Michael Rhoades a.k.a. Blind Eye Willis is a blues artist who believes the power of the blues lies in its honesty. “I love the blues because it’s real and authentic. More than anything, it creates a feeling that reaches deep and touches your soul.”
His musical influences include Junior Wells, Big Twist, Mavis Staples, Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, and Bo Diddley — artists known for delivering music with heart, grit, and truth.
Willis has been singing and performing for over 15 years and writing original music for more than a decade. His longtime guitarist and bandleader, Eddy Melendez, has been with him for 11 years. The two met at Willis’s former bar, Blind Eye’s Blue Note in Kirkland, Illinois, where Melendez led the house band. Many of the musicians who have played with Willis over the years came through that vibrant music community.
The name Blind Eye Willis comes from a life-changing accident in 2011 when he lost his left eye in a batting cage incident and nearly lost his life. During recovery, he turned to music as therapy — playing harmonica at local jams and writing songs. In 2015, he opened Blind Eye’s Blue Note, where he fronted the house band, built confidence as a vocalist, and began performing at festivals.
From 2016–2018, the band performed more than 100 in-house shows along with numerous festival and club appearances. Willis also produced about 25 concerts featuring established blues artists such as Tas Cru and Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames, often joining them onstage. Since then, the band has shared stages with artists including New York Blues Hall of Famer Dave Fields and Chicago blues standout Ivy Ford.
Though the bar has since closed, the band continues performing with a refreshed lineup that has been together for the past several years, with Melendez still anchoring the group after more than a decade.
The band’s newest project includes a live recording session for NPR’s Northern Public Radio in DeKalb, Illinois, on May 11, 2026, followed by a CD release planned for June 2026.
Beyond music, Willis is deeply involved in his community. As a member of the Kirkland Lions Club, he supports efforts that provide community assistance, services for the visually impaired, breast cancer screenings, and other charitable work — a cause that resonates personally, given his own vision loss.
He also serves as a student ministries leader and mentor for middle school boys at Christ Community Church in the Sycamore/DeKalb area, continuing a lifelong commitment to working with youth for more than 40 years.
When he’s not on stage, Willis enjoys time with his wife Pam, their two dogs, and family and friends. He’s also an avid trout fisherman who loves spending time outdoors.
Blind Eye Willis’s voice carries raw emotion and soul, backed by a band of seasoned musicians whose high-level playing supports and elevates the music with power, taste, and professionalism.
Eddy “Mel” Melendez is a guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader for Blind Eye Willis since 2015. A Chicago native, he started playing at 12 and never looked back. Known for his smooth style, Eddy lives by the phrase, “Music is my best medicine”—the driving force behind the band. A multi-instrumentalist on guitar, bass, and drums, Eddy plays a key role in shaping the band’s original sound. His loyalty and contributions are at the core of Blind Eye Willis. Eddy and his wife, Barb, have been married nearly 40 years, raised three children, and reside in Kirkland, Illinois.
Dennis “Link” Leary began playing drums in the Rockford area in the early 1990s and has built a reputation as one of the region’s premier blues drummers. He joined Blind Eye Willis in 2022, bringing decades of experience and a deep, authentic groove to the band. Link has performed with the Chain Link Blues Band and spent years playing alongside Ernie “Sugar Lips” Brown until Brown’s passing. He later played and recorded with the Barstool Bob Levis Band, continuing a lineage connected to the Chicago blues tradition.
Mike “Toad” Scukanec has been performing professionally for over 40 years and has brought his experience, versatility, and work ethic to Blind Eye Willis since 2022. With a deep musical repertoire and a great sense of humor, Toad keeps the band grounded and the atmosphere loose.
His motto at rehearsal says it all: “Let’s work hard so we don’t suck!”
Ted “Ribeye” Lawrence discovered the power of amplified harmonica at 17—and never looked back. A seasoned player, he’s been part of several bands over the years, including Johnny & The Boomers, The Brother K Band, and the Barstool Bob Levis Band, where he toured and recorded.
Since joining Blind Eye Willis in 2022, Ted has brought a raw, powerful Chicago harp sound that hits you right in the soul.
