D.C. and the Capitols

D.C. & the Capitals play a blend of blues, R&B, soul and rock. The band is led by Dempsey Crenshaw, one of the last original bluesmen in Dallas.

Born in Alabama, Dempsey came to Dallas around 1961. After learning harp very early in life, he picked up bass guitar playing with and opening for many of the blues and R&B greats. Around 1957, he started touring with a list of artists that reads like a who’s who of rock & roll and R&B, including Sam & Dave, Jimmy Reed, Freddie King, Chuck Berry, T-Bone Walker, Eddie Floyd, Rufus Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Big Joe Turner and Etta James. Dempsey also spent two years with The Drifters from 1963 to 64. Dempsey then started his own band called Shame Shame, which had success and a following in Dallas. The band toured and recorded a CD, and played B.B. King’s club in Memphis.

The current band includes some former Shame Shame alumni. Danny Banda (guitar & vocals) hails from Oak Cliff, Texas. Danny played around D/FW as a teenager, then left Dallas to join the military. He played around Europe in several bands, then the east coast, before coming back to Dallas. Danny was asked to join Shame Shame with current D.C. drummer Dave Isaacs after they had both worked together with The Dunn Deal. Danny worked with Dempsey for 3 years, then started his own band called The Cat Daddy’s in 1996 and recorded a CD. Danny and Dempsey started D.C. & The Capitals with The Cat Daddy’s rhythm section.

Information from the band site

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  Dempsey Crenshaw: guitar, harmonica, lead vocals, vocals
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  David Isaacs: drums
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  Mickey Carson: bass
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  Danny Banda: guitar, vocals
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  Charlie Lowe: keyboards

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