a genuine treat. Walter makes an extremely rare small venue appearance once a year for the Blues Down Under Concerts in Springfield. Zito started out the event and played a smoking hour and a half set. After a short break Walter Trout hit the stage and lit up the place with his signature style of red hot blues. Toward the end Walter invited Mike back up on stage and the two stood there exchanging guitar licks in a six string shootout. What an incredible evening of music this turned out to be.