Available!

An All American Emperor, Akarma Records (Italy), Ernie Joseph's first solo album is currently available on CD and vinyl at Music Stack!

Ernie Featured in Shindig! Magazine

Over the past few months, Ernie and I have been communicating with Austin Matthews, a journalist with Shindig! Magazine, which is published each month in the United Kingdom. The happy outcome of all of the emails and interviews is a great article about Ernie and his thoughts on Ernie and the Emperors, Giant Crab, Big Brother Ernie Joseph, and the times these great bands were recording and performing.

The current issue, August issue #28, is called the U.S. Psych Special and covers other bands including the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Fallen Angels, and Clear Light, and also give a list, 50 U.S. Psych Albums You Need to Hear.

To read this exciting issue, and to become a subscriber, please follow this link. Below are other important links that you may like to visit.

• Shindig! Magazine's Blog
• Shindig! Magazine's Facebook page

Ernie on Success

Mary Jane

Here's a great video of the Giant Crab's song, "Mary Jane", featuring Ernie on vocals. Thanks to Johnny Podz and Karen Perry!

Happy Birthday Big Brother Ernie!

Steve Dunwoodie (1950-2011)

(April 22, 1950 - January 1, 2011)

Fans of Big Brother Ernie Joseph are saddened to hear the news of the passing of the band's drummer, Steve ("Stevie D") Dunwoodie. Steve passed away at Renown Medical Center on New Years Day, 2011.

Steve was a kindhearted and loving father who also had more than just a knack for playing drums. To everyone who knew him, he was the best in the business.

After  touring the southern United States in 1969 and 70 with Big Brother Ernie Joseph, Steve eventually decided to settle down with a wife and family while pursuing a career in warehousing.

Ernie remembers Steve as a charismatic, tireless performer who left the audience screaming.

"Steve's energy pumped up the whole band to do better, beyond our capability."
(Ernie Joseph)

Known for his vibrant solos during which he played with his sticks on fire, Steve set the energetic pace for all of Big Brother's shows.

"We first met Steve when his band, Jonathon Goodlife, did a show with us at Lake Tahoe, California. We were totally impressed with his drumming and showmanship. He joined us for the Southeast Tour with the Big Brother Ernie Joseph band. Steve was a superstar team player, really a stand-out drummer. Steve would take-off on the song ESP with a 20-minute drum solo, where he would play, then play with his hands, then walk off the drum set still playing with his sticks. Then he would tap on the mic and his body and "sing" drum parts. He would then get the crowd chanting repeatedly, "Peace now! Peace now!" He would finish his drum solo playing with his sticks on fire and, incredibly, he made his magic happen consistently every performance.  Like everytime he got the ball, like a superstar football player, he would take it all the way to score big time. Steve was amazing with his contagious non-stop positive energy and his drive and determination. We all did our part, but Steve's energy took us to another level. He really made us a complete concert act, and the crowds loved it!" (Brian Faith)

Steve fell ill in December of 2010 and spent his final weeks surrounded by family and friends.

"Makin' It" Official Poster

Visit the film's website

"Makin' It" - A Rocumentary

This summer, the Orosco brothers (Ernie and The Emperors/Giant Crab/Brian Faith Band) have been involved in the making of a rocumentary about their lives and music. The filmmakers, LilliMar Pictures (Sitting Bull: A Stone in My Heart and Contrary Warrior: The Life and Times of Adam Fortunate Eagle) have reached the post-production phase of this film and I for one am terribly excited about it!

Makin' It
A Rocumentary

On a troop ship in Guadalcanal a young man, fearing that he, like so many of his buddies, would die in this terrifying and bloody war uttered one prayer: "Lord, I want to live, I want to go home, I want to get married and have three sons, I want them to be musicians." Joseph Orosco's prayer was answered. He came home, married a wonderful girl and they did have three sons. Ernie, Cory and Brian.

Ernie was at Santa Barbara Junior High School when he started singing and playing. He joined the Cordells and soon formed his own band The Emperors. Cory and Brian grew and also became proficient in their instruments, they joined their big brother Ernie and the band became "Ernie and the Emperors." This was probably one the earliest Rock 'n Roll bands on the Central Coast. This was a time when only single artists were on the bill. The Orosco brothers witnessed the birth of Rock 'n Roll and were willing participants in helping this new style of music flourish and grow. 

In the years they have performed together, they have met and played with the great and near-great. They have toured in a van, a pickup truck with a camper and trailer and, finally, a tour bus. In between gigs they formed a recording studio where countless young musicians came to practice, record, and get encouragement and advice from the brothers.