Often credited as Big Ben Richardson, this bassist and singer came to the attention of blues fans as an important part of the rhythm section for Canadian bluesman Dutch Mason. He is also active as a recording engineer and producer for other artists such as Big Sugar. Richardson eventually followed multi-instrumentalist Gordie Johnson -- a founding members of the latter band -- to Austin, Texas, where they put together a combo called simply Grady.

Grady's debut CD was released in 2004, its title asking the musical question Y.U. So Shady?. Drummer Chris Layton, an iconic figure on the Texas blues scene (due to his association with guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan), rounds out the group. Grady's music has been described as "equal parts gospel revival and Satanic ritual," perhaps explaining why Richardson and Johnson considered Austin a more receptive home base than Toronto. This is not the same Ben Richardson who played reeds on the jazz scene. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi