|
-T.S. Brackett
Photo Credit: Ralph DePalma
During the heyday of southern rock and
blues in the 70s and 80s, Bill Blue was a ubiquitous presence in the
music scene. He cut his tour teeth with Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup, author
of Elvis' hit "That's Alright Mama". When Crudup died in 1974,
Bill carried on. He formed The Bill Blue Band and continued recording
and touring, sharing the stage with ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Albert
King, Johnny Winter and Hank Williams Jr. He was signed to the prestigious
Adelphi Record label, one of the best blues labels in the US. The label's
international presence allowed Bill's music to be heard worldwide and
allowed Bill to tour the globe.
In 1982, the hard working, hard touring Bill Blue vanished
from the tour scene. After 17 years on the road, a chance visit to Key
West proved a catalyst for a much needed change of life. Bill visited
the island in 1980 and in 1982 left the continental states and chose
to live in the American tropics. In essence, Bill Blue simply disappeared.
Music never lay far away from Bill Blue's heart and he
found local fame in Key West bars and venues playing his voracious brand
of Blues. Bill became the elder statesman of the music community, adored
by locals and delighting tourists who discovered him while on holiday.
Blue and his music had not disappeared entirely. And in 2012, a meeting
with UK record producer and new Key West resident, Ian Shaw would change
the status of Bill's musical hiatus and bring Bill once again into the
music spotlight. |
 |
authentic and gritty as they come
"Bill is the read deal; a backyard Blues player who learnt his chops
on the road with some of the Blues greats. He's written some great songs, has
a unique style of guitar playing and an amazing voice. I think it's important
to record and document what he does, without the studio getting in the way
too much," says Shaw. "Bill is as authentic and gritty as they come,
and it's my job to capture that classic sound."
Mojolation was largely recorded live in the studio and is chock full of energy;
raw, edgy guitars and funky horns power Bill's unique blues growl. It's music
that's at once fresh, yet captures the authentic spirit of old blues recordings.
After thirty years as the elder statesman of music in Key West, Bill Blue crashes
back into the international blues music scene with Mojolation, a record that
is punchy, powerful, upbeat and exciting.
www.facebook.com/billbluemusic
www.warmfuzz.com
Music publicist, writer and artist, Tammy
Brackett lives and works in Richmond VA. Tammy owns Moonstruck Promotions
and specializes in music business consulting, writing and publicity for artists,
festivals and record labels. Tammy is the author of Fifty Ways to Tour Without
Getting in the Van, a guide to touring your music but not yourself. She’s
the co-author of Another Nightmare Gig from Hell: Musicians Tales of Woe
and Wonder, with writer Nick Zelinger. The book won a Colorado Independent
Publishers Award for best work of non fiction in 2012. <
|
