UPHILL

Chris Palestrant
Chris has been playing at the keys since he could reach them. He was raised in New York City both listening to and
passionate about "any type of music where I can hear the musicianship" from Bach to the Beatles to music from Bali.
Chris earned a doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and teaches music
theory and composition at Elizabeth City State University.

He regularly sneaks out to coffee houses to play and sing "Boogie, Ballads and Broadway" as a solo act. He is thrilled
to be a part of UPHILL, preaching the blues, playing with Musicians Who Mean It (MWMI, join your local chapter
today!), and to be "bashing away at the IV." (Go ahead, ask him. He'll tell you. Probably even explain what that means,
with diagrams.) So check out The Doc at our next gig to hear him assault the 88's and sing!

Tim Orton
Tim first got into music as a teenager in the 60s, in England, when he played lead guitar in a rock and roll band at
high school, playing songs by Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Hollies, and many others. In the early Seventies, he
spent several years studying the Classical guitar in England, Chicago, and New Jersey.

Early in 2005 he discovered his love for the bass. Eager to express his new-found sound, he joined The Rhythm Flys
with Jimmy Simmons and Mickey Corbel. Finally, in November, 2005, he met up with Deacon Blues and together
they formed UPHILL).

Isaiah Hunter
Isaiah started his musical journey during Middle School, where he first learned the basics of percussion and symphonic
style music. During High School, he became addicted to music when he was introduced to marching band and drum
set playing.

While attending college, he became more interested in the smaller band gig scene and in due course joined "UPHILL".
His famous influences are Stewart Copeland, John Dolmayan, and Carter Beauford. But most important to him are the
local drummers from whom he has learned the most.

Adam Nixon, a.k.a. "Deacon Blues", is a North Carolina native. His father being a pastor, he spent much of his formative
years in the church. Musically, he was brought up in the traditions of country and southern gospel. His initial desire to
play guitar was simply for accompanying his voice and writing songs. Since then his playing has taken on a voice all its
own. After a brief flirtation with playing country music, he was introduced to the blues. That was the beginning of the
journey that has led him to where he is today, and ultimately who he is; a journeyman.

Today, UPHILL is the home of the Deacon. Though he is not defined by the narrow definition that many purists accept as
"blues," he does have a definition for himself. As to what that is, well, let me let him tell you. "I consider myself a
journeyman, a journeyman for a new age. The blues is in me, and I'm not out there playing them just because I want to,
or I think it's some "cool" thing to do. I do not have a choice. I HAVE to play these blues. They're just too strong for me
NOT to play them. I love playing all forms of blues and blues-related music, and I'm glad that I get to play them with
these guys. "

As for the next chapter, only time will tell. But one thing is certain; that no matter what, the blues will keep flowing
though his veins and out into the world, so be prepared!