Lisa Otey and the Desert Divas pay tribute to the greatest R&B, jazz and blues Divas of all time! Hurricane Carla, Liz McMahon, Regina the Queen, Diane Van Deurzen, Heather Hardy, and Lisa Otey, backed by Rich Nordenberg and Chip Ritter, will make you want to dance all night long!

Lisa Otey, vocal, piano

Diane Van Deurzen, vocal

Regina “the Queen” Wills, vocal

Liz McMahon, vocal

Heather Hardy, vocal, violin

Hurricane Carla, vocal, sax

Rich Nordenberg, bass

Chip Ritter, drums

The Desert Divas were founded in 2001 by Lisa Otey to showcase the amazing talents of Tucson women musicians. Each performer leads her own musical career and has her own unique style. The Desert Divas have performed in Spain, France and Mexico, and appear annually in Tucson and other venues around Arizona. In January, 2011, Lisa Otey and the Desert Divas will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a new CD, “Bring Your Own Boa!”

Lisa Otey is known around the world for her sultry voice and two-fisted piano. She is a member of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame and the Tucson Music Hall of Fame and has been named Best Local Entertainer in Tucson. She recorded  a Christmas CD with Diane Van Deurzen, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe”, which will be released Dec. 17. www.lisaotey.com

Diane Van Deurzen has brought her sweet and sensual voice to stages all over the Southwest US, Mexico, and Europe. Her debut CD, “I Never Knew”, captures her love of jazz and blues standards. She also recorded a tribute to blues women with Lisa Otey in the CD, “Wild Women” as well as a CD of holiday favorites for this Christmas season. www.dianevandeurzen.com

Regina “the Queen” Wills brings her soulful and sassy voice to musical and theatrical stages around Tucson, through the DaVinci Players and Hot Love Cabaret. Her original songs and poetry have appeared in her performances with the Divas and with Hot Love.

Liz McMahon has appeared on stages from Tucson to Key West in her many theatrical roles, including Patsy Cline, Rosemary Clooney and Sophie Tucker. She can be seen in Invisible Theatre productions in Tucson, as well as behind the scene in our community, raising money for local charities. Liz’s CD, “Right As Rain”, captures her love for jazz standards and Broadway. www.lizmcmahon.com

Hurricane Carla Brownlee…her name says it all. Carla’s resounding and dramatic voice and sax makes you think Betty Hutton and Sam Butera have taken over her body. Carla also writes humorous and beautiful songs, covered by many artists, including Diane and Lisa. Carla appears frequently with combo combo and the Carnivaleros. She has toured from Tucson to Turkey with various groups, including Nappy Brown, Lisa Otey, and the Bad News Blues Band. Her CD, “Hurricane Carla”, captures that 50s sound that has made her so famous. Carla is a member of the Arizona Blues

Hall of Fame.

Heather “Lil’ Mama” Hardy forged her bluesy violin and vocal on the streets and in the subways of NYC. She has toured for many years around the world with her “Lil’ Mama” Blues Band and with the late Sam Taylor. Her CDs, “Violins” and “I Believe”, capture her soulful and electric blues. Heather has been voted “Best Strings” in Tucson and is a member of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. www.heatherlilmamahardy.com

Rich Nordenberg moved to Tucson from Austin many years ago and quickly settled into the Tucson music scene. On his move, he stopped in Silver City to play a gig with the Lisa Otey Band, a group of musicians he had never met. We quickly adopted him into the Desert Divas. Rich also appears frequently with Day Job, The Blue Rays, and Giant Blue.

Chip Ritter is a walking marketing machine. He has signature drumsticks and personalized snowglobes, as well as DVDs capturing the Ritter method of stick juggling his kick pedal of BOOM. As seen on “David Letterman”, Chip also brings his amazing technique to stages around the US and Europe on festival stages and workshops. Chip can be seen locally with reggae band, Neon Prophet. www.chipritter.com.