Little Red & the Renegades

Little Red showcases a vibrant blend of accordion, piano, and steel pan, supported by a red-hot rhythm section that dancers love.

 

 

> New Deal Cafe - Saturday, May 2, 2026
Big Taurus Throwdown and Birthday Bash and Cinco de Mayo Dance
Voted Best Place in DMV for live music - Great Food and Drink - Dance Floor
113 Centerway, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, MD  20770 - (301) 474-5642 - NewDealCafe.com
No cover charge - 8 to 11 pm

Above - At The Atlantis, Wash., DC - Little Red (Tom Corradino), Dave Petersen, Carol Arthur, Antoine Sanfuentes, Harry Rado 
(photo: Andy Och)

Below - Little Red (Tom Corradino) at The New Deal, Greenbelt, MD (photo: Mike Landsman)

  >>>>>>>Click here for Little Red's video, "Prednisone" 

 

 

Little Red’s latest album “Little Red and the Renegades” is available for listening on most major streaming services, including Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, and Apple (iTunes or Apple Music streaming).  See Blues Music Magazine's review below . . .

 

 

 

 

DC music trivia: Little Red & the Renegades has represented Washington at Austin’s world-famous South by SouthWest music festival, and the band is mentioned in the George Pelecanos novel “Nick's Trip.” Special note: Little Red plays on the soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch movie Paterson!

Band leader Little Red (Tom Corradino) moved to DC from New Orleans, where he learned how to make fonky music at the elbow of greats such as Professor Longhair, Dr. John, BooZoo Chavis, and Clifton Chenier.

 

Little Red & the Renegades have been performing around the DMV (Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia) and the Mid-Atlantic Region since the 1980's.

Little Red and the Renegades is Washington’s ultimate party band!  Little Red put the DC into ZyDeCo . . . Have Mercy!!!!!

 

------------

Little Red is available for clubs, lounges, restaurants, wine bars, vineyards, breweries, receptions, fundraisers, festivals, picnics, weddings, anniversaries, dinners, parties, private events, and company events.  Go to Contact page.

 

 

LITTLE RED & THE RENEGADES

Little Red & the Renegades

Azalea City Recordings

 

“Little Red” (née Tom Corradino) is and has been the Zydeco music force in the Nation’s capital since maybe 1986. In fact, he – with impresario Marc Gretschel (of Twist & Shout Club fame, celebrated in Mary Chapin Carpenter’s hit song) – is responsible for creating the scene. Don’t believe me? Check George Pelicanos’ novel, Nick’s Trip where the detective protagonist goes to see Little Red’s “hot D.C. Zydeco band.” That was published around 1993. This disc, their first in 25 years, pronounces them still hot.

 

Preponderantly populated with original songs, the subject matter for some is, shall we agree, unique. How about “Haywire,” an alluring slot machine? With its mesmerizing, Soca rhythm instrumental middle, steel drums/pans propel listeners and of course dancers ever onward. Its clever bass figures are the work of Little Red founding member Dave Peterson. Carol Arthur is the wizard of the pans. Hubby Jon Danforth’s drumming makes things hum throughout, especially on the jazzy, bluesy driving instrumental, “East Side Drive.” Harry Rado’s been Red’s guitarist since its college days at Syracuse; now his son, Allen, also mans the guitar.

 

How many songs have been written about the prescription drug Prednisone? There’s one here. Turns out it’s autobiographical: “I can’t drink, I can’t get stoned/the only thing I’m living on is Prednisone” Red wails. As if these topics aren’t curious enough, how about “Brand New Pope”? Yes, that would be Francis. “He’s got no rules, no written text / You never know what he’ll say next.” Don’t know if it’ll chart on Radio Vatican (if there is one), but if souls can be moved, so will the soles of your dance boots. There’s also a rapping homage to the cultural richness of New York City that name checks many of Red’s favorite spots. If you appreciate Zydeco and are enchanted with the ways in which it can be used to interpret just about anything, get yourself a copy of Little Red & the Renegades. Play it often and aggressively and dance yourself silly.

 

– M.E. Travaglini

http://bluesmusicstore.com/july-issue-2018/

 

Carol Arthur, Dave Petersen, and Little Red (Tom Corradino)

Little Red (Tom Corradino), Dave Petersen, Carol Arthur, Antoine Sanfuentes, Harry Rado

At Hank Dietle's Tavern, Rockville, MD, photo by Mike Landsman

At the Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, Dec 31, 2022, New Year's Eve!

Sold-out show, dance floor was filled, all seats were filled, standees went way, way back! Dec 31, 2022.

 

 

 

"Goin' to New York" video by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx8pl2Udqyo

"Justified" by Little Red (Bill Withers) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JqJGbl62no&list=PLlNPerghcCKIFq078IDT32b6d7-IWpwS6&index=11

 

“One Way Out” (Sonny Boy Williamson) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT3ESLil9SQ

 

Professor Longhair's "Big Chief" video by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_l72ta3Wm4

 

"Little Pepe" video by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j9KgmzS6yg

 

“I'll Do Whatever It Takes” at The New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt, MD, Carnival 2024

At True Respite Brewing for Mardi Gras 2023: