Bman's Blues Report

Phil grew up in Rhode Island listening to guitar players like :Duke Robilard and Ronnie Earl of Roomfull of Blues fame.Phil moved to Virgina in 1986 where he along with his bandmates was selected to the International Blues Competition in Memphis Tn. After that he started a 20yr run with his band Beale Street. also performing on stage with The Nighthawks,Bob Margolin,Papa Chubby,Dibbie Davies,and many others. Phil relocated to San Diego in 2006. Where he is working on his solo project a blend of Funky Blues Rock.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Freddie Scott (April 24, 1933 – June 4, 2007) was an American soul singer and songwriter. His biggest hits were "Hey, Girl", a top ten US pop hit in 1963, and "Are You Lonely For Me", a no.1 hit on the R&B chart in early 1967. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and sang in his grandmother's gospel group, Sally Jones & the Gospel Keyes, touring England with them at the age of 12. He studied medicine at the University of Rhode Island and then at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, but began singing again with the Swanee Quintet Juniors, and gave up his medical career. In 1956 he recorded as a secular singer with the J&S label in New York City, releasing his first solo single "Running Home". He also wrote the top 10 R&B hit "I'll Be Spinning" for the label's duo, Johnnie & Joe, and his song "Baby I'm Sorry" was recorded by Ricky Nelson for his 1957 debut album Ricky. He was then called up to serve ...

I have just received and had the opportunity to check out the new recording, At Home Next Door , by Al Basile . This record is produced by none other than Duke Robillard and is set for release on October 16, 2012. This is a two cd set packed full of great tunes. The first disk, At Home, is comprised of 14 solid blues and swing blues tracks and alone would qualify as a great blues release. The recording opens with Go Back Home To The Blues , a new Orleans style swing blues and featured Robillard with some great hot riffs. I Got to Be Loved and Be Loved takes the lead from Muddy with a Chicago style blues. Jerry Portnoy joins on harp for another great track. On Termites In My Basement , Ray Noica joins the group for a stripped down blues track with Bruce Katz on keys. Basile demonstrates why Robillard wanted to team with him so many years ago with a great vocal style. Daddy Got A Problem features a bit of coronet by Basile and and again sweet riffs from Robillard with just a touch of...

Phil grew up in Rhode Island listening to guitar players like :Duke Robilard and Ronnie Earl of Roomfull of Blues fame.Phil moved to Virgina in 1986 where he along with his bandmates was selected to the International Blues Competition in Memphis Tn. After that he started a 20yr run with his band Beale Street. also performing on stage with The Nighthawks,Bob Margolin,Papa Chubby,Dibbie Davies,and many others. Phil relocated to San Diego in 2006. Where he is working on his solo project a blend of Funky Blues Rock. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Les Dudek was born in a Naval air station hospital on the coast of Quonset Point, just north of Wickford, Rhode Island. His father Harold, from Campbell, Nebraska, was a radioman in the Navy who served on the U.S.S. Wright and the U.S.S. UTAH before it was laid to rest at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Harold also flew missions in PBY5A's Navy seaplanes while stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iceland and Port Lyautey, French Morocco, North Africa during World War II. Les' mother Alma, from Brooklyn, New York, was a PBX operator and also danced for the world famous "Rockettes" at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York. Les has one older sister, Sandi, who was also born in Brooklyn, New York. When Les' dad retired from the Navy in 1959, he moved the family to Florida to start a new life. Les became interested in music by listening to his sister's new records through their adjacent bedroom wall. She played stuff like; Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Fabian, Connie Franc...

Guitarist. Bandleader. Songwriter. Singer. Producer. Session musician. And a one-man cheering section for the blues, in all its forms and permutations. And every one of those names has shared recording studio space or stage time with a man who is a legend in the blues community. The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C.Handy Awards) have named Duke Robillard "Best Blues Guitarist" four years out of five (2000,2001,2003,2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award! He was also nominated in that category in 2005, 2007 and again this year of 2008. In 2007 Duke received a Grammy nomination for his "Guitar Groove-a-rama" CD and was also honored with the prestigious Rhode Island Pell Award for "excellence in the arts" along with actress Olympia Dukakis, actor Bob Colonna, and R.I. Choreographer/Festival Ballet director Mihailo "Misha" Djuric.The Pell award is named for Senator Claiborne Pell who help establish the the National Endowmen...

Started playing while in the womb, first concerto at two weeks old, signed by 2nd birthday, rehab by kindergarten. Had to relearn everything starting at age 17, played with a couple local blues bands until I landed a gig with Luther Guitar Junior Johnson. Fortunate to tour and record with him, couple years later lucky enough to tour and record with Roomful of Blues, my current band. The rest is VujaDe! (That uncanny feeling that none of this has ever happened before.)(Thank you George Carlin.) Like my Facebook Page, Post your video on my Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! Share your favorite posting and get more exposure for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Ursula is a blues singer from Providence, RI presenting very cool, sexy and contemporary interpretation of Vaudeville-era blues tunes, mostly penned by the female writers of the day. Check out Marty Ballou's bass solo out of "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" (J.Hurt /J. Yancey arrg.) with Ursula George at Chan's, Woonsocket RI on November 12, 2011. Special guest Sugar Ray Norcia with Lori Urso, Marty Richards, Eric Barron, Anthony Geraci People who remember Sugar Ray fronting Roomful of Blues can attest to the fact that he is as much at home with a swinging horn band as he is with his four piece Chicago style blues outfit. Besides his recordings with Roomful, some examples of Ray's big band music can be heard on Porky Cohen's CD RHYTHM & BONES "Sent For You Yesterday" and a CD by Doug James entitled BLOW MR. LOW "Dirty People" and "I Want A Little Girl." Write on our Facebook Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! -  ...

UPCOMING TOUR DATES It's that time of year again and Charlie is BACK in the Bay Area! Accompanied by Scott Amendola on drums, the duo will be hitting spots all over the Bay Area, including a very special seated show at The Independent. Don't miss opener Bhi Bhiman who will kick off the night in Petaluma, Sac, SF, SLO, and Santa Barbara! For more details and to purchase tickets, please see below. CHARLIE HUNTER SOLO 'PUBLIC DOMAIN' Not since Solo Eight-String Guitar a decade ago has Charlie made a recording of just him and his guitar. This time, he's down to 7-strings and is performing songs that are all public domain. The songs were all hand-picked by Charlie's grandfather! "I was into doing a solo record for some time and just hit on the public domain idea. I figured I'd ask someone who actually remembered the tunes from his youth: My grandfather, Sidney Greenman. He was born in 1911 (yep, he's 99). ...

INTERNATIONAL RELEASE SET FOR “GRITTY” NEW DUKE ROBILLARD BAND CD ON SEPTEMBER 20 Low Down and Tore Up is a collection of hard-rockin’ early R&B tunes from the 40s and 50s on Canada’s international Stony Plain Records label EDMONTON, AB - One of the most versatile and accomplished guitarists playing today, Duke Robillard has always been fascinated by the roots of American popular music — and he’s tackled everything from blues to the classic American songbook to jazz guitar duets, rock-influenced trios, small and big band swing recordings. On September 20, Robillard will release his 18 th album on Stony Plain Records, the Edmonton-based roots music label . Low Down and Tore Up is described as an affirmation of his grittier blues roots and early influences. Low Down and Tore Up is, once again, a tour de force — this time Robillard is taking hard-rockin’ songs from the forties and fifties, and refitting them with screaming tenor sax solos, gut-bucket vocals and guitar solos...

The Duke plays a little T-Bone!! Michael John "Duke" Robillard (born October 4, 1948, Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is an American blues musician. After playing in various bands and working for the Guild Guitar Company, he co-founded the band Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. He has also been a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds which included Kim Wilson, replacing Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. Also experienced in jazz, swing, and rock and roll, aside from his preferred blues music, Robillard has been generally regarded as a guitar player keeping the blues style of T-Bone Walker. He has recorded with artists such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Snooky Prior, Jay McShann, Hal Singer, Pinetop Perkins, Joe Louis Walker, Todd Sharpville, and Bob Dylan. In the summer of 2006, Robillard accompanied Tom Waits on a tour of the Southern United States. Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Even though Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. In 2010, singer Phil Pemberton took over the vocal duties, bringing his sweet and soulful vocals and adding another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor. Along with new members, bassist John Turner, trumpeter Doug Woolverton and , longer standing members keyboardist Travis Colby, drummer Ephraim Lowell, baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley, tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille , Roomful keeps on rockin’ in 2010.

Think you've seen it all...note that there isn't a bass player...this guy is doing it all. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter has recorded 17 albums. Hunter plays custom-made seven and eight-string guitars, on which he simultaneously plays basslines, rhythm guitar, and solos. Critic Sean Westergaard describes Hunter's guitar technique as "mind-boggling ... he's an agile improviser with an ear for great tone, and always has excellent players alongside him in order to make great music, not to show off." Shown here is a custom "Charlie Hunter" model by Novax Guitars. Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Perhaps best remembered for his 24-year stint with Rhode Island's internationally renowned jump blues band Roomful of Blues, Greg Piccolo has followed his muse since his teenage years. He joined his first band, The Rejects, at age 13, singing and playing a little alto sax. It was while with this band, playing a date at the Westerly, Rhode Island YMCA, that he met Duke Robillard. It was one of the defining moments in his life. He joined Duke in The Variations, and Duke introduced him to the work of such musicians as Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. Greg was already familiar with their songs from the covers recorded by the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Animals, but until Duke played Greg the originals, he was unaware of the wellspring of the blues. Greg started to drink from the source. When Duke broke up The Variations, Greg hooked up with Al Copley and together they formed Groupe, an outfit that became popularly known as Greg and the Groupe. In keeping with the redefini...

Michael John "Duke" Robillard (born October 4, 1948, Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is an American blues musician. After playing in various bands and working for the Guild Guitar Company, he co-founded the band Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. He has also been a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds which included Kim Wilson, replacing Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. Also experienced in jazz, swing, and rock and roll, aside from his preferred blues music, Robillard has been generally regarded as a guitar player keeping the blues style of T-Bone Walker. He has recorded with artists such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Snooky Prior, Jay McShann, Hal Singer, Pinetop Perkins, Joe Louis Walker, Todd Sharpville, and Bob Dylan. In the summer of 2006, Robillard accompanied Tom Waits on a tour of the Southern United States. Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE