Mojo Ike - Blues From The 305 (Feat. Val Woods) (2015)

Mojo Ike has enjoyed a long and productive career first as a sought after sideman and later as the front man for his own band the Ike and Val Woods Blues Band.

Ike was the third of seven sons born to Pentecostal minister Willie Woods and wife Emma Woods. He began his musical journey at the tender age of six years when he took his first guitar lesson from his dad. He was quickly recognized as a child prodigy who went on to excel as a musician during his school years.

At the age of seventeen Ike auditioned for Jazz greats Nat Adderly and Curtis Fuller at a high school music workshop. They immediately offered this exciting and accomplished young guitarist the opportunity to travel to New York and play with them professionally. Ike, however, chose to remain in Florida to finish his education, marry and pursue his career.

He went on to play professionally as a young man with Florida Bands led by Dick Knight, Richard Strahan, Forest (Tex) Beverly, Joey Gilmore, Joe Orr, Betty Wright and Jimmy BoHorne. During this period in his career Ike was also a highly sought after studio musician due to his versatility and high skill level.

He is now traveling the world as a one man to ten piece band with his wife, Val Woods.

Mojo Ike has worked in the studio playing his guitar in sessions with producers like Barry Smith, Lou Pace, Rick Fince, Harry Casey, Desmond Child , and Scott Storch . He has also done theater work for M Ensemble Theater Company on their production of Blues Man. Mojo Ike has also performed in the Jazz scene playing in the Milton Mustafa Jazz Orchestra for the Black Film Association. He has also worked with such talents as Alice Day, Juanita Dixon, Jessie Jones, Joe Donato, Dr. Lonnie Smith and many others.