ABOUT US
Dr. G and the Believers is a band from Southeastern Connecticut that specializes in high energy, blues-based, upbeat music. Dr. G and Bob Y have been playing together in the Boathouse Blues Band for about 14 years and decided to start another group to focus on a dance-able mix of blues and R&B. To find the right guitarist, drummer and a horn to round out the sound they wanted, they spent a lot of time in local blues jams meeting and playing with new musicians until the mix gelled with Mark, Steve and Joel. Together they’ve put together a collection of songs that are dance-able, fun and funky and honed their sound into a tight and soulful blues machine that will get your blood pumping, fingers snapping and feet moving!
BOB GAROFALO (AKA DR. G)

Lead vocals, harmonica and keyboards
​Bob, aka Dr. G, has been hooked on the blues since high school and he’s been playing blues harmonica and keys since then. He, along with Bob Young, are founding members of the Boathouse Blues Band, which hails from Niantic, CT, and he has also played with several bands in the DC area. He started this new project to focus on high energy, upbeat blues tunes and he has recruited four experienced area musicians that share his enthusiasm for this music. He has dug deep to find blues and ‘blues-infused’ songs that will make you want to get up and shake it. The Blues Doctor is in and this is blues to cure what ails you!
BOB YOUNG

Bass
Bob Young is a self-taught musician who picked up the bass in college and has taken the deep dive into blues, funk, and classic rock, in the local music scene while living and playing previously in California and Texas (still recovering from the passing of John Paul Jones and John Entwistle!). Bob is a founding member of Dr. G and the Believers as well as the Boathouse Blues Band, in addition to filling in with other local bands.
RAYNOR "RAY" ROBERTS
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Guitar, Vocals
Ray is a self-taught blues guitar player that has played with or started some of the best-known blues bands in New England. He formed the Wildcats, Rock Bottom and the House Rockers before joining the Mike Crandall Band, with whom he won the Connecticut Blues Challenge three times, and represented Connecticut in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Ray has opened for great acts such as Roomful of Blues, James Montgomery, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, James Cotton, NRBQ, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Jerry Portnoy, Clarence Clemmons and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He brings this rich blues experience to Dr. G and the Believers!
STEVE SMIGIEL

Drums
Steve Smigiel began a lifelong journey playing drums at age 10 and studied under local legend Ernest Centoscudi. He also has performed locally as an acoustic guitar “Band of One”. After retiring from a career in non-profit accounting, Steve has been a regular jammer and drum host on the local jam scene and has played with a number of local bands including most recently the Night Shakers blues band. “I grew up playing “classic rock” when it was just ‘rock’ but love the history, feel and joy of performing the up tempo blues of Dr. G and the Believers.”
JOEL CAPUTO
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Saxophone
Joel Caputo is a saxophonist and music educator from Hopkinton, RI. As a student at the University of Rhode Island, he has earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music performance. Joel has had the privilege of performing in a variety of settings across the New England area, including the Newport Jazz Festival, regional conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the International Saxophone Symposium. Currently, he is playing in multiple local groups in addition to Dr. G and the Believers, and is also teaching students in private lessons.