The Rainmakers

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Biography

The Rainmakers are a Kansas City, Missouri-based original rock band whose members include:

Bob Walkenhorst,
Steve Phillips (later a member of The Elders),
Rich Ruth,
Pat Tomek,
Michael Bliss (replaced Rich Ruth in 1995).

Missouri has long boasted of being the home of two of America’s greatest artists, Mark Twain and Chuck Berry. However, it wasn’t until The Rainmakers thundered into the national music spotlight in 1986, had anyone combined the guitar power of Berry with the social wit of Twain into a unique brand of Missouri rock n’ roll.

Originally formed in 1983 as a 3-piece bar band known as Steve, Bob, & Rich, these Kansas City rockers became an instant favorite throughout the Midwest. Soon, fans were standing in line to see this trio they described as “energetic,” “intense,” but most importantly “fun.” Within months of finishing their first independent release, Steve, Bob, and Rich had signed a multi-album contract with Polygram Records, added a fourth member, and had changed their name to The Rainmakers.

Heralded as “America’s Great Next Band” by Newsweek Magazine, The Rainmakers were soon drenched in critical acclaim. Feature articles in Rolling Stone, CMJ, USA Today and others poured in singing the praises of this hard working Midwest band who provided new life to a traditional rock format.

Critics particularly enjoyed the unique writing style of Bob Walkenhorst, whose talent for choosing unusual and sometimes controversial subjects provided an eye-opening perspective of life, sprinkled with sarcastic humor.
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  • willcoll2

    "Older than I used to be, younger than I'm gonna be, Fewer things puzzle me than when I was young..."

    31 Aug 2012 Reply

  • Skrappy44

    New CD entitled "25 On" is now out. Available through iTunes and Amazon has the .mp3 version. The band is now on tour. Check out http://www.rainmakers.com.

    25 Mar 2011 Reply

  • Tarfire

    I don't remember what I was looking for but I found "Spend it on love" video on Youtube and was really impressed by these guys! I find them one of the best band I've ever heard!

    25 Oct 2010 Reply

  • txmilligan

    One of the best groups I've ever heard. Way underrated. The Good News and the Bad News is one of the 10 albums I will ALWAYS have.

    15 Sep 2010 Reply

  • PerSemb

    These guys introduced (along with Aerosmith) me to rock when I was 11 or something!

    13 May 2009 Reply

  • leotlion

    Huge fan, sharp lyrics, great technical work, and love Bob's voice !! Seen them 5 times in concert, even to the point of finding The Lion's Den in Knob Noster MO!!

    7 Feb 2009 Reply

  • Lubricio

    Small circles :)

    9 Jan 2009 Reply

  • ekesner

    Waaay underrated

    14 Nov 2008 Reply

  • jerdacuttupman

    Great band, better than I realized at the time. Bob Walkenhorst is better than ever, do yourselves a favour and check out his brilliant free shows at archive.org

    12 Feb 2008 Reply

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