Tom Sanders & The Hornets winners of the very 1st Best CT Blues Challenge Finals

In 1996 the Connecticut Blues Society held its 1st Best CT Blues Challenge. Here at the Husky Blues Club 6 of the finalists selected from the weekly Blues Challenge involving 22 Connecticut blues bands competed for selection. The winner being Tom Sanders & The Hornets and then sponsored by the CT Blues Society to be sent down to Memphis to compete against over 40 bands at the International Blues Talent Competition. The competition was held in October 1996 that year, but now days the IBC is held in January. The 1st Blues Foundation international blues challenge was held in January 2000, though it originated as the Blues Amateur Talent Contest in 1984 and was later called the National Amateur Talent Contest before its final renaming in 1995 as the International Blues Talent Competition, and then the International Blues Challenge in 2000. There was no competition held in 1999. The Hornets are: Tom Sanders - Guitar- Vocals Wally "Sweet Daddy" Greaney - Harmonica - Vocals Dave Cafro - Trumpet Steve Merion - Tenor Sax Kerry Muller - Bass Ray Romano - Drums #ctblues Video courtesy of Dave ONeil and The Blues Plate Special