Wolf Creek Band Promotional Photo

Wolf Creek Band Promotional Photo

The CasaBlanca resort will host their final Casapoolooza on Saturday, September 3. Performing for the Casapoolooza is the well-known country/classic rock band from Las Vegas ‘Wolf Creek’.

Wolf Creek members perform the music of super groups like Led Zeppelin, Journey, AC/DC, Johnny Cash, ZZ Top, The Eagles, and solo artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith and much more. Since 1998, Wolf Creek has performed in and around the Las Vegas and Laughlin areas.

The band, originated by lead vocalist and bassist JR Davenport, indicates the base of Wolf Creek’s music is country, yet they have developed into one of the hottest Southern Rock n’ Roll acts in Las Vegas, playing a variety of classic rock material in their sets.

Wolf Creek has performed in such places as MGM Resorts, The Hard Rock Hotel, The Stratosphere, Station Casinos, and South Point Casino. In 2012 Wolf Creek was added to regular rotation at the Las Vegas’ Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Club.

It’s not uncommon to have seen Wolf Creek open for Grammy Award winning artists like Brooks and Dunn, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Mark Chesnutt, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith. Individual members have jammed with groups and artists like Heart, AC/DC, George Thorogood, Charlie Pride and many more.

Davenport said in a recent interview, “My dad had a small country band, something he did for fun. When I was 12 or 13 he put a guitar in my hand and we would go out on Saturday nights and perform in local clubs. Eventually, his whole family became part of the band. His parents sang and played guitar. His sister played steel guitar. His brother played drums and violin. “We became the Davenport Family Band and played all over the country. When I turned 21 we started recording and putting out a few records.”

Eventually Davenport ended up in Las Vegas, working as the Entertainment Director for Caesar’s Palace. When the casino business became less attractive Davenport turned to cleaning pools and after a year was so successful in that business that he quit Caesar’s Palace and stayed with pool cleaning for 15 years. He  works mostly in real estate now but his first love has always been music.

Davenport played at the Alladin Hotel in the show Country Tonight for six years; his brother was the musical director for the show. When they imploded the Alladin, Davenport and his brother formed the band Wolf Creek which has developed into one of the hottest and well-known country bands in Las Vegas.

Davenport’s brother is no longer with the band. Members have changed over the years and now consist of six individuals including the dynamic vocal duo of Gayla Dawn and Tammy Grahm along with ‘Tall Tom Denk.’ You’ll know why they call him ‘Tall Tom’ when you see this impressive 6 foot 8 inch bass player towering over the others. Denk joined Wolf Creek in 2008 after moving to Las Vegas from Cleveland, OH. Denk has an extensive musical history having played with several tribute bands, hosted open mic nights in local venues in and around the Cleveland area and jammed with various well-known artists. Denk also happens to be a close cousin to local Mesa View hospital worker Phil Nehrenz.

It is a fitting end for a hot summer, having one of the hottest Country/Southern Rock bands from Las Vegas; now that’s entertainment. You won’t want to miss out on the last Casapoolooza of the season. For more information on the CasaBlanca Resort and what they’ve got going on visit their website www.casablancaresort.com and click on entertainment.