The Pawnbrokers were formed in 1991 by Ric Proudfoot and John Pergal, taking its name from the B.B. King classic. The band has undergone various personnel changes since that time, adding Bill Maruca on Keyboards in 1995 and Garth Asmussen on Harmonica in 1997. In 2000 the solid rhythm section of Joe and Sean McGuire were added.

The soulful vocals of Pergal, Proudfoot’s versatile guitar, and Asmussen’s improvisational harmonica skills enable the band to cross many stylistic borders within the blues genre.

Initially doing obscure covers, as well as classic blues, the band has moved increasingly toward all originals. The Pawnbrokers cite as influences such blues illuminairies as Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, Hollywood Fats, and The T-Birds.

The band has worked with such national acts as Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers, James Cotton, John Hammond, The Nighthawks, Little Charlie and the Night Cats, Long John Hunter and has been the back up band for Eddy Clearwater. The band was also chosen as the winners of the 1999 Pittsburgh Blues Challenge.

The Pawnbrokers new CD is entitled Guilty Conscience and it displays their versatility on 17 original songs.