About Us

Mr. Downchild and Kasimira met at a jam session when a mutual friend asked them both to sit in. It was immediately evident that their musical styles were complimentary. Later, Mr. D would invite Kassy to show up at his gigs and bring her onstage to sing a couple of tunes. Before long it became a real thing and Blues Meets Girl was formed.

These two bold artists weave their separate influences and experiences together to create down-home, smokin’, sexy blues music at its best. You can feel and relate to the soulful and passionate songs they write for and about each other, as well as their unique renditions of the classics by Muddy Waters, Etta James, Big Mama Thorton, Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williams. Blues Meets Girl is bonafide Blues thru and thru.

Growing up in a musical family, Mr. Downchild began his singing career after hearing British Skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan and had his first paying gig at the age of 5. By age 15 he had performed on the London Theatre stage and T.V. both acting and singing until he discovered the Blues of Sonny Boy Williamson. This changed everything. A self-taught harmonic player and guitarist he discovered the open tunings and learned to play slide guitar. He played in various bands in London until he came to the U.S. in 1985.

There he met Robert Lockwood Jr., who became his close friend and mentor. They recorded together in 1994 and since then Mr. Downchild had toured 25 states and produced 6 albums. He was equally influenced and encouraged by Pinetop Perkins and Junior Wells. Mr. Downchild plays the Delta/Chicago Blues and performs both as a one man band, as a duo with Blues Meets Girl (duo) and with a full band.

Texas-born singer/songwriter “Kassy” was greatly influenced by the music on the radio, and her parents’ vast collection of albums that included jazz, R&B, folk and blues. At age 9, her mother sent her to a voice teacher, and by age 17 she had performed in many concerts and theatre productions. She attended the The Dana School of Music to further her studies, but to her dismay, opera was the only option available for vocalists.

Always searching for great female artists, she soon discovered Etta James, Big Mama Thorton and Koko Taylor. Secretly, she went with her friends from the jazz program to the local clubs. Her voice teacher caught her performing at a downtown event, where she was certainly not singing opera, and he confronted her by saying, “Miss Vogel, the reason I cannot get from you the operatic qualities is because you are listening to that jazz and blues music.”

Shortly after that she decided to make her own path and designed a degree through the University for Musical Theatre. She continued to sharpen her skills as the lead singer of several bands, including Network out of Worcester, MA and The Pale Daisies. Kasimira has 2 CDs under her belt and has toured 6 states. She is equally at home singing original material or paying homage to the great female vocalists that are her influences and inspiration.