A Crooked Mile by Blue Love Monkey

A compelling performer on guitar and blues harp, Nafey was comfortable with many differing musical styles. The Blue Love Monkey band featured a fluid roster of members geographically spread across the USA.

Raised in Southern New England, Nafey began studying guitar and harmonica in the early '60's, listening to the folk and blues music of Reverend Gary Davis, Muddy Waters, The Holy Modal Rounders, Dave Van Ronk and John Lee Hooker. While in high school in the mid '60's, Rick joined with classmate Billy Borsey to form Billy & The Kids, a rock group in the Rolling Stones - Kinks vein.

As the decade progressed, Nafey broadened his influences, listening to R&B, jazz, country and folk music from many countries. He developed his guitar style, drawing from the genre crossing explorations of John Fahey and Sandy Bull. He began writing songs, inspired by the work of Fred Neil, Bob Dylan and Michael Hurley.

By the late '60's, working at his home studio, Nafey, Borsey and other friends, had recorded a wildly eclectic collection of original material with influences ranging from The Incredible String Band to George Jones and Tammy Wynette. From these sessions grew a performing band - The Immaculate Conception.

In 1970, Borsey split for the UK pursuing a solo career and Rick, armed with new songs, formed a rock group named Stillwater (not the fictional band from the Russell Crowe film "Almost Famous"). The group evolved into a proto jam band and continued performing through 1972.

Nafey and Borsey were together again in 1973 as The Royal Pythons, performing original material as well as folk, country and blues numbers. In '74, Borsey split again, this time for San Francisco, where he became Willy DeVille and formed Mink DeVille.

Rick traveled the country, moving from New York to Bolinas to Boston, often performing solo, some times starting up a new rock group. In the early 80's he fronted The Mojomatics, a Chicago style blues band based in southern Connecticut. Settling in New Mexico during the mid '80's he continued performing as a solo act.

In 2000, Nafey and DeVille, both living in the Cerrillos Hills of New Mexico, renewed their musical partnership. Rick had some new songs and recording sessions with Willy producing began. Enlisting some of the best local musicians, the result was Blue Love Monkey 'A Crooked Mile', an eclectic mix of electric blues, country and folk. Rather than shop the material to record companies, Nafey decided to take advantage of the new business model of internet based music sales and downloads and establishes Cracker Records.

A predominantly acoustic Blue Love Monkey recorded 2002's 'The Things That I Can't See' EP, where Nafey explores his musical roots in folk and Americana styles.

Rick spent 2003 writing and recording with a rock band lineup of Blue Love Monkey. 'I Ain't Got Time to Die' features 9 original songs showcasing Nafey's talent as a songwriter and cross pollinator of musical styles.

'Kissin' Booth' the new Blue Love Monkey CD was in the final stages of production at the time of Nafey's death. Filled with original material performed with a further expanded roster of musicians, 'Kissing Booth' is being completed and is scheduled for release on Cracker Records - Summer 2007.

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