1908 Sammy Price*
1932 Little Sonny (born Aaron Willis)*
1944 Eero Raittinen*
1951 Jimmy Lloyd Rea*
2012 Nick Curran Todestag+
1932 Little Sonny (born Aaron Willis)*
1944 Eero Raittinen*
1951 Jimmy Lloyd Rea*
2012 Nick Curran Todestag+
.
Happy Birthday
Little Sonny (born Aaron Willis) *06.10.1932
Little Sonny (born Aaron Willis, October 6, 1932, Greensboro, Alabama) is an American electric blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter.[1] His early mentor and inspiration was Sonny Boy Williamson II. Nevertheless, Little Sonny stated that his nickname originated with his mother. "[She] called me 'Sonny boy' from the time I can remember."[2] He has released eight albums, including a trio on a subsidiary of Stax Records.[1] His 1973 release, Hard Goin' Up, reached the Top 50 in the US Billboard R&B chart.
He was born in 1932 and raised solely by his mother.[3] His early interest lay in baseball, before he relocated to Detroit in 1953.[1][3] At first he had no real interest in music until, as he explained, "But then I saw Sonny Boy Williamson II." Willis was "spellbound at the way he played. After the show I went home and practiced for hours. Every day after that I would practice until I got the sound I wanted." His daytime job was working in a used car lot.[3]
His first professional appearance was at the Good Times Bar in Detroit, playing in Washboard Willie's backing group. He put together his first band in March 1956.[4] For the following fifteen years Little Sonny performed in numerous Detroit clubs, often boosting his earnings by photographing customers between his on-stage appearances.[3] He ofttimes performed alongside John Lee Hooker, Eddie Kirkland and Baby Boy Warren.[1] Another club stalwart Eddie "Guitar" Burns provided accompaniment to Little Sonny on his debut single, "I Gotta Find My Baby" (1958), which was released by Duke Records. It was co-written with Little Sonny's wife, Maggie.[2] His follow-up release, "Love Shock" appeared on Excello label.[1] He received $25 for the latter track, before setting up his own label (Speedway Records) and selling sufficient copies of his next effort, "The Mix Up", to write off his production costs.[3]
Home recording his own tracks, in 1966 he leased "The Creeper" and "Latin Soul" to Revilot Records.[1] A later track, "Sonny’s Bag," became his first Top 20 hit in Detroit. By late 1969, Little Sonny finally recorded his debut album, the predominately instrumental, New King of Blues Harmonica, which he cut in less than six hours.[3] It was released on Enterprise, a subsidiary of Stax Records.[4] Despite their reputation for soul music productions, Little Sonny released three albums with them in the early 1970s. He also briefly appeared in their concert film, Wattstax.[1]
Black & Blue (1972) and 1973's Hard Goin' Up followed, with Little Sonny using an Old Standby 34B harmonica.[3] A lean period ensued before the British label Sequel Records issued Sonny Side Up in 1995. His accompanists included keyboard player Rudy Robinson, and Little Sonny's guitarist son Aaron Willis, Jr., who had both played on Hard Goin' Up over twenty years previously.[1]
Little Sonny appeared at Black Hills State University on June 24, 2000.[5]
His photograph collection, housed in the basement of his Detroit home, includes shots of John Lee Hooker, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Eddie Kirkland, Joe Hunter, Eddie Willis, Bobby Bland, Washboard Willie, and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Little Sonny performed on October 4, 2008, at the Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival, in Detroit, with Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Otis Clay and Bobby Rush.[2]
He is not to be confused with Little Sonny Warner, Little Sonny Jones, or Little Sonny Parker.
Sammy Price *06.10.1908
%2C_New_York%2C_ca._July_1947_(William_P._Gottlieb_02031).jpg)
Price (hinten) mit Wilbur De Paris (links), Sidney De Paris, Eddie Barefield und Charlie Traeger, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, ca. Juli 1947. Foto: William P. Gottlieb.
Samuel Blythe Price, genannt Sam oder Sammy, (* 6. Oktober 1908 in Honey Grove in Texas; † 14. April 1992 in New York City) war ein US-amerikanischer Jazz (Swing), Blues und Boogie Woogie Pianist.
Price studierte Klavier in Dallas und war am Anfang seiner Karriere auch Sänger und Tänzer in der Band von Alphonse Trent (1927 bis 1930). Seine erste Aufnahme machte er 1929 („Sammy Price and his Four Quarters“). Er war danach einige Jahre in Kansas City und dann in Chicago und Detroit. 1938 wurde er Hauspianist bei Decca in New York, wo er u.a. die Blues-Sängerinnen Sister Rosetta Tharpe und Trixie Smith begleitete. In den 1940er Jahren leitete er dort seine eigene Band „Texas Blusicians“ (u.a. mit Don Stovall und Emmett Berry), die auch einmal mit Lester Young aufnahmen. Daneben spielte er regelmäßig in den Clubs der 52. Street und in Musicals. 1948 spielte er auf dem Jazzfestival in Nizza mit Mezz Mezzrow. 1951 war er wieder in Texas. 1954 war er in New York und begleitete Mahalia Jackson und Jimmy Rushing. Er spielte auch viel mit Rhythm and Blues Bands. 1955/6 war er mit eigener Band auf Europa-Tournee. Danach war er bis 1967 der Partner von Red Allen. Danach spielte er im Roosevelt Hotel in New York und Mitte der 1970er Jahre im New Orleans-orientierten Crawdaddy Restaurant in New York, wo er auch z.B. mit Benny Goodman und Buddy Rich auftrat. Price blieb bis kurz vor seinem Tod als Musiker aktiv.
Samuel Blythe Price (October 6, 1908 – April 14, 1992[1]) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader.[2]
Early life
Price was born in Honey Grove, Texas.[3]
Later life and career
During his early career, Price was a singer and dancer[4] in local venues in the Dallas area. Price lived and played jazz in Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit. In 1938 he was hired by Decca Records as a session sideman on piano, assisting singers such as Trixie Smith and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.[5]
Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians Don Stovall and Emmett Berry.[5] Price also had a decade-long partnership with Henry "Red" Allen.
Later in his life, Price partnered with the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, and was the headline entertainment at the Crawdaddy Restaurant, a New Orleans themed restaurant in New York in the mid-1970s. Both Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich played with Price at this venue. in the 1980s he switched to playing in the bar of Boston's Copley Plaza.[5]
He died of a heart attack in April 1992, at home in Harlem, in New York City, at the age of 83.
Jimmy Lloyd Rea *06.10.1951
https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.l.rea
Der Bassist und Sänger Jimmy Lloyd Rea gehörte in den 70ern zu Canned Heat, ehe er sich von der Musik für eine Weile zurückzog, um dann später als Frontman der eigenen Band wieder zu kommen. Das Doppelalbum "American Boogie Man" bringt auf der ersten CD neue Songs der Switchmasters und dokumentiert auf der zweiten Songs aus drei vorher erschienenen Alben.
Dass jemand seine Band nach der Gitarre des Vaters benennt, ist schon selten. Aber man kann es verstehen, wenn es sich dabei um die geliebte Gibson Switchmaster handelt. Für einen satten Bluesrocksound gibt es für viele kaum etwas besseres. Und genau den liefert Rea mit seinen Switchmasters auf der aktuellen Scheibe: Mal gibt es den ZZ-Top-patentierten Boogie-Rock mit Macho-Attitude ("American Boogie Man"), dann wieder ein wenig Slide-Gewitter in der Nachfolge von Jonny Winter (mit Ron Carnes an der Klampfe) in "Maxwell Street" und natürlich jede Menge Lieder über Frauen, Bikes und ähnliche Themen (die auch optisch in der Covergestaltung rüberkommen: Gitarren, Karren, Frauen). Die Switchmasters können auf der Scheibe vom Trio (JLR - bg/voc, Ron Carnes - g, Tim Erikson - dr) über ein Quartett mit zwei Gitarristen (bemerkenswert besonders die Leadgitarre von Craig Tarwater) bis zum Quintett mit drei Gitarristen alles mögliche sein. Nur nicht wirklich leise und subtil. Und an der Besetzungsliste wird klar: Die Switchmasters sind hier weniger eine Band aus paar Kumpels, die gemeinsam Musik machen sondern das Vehikel, um die Musik des Chefs zu verwirklichen.
CD 2 ist dann die Einladung, sich mit den zwischen 1986 und 2006 entstandenen Alben "The Blues Is On The Line", "Roadhouse Blues" und "Cruizin' for a Bloozin" zu befassen. Und gerade die acht Songs von "Roadhouse Blues" sind dann auch eine Empfehlung für die "reinen" Bluesfans. Denn hier wird aus den Switchmasters eine echte Bluesband im Chicago-Style mit Piano, Bluesharp und nur einem Gitarristen. Da fängt die Musik an zu swingen, da fehlen die rockenden Macho-Attitüden. Und vor allem die manchmal zu aufgesetzt daherkommende Härte.
Dadurch wird "American Boogie Man" zu einer der interessanteren Bluesrockveröffentlichungen des Jahres 2012: Jimmy Llloyd Rea erfindet das Genre nicht neu, manchmal mag er den Klischees zu sehr verfallen - aber wenn es drauf ankommt, dann ist er ein Bluesman, dessen Geschichten man gerne lauscht. Und die Band wird immer dem verpflichtendem Namen gerecht: Papa dürfte stolz sein.
JLR is a Blues Hall of Fame celebrity and is respected by blues fans and players worldwide. His early years touring and playing with many blues greats shaped his drive and passion to keep that kind of blues music alive. JLR is cranking out his own real from the heart, raw and grinding, rockin’ blues. He spent the early years listening to a long list of great musicians talk about life and music. During that time he states, “I just shut up and listened”.
Jimmy’s parents were from Arkansas before moving to Oregon. His father was a great guitar player and his mother was a ballerina. JLR was born in Baker City, Oregon. At 9 he started playing bass and hasn’t ever stopped. At 15 he started his first band ~ The Perils. During High School he played with Paul Revere of Paul Revere and The Raiders. After college JLR played in a variety of bands until becoming the bass player & doing some vocals for the Pete Karnes Band.
In 1973 he joined Canned Heat, which gave him the opportunity to meet and play with some of the greatest blues artists. The music played during those years had more emotion than he had ever heard. In 1980 he moved back to Baker City to raise a family. After years of living with a free style, grooving, fiery blues lurking in his heart, mind, & soul he finally met the right musicians to start Jimmy Lloyd Rea and The Switchmasters! The band is named after his fathers Gibson Switchmaster.
In 1981 at Blues Hat Studio in Walla Walla, JLR first recorded his new band with Vince Hozier ~ famed member of the Sunrays ~ on lead guitar. During the
coming years JLR & the SwitchMasters recorded some of the best original power blues which are included in this amazing 2 CD set.
Jimmy dies on June 30 in 2015. R.I.P.
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eero_Raittinen
Der Bassist und Sänger Jimmy Lloyd Rea gehörte in den 70ern zu Canned Heat, ehe er sich von der Musik für eine Weile zurückzog, um dann später als Frontman der eigenen Band wieder zu kommen. Das Doppelalbum "American Boogie Man" bringt auf der ersten CD neue Songs der Switchmasters und dokumentiert auf der zweiten Songs aus drei vorher erschienenen Alben.
Dass jemand seine Band nach der Gitarre des Vaters benennt, ist schon selten. Aber man kann es verstehen, wenn es sich dabei um die geliebte Gibson Switchmaster handelt. Für einen satten Bluesrocksound gibt es für viele kaum etwas besseres. Und genau den liefert Rea mit seinen Switchmasters auf der aktuellen Scheibe: Mal gibt es den ZZ-Top-patentierten Boogie-Rock mit Macho-Attitude ("American Boogie Man"), dann wieder ein wenig Slide-Gewitter in der Nachfolge von Jonny Winter (mit Ron Carnes an der Klampfe) in "Maxwell Street" und natürlich jede Menge Lieder über Frauen, Bikes und ähnliche Themen (die auch optisch in der Covergestaltung rüberkommen: Gitarren, Karren, Frauen). Die Switchmasters können auf der Scheibe vom Trio (JLR - bg/voc, Ron Carnes - g, Tim Erikson - dr) über ein Quartett mit zwei Gitarristen (bemerkenswert besonders die Leadgitarre von Craig Tarwater) bis zum Quintett mit drei Gitarristen alles mögliche sein. Nur nicht wirklich leise und subtil. Und an der Besetzungsliste wird klar: Die Switchmasters sind hier weniger eine Band aus paar Kumpels, die gemeinsam Musik machen sondern das Vehikel, um die Musik des Chefs zu verwirklichen.
CD 2 ist dann die Einladung, sich mit den zwischen 1986 und 2006 entstandenen Alben "The Blues Is On The Line", "Roadhouse Blues" und "Cruizin' for a Bloozin" zu befassen. Und gerade die acht Songs von "Roadhouse Blues" sind dann auch eine Empfehlung für die "reinen" Bluesfans. Denn hier wird aus den Switchmasters eine echte Bluesband im Chicago-Style mit Piano, Bluesharp und nur einem Gitarristen. Da fängt die Musik an zu swingen, da fehlen die rockenden Macho-Attitüden. Und vor allem die manchmal zu aufgesetzt daherkommende Härte.
Dadurch wird "American Boogie Man" zu einer der interessanteren Bluesrockveröffentlichungen des Jahres 2012: Jimmy Llloyd Rea erfindet das Genre nicht neu, manchmal mag er den Klischees zu sehr verfallen - aber wenn es drauf ankommt, dann ist er ein Bluesman, dessen Geschichten man gerne lauscht. Und die Band wird immer dem verpflichtendem Namen gerecht: Papa dürfte stolz sein.
JLR is a Blues Hall of Fame celebrity and is respected by blues fans and players worldwide. His early years touring and playing with many blues greats shaped his drive and passion to keep that kind of blues music alive. JLR is cranking out his own real from the heart, raw and grinding, rockin’ blues. He spent the early years listening to a long list of great musicians talk about life and music. During that time he states, “I just shut up and listened”.
Jimmy’s parents were from Arkansas before moving to Oregon. His father was a great guitar player and his mother was a ballerina. JLR was born in Baker City, Oregon. At 9 he started playing bass and hasn’t ever stopped. At 15 he started his first band ~ The Perils. During High School he played with Paul Revere of Paul Revere and The Raiders. After college JLR played in a variety of bands until becoming the bass player & doing some vocals for the Pete Karnes Band.
In 1973 he joined Canned Heat, which gave him the opportunity to meet and play with some of the greatest blues artists. The music played during those years had more emotion than he had ever heard. In 1980 he moved back to Baker City to raise a family. After years of living with a free style, grooving, fiery blues lurking in his heart, mind, & soul he finally met the right musicians to start Jimmy Lloyd Rea and The Switchmasters! The band is named after his fathers Gibson Switchmaster.
In 1981 at Blues Hat Studio in Walla Walla, JLR first recorded his new band with Vince Hozier ~ famed member of the Sunrays ~ on lead guitar. During the
coming years JLR & the SwitchMasters recorded some of the best original power blues which are included in this amazing 2 CD set.
Jimmy dies on June 30 in 2015. R.I.P.
Jimmy Lloyd Rea Switchmasters / Tough Enough / Muddy ZZ Top
Eero Raittinen *06.10.1944
Eero Raittinen als Pionier des Genres
Als Facette des Jazz oder im Gewand der Coverversionen britischer Rockbands wie der Rolling Stones, der Animals, der Yardbirds findet der Blues in den 60ern nach Finnland. Eero Raittinen ist der Mann der Stunde, obwohl von Haus aus Schlagersänger. Blues-Experte Esa Kuloniemi kann das Phänomen erklären:
"Eero Raittinen hat wie von selbst eine Blues-Phrasierung drauf gehabt. Als Eero ja Jussi & The Boys bringt er 1965 mit 'Route 66' die erste artgerecht gesungene finnische R&B-Einspielung auf Schallplatte."
Eingegangen in die finnische Populärmusikgeschichte ist auch ein furioses Jimi-Hendrix-Konzert 1967 in Helsinki, sagt Esa Kuloniemi:
"Jimi Hendrix in Aktion zu erleben, das war ein Schock für alle, die dabei sein konnten. Bis dahin hatte niemand eine Vorstellung, was man mit einer Gitarre anstellen kann."
Jimi Hendrix ruft nicht nur spieltechnischen Nachholbedarf ins Bewusstsein, ergänzt Esa Kuloniemi:
"Damals sind in Finnland keine dünnen Gitarrensaiten erhältlich gewesen. Als hohe E-Saite verwendeten finnische Gitarristen eine Banjo-G-Saite. Die tiefe E-Saite ließen sie weg. Diese modifizierte Besaitung erleichterte das Spielen. Das Saiten-Bending, das Dehnen der Saiten ging besser von der Hand."
Finnische Bluesenthusiasten der ersten Stunde neigen nach dem Jimi-Hendrix-Erweckungserlebnis eher zum Progressive Rock. Sogar Blues Section, eine Band, die den Blues im Namen führt, folgt dem Trend.
Born in Helsinki 1944. First gigs and recordings as a teenager in 1960. Retirement allowance as an artist in 2007, but as the maestro himself laughs, his “ shouting won’t ever stop”.
Eero Raittinen has witnessed Finnish rockculture’s history from the early dawn to its present glory. Last years have also proved how solid Eero’s reputation as an artist and as a person is even among the youngest colleagues.
Eero’s lifelong career started with his brother Jussi Raittinen. Their mutual band The Boys has been a reputable university for dozens of professional musicians during the decades. Eero sang and also played the drums in The Boys periodically from the sixties to the nineties.
From the very beginning, Eero was greatly influenced by early rock’n’roll, country and blues. The core of Eero’s singing is based on the rootsy presentation of traditional afroamerican music.
The variety of styles is and has been almost unlimited, from the early instrumental bands to his first ambitious album “Eeron elpee” (1970) (republished in 1977, titled “Blues from the North”), which united modern blues to timeless jazz. In the seventies, Eero knocked international doors as a singer in Tasavallan Presidentti, widely praised as one of the best jazzrock bands of its time.
Our beloved old timer is also ready to rock with his new superb band Eero Raittinen Combo, which consists of top musicians Kepa Kettunen (drs), Eeva Koivusalo (bass) and Ykä Putkinen (gtr).
The album “Woodstock” (2008), recorded in the USA in the studio of the late great Levon Helm with his warm contribution, stands out as a late pearl glimmering in Eero’s recording career.
https://eeroraittinen.wordpress.com/ Als Facette des Jazz oder im Gewand der Coverversionen britischer Rockbands wie der Rolling Stones, der Animals, der Yardbirds findet der Blues in den 60ern nach Finnland. Eero Raittinen ist der Mann der Stunde, obwohl von Haus aus Schlagersänger. Blues-Experte Esa Kuloniemi kann das Phänomen erklären:
"Eero Raittinen hat wie von selbst eine Blues-Phrasierung drauf gehabt. Als Eero ja Jussi & The Boys bringt er 1965 mit 'Route 66' die erste artgerecht gesungene finnische R&B-Einspielung auf Schallplatte."
Eingegangen in die finnische Populärmusikgeschichte ist auch ein furioses Jimi-Hendrix-Konzert 1967 in Helsinki, sagt Esa Kuloniemi:
"Jimi Hendrix in Aktion zu erleben, das war ein Schock für alle, die dabei sein konnten. Bis dahin hatte niemand eine Vorstellung, was man mit einer Gitarre anstellen kann."
Jimi Hendrix ruft nicht nur spieltechnischen Nachholbedarf ins Bewusstsein, ergänzt Esa Kuloniemi:
"Damals sind in Finnland keine dünnen Gitarrensaiten erhältlich gewesen. Als hohe E-Saite verwendeten finnische Gitarristen eine Banjo-G-Saite. Die tiefe E-Saite ließen sie weg. Diese modifizierte Besaitung erleichterte das Spielen. Das Saiten-Bending, das Dehnen der Saiten ging besser von der Hand."
Finnische Bluesenthusiasten der ersten Stunde neigen nach dem Jimi-Hendrix-Erweckungserlebnis eher zum Progressive Rock. Sogar Blues Section, eine Band, die den Blues im Namen führt, folgt dem Trend.
Born in Helsinki 1944. First gigs and recordings as a teenager in 1960. Retirement allowance as an artist in 2007, but as the maestro himself laughs, his “ shouting won’t ever stop”.
Eero Raittinen has witnessed Finnish rockculture’s history from the early dawn to its present glory. Last years have also proved how solid Eero’s reputation as an artist and as a person is even among the youngest colleagues.
Eero’s lifelong career started with his brother Jussi Raittinen. Their mutual band The Boys has been a reputable university for dozens of professional musicians during the decades. Eero sang and also played the drums in The Boys periodically from the sixties to the nineties.
From the very beginning, Eero was greatly influenced by early rock’n’roll, country and blues. The core of Eero’s singing is based on the rootsy presentation of traditional afroamerican music.
The variety of styles is and has been almost unlimited, from the early instrumental bands to his first ambitious album “Eeron elpee” (1970) (republished in 1977, titled “Blues from the North”), which united modern blues to timeless jazz. In the seventies, Eero knocked international doors as a singer in Tasavallan Presidentti, widely praised as one of the best jazzrock bands of its time.
Our beloved old timer is also ready to rock with his new superb band Eero Raittinen Combo, which consists of top musicians Kepa Kettunen (drs), Eeva Koivusalo (bass) and Ykä Putkinen (gtr).
The album “Woodstock” (2008), recorded in the USA in the studio of the late great Levon Helm with his warm contribution, stands out as a late pearl glimmering in Eero’s recording career.
Eero Raittinen & Jarkka Rissanen - Matchbox Blues (video Jyrki Kallio)
R.I.P.
Nick Curran +06.10.2012
Nick Curran ist tot, der Gitarrist und Sänger erlag im Alter von nur 35 Jahren am 6. Oktober 2012 einem seltenen Krebsleiden. Dies teilte seine Plattenfirma Delta Groove Music gestern Abend mit. Der 1977 in Biddeford (Maine) geborene Künstler war in Austin (Texas) heimisch geworden und versetzte mit seinem Debütalbum „Fixin’ Your Head“ (2000) Kritiker und Fans gleichermaßen in Staunen. Der mit Vintage-Equipment aufgenommene Jump-Blues klang so, als wäre er in den 50er-Jahren eingespielt worden. Auch optisch mimte Curran den Rock’n’Roller: Pomaden-Tolle, Leoparden-Fell an der Lederjacke und drum herum Mädels im Petticoat – alles passte. Mit der Karriere ging es zudem steil bergauf, seine dritte CD „Dr. Velvet“ wurde 2004 mit einem W.C. Handy Award als „Best New Artist Debut“ ausgezeichnet und vorübergehend spielte Nick auch bei den Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Der Gitarrist und Sänger kam vom Rockabilly zum Blues, stieg zunächst in die Band seines Vaters Mike ein, tourte im Alter von nur 19 Jahren mit Ronnie Dawson und danach mit Kim Lenz, die von Medien als „texanische Rockabilly-Queen“ bezeichnet wird. Zum Blues und R&B kam Nick in Dallas und Austin, was schließlich auch zum bereits erwähnten Debütalbum unter eigenem Namen führte. Doch die Musik des extravaganten Künstlers allein auf blaue Töne zu reduzieren, wäre falsch. Zwischenzeitlich widmete er sich der Country-Musik, dem Garagen-Rock und nach seinem Ausstieg bei den T-Birds sogar klassischem Punk-Rock. Mit neuer Band und der CD „Reform School Girl“, seinem letzten Album, kehrte er zum Rockabilly, Blues und Rock’n’Roll zurück. Ende 2009 und kurz vor der ersten Europatournee von Nick Curran & The Lowlifes wurde der seltene Zungenkrebs bei Nick diagnostiziert. Ein Jahr später schien die Krankheit besiegt, doch sie kam zurück. Da übliche Behandlungsmethoden nicht anschlugen, kämpfte er mit alternativen Mitteln gegen den Krebs. Leider vergeblich, Nick Curran verstarb nur wenige Tage nach seinem 35sten Geburtstag am 6. Oktober in Austin.
Nick Curran (September 30, 1977 – October 6, 2012)[1][2] was an American blues/rock and roll singer and guitarist. He has been likened to T-Bone Walker, Little Richard, The Sonics, Doug Sahm, Misfits, The Dinks, and The Ramones.
Nick Curran was born in Biddeford, Maine, United States, and grew up in nearby Sanford.[citation needed]
Nick began playing drums at the age of 3, showing an amazing ability to keep time even at such a young age. It was a daily ritual for him. He would turn on his radio and play along with the music. At the age of 9, he began playing guitar. He pretty much just knew how to play it from the time he opened the box. When asked by his mother where he learned how to play without having had any formal lessons, he replied, "I've just got the feelin', Mum."
At age 15, Nick played guitar and harp in his father's band, Mike Curran and the Tremors, and at the age of 17 played drums, again along side his father, guitarist Michael Curran, in a band called The Upsetters based out of Portland, Maine. That same year, he also formed the Rockabilly band Nick Danger and the Sideburners, frequently playing at a number of clubs in the Portland, Maine area. At 18, Nick auditioned for James Montgomery.
Career
Curran began his professional career at age nineteen, leaving Maine to tour with Ronnie Dawson, "The Blonde Bomber". Although Dawson was primarily a rockabilly musician, many blues and punk fans appreciated his performances. He taught Curran not to get pigeonholed. Curran toured next with Texas rockabilly doyenne Kim Lenz, moving to Dallas to join her backup band the Jaguars for two years, and performing on Lenz’s recording, The One And Only. Curran would stay with the Jaguars for two years. He is also featured on Lenz’s next CD, It’s All True, and toured with her in the summer of 2009.[citation needed]
In 1999 the Texas Jamboree label issued Curran’s debut solo recording, Fixin' Your Head. As he would do on all future CDs, Curran used vintage recording equipment to achieve the feel and sound of old 45s and 78s, and the LPs of the 1950s. To support the recording he formed the band, Nick Curran & the Nitelifes.
From 2004 to 2007 Curran played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds appearing on their 2005 recording, Painted On. Also during that time, Curran and bassist Ronnie James started the punk band Deguello, saying that it “sounded as if Little Richard sang with The Ramones.”
In 2008 Curran formed The Attitudes with Nick, singing and playing drums standing up, and with guitarist CoffeeBoy Johnson. "This band is like when you and your buddy wanted to have a band in high school and there was no bass player. We just play what ever we wanted to," according to CoffeeBoy Johnson. Their set consisted of covers of The Misfits, The Ramones, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and Little Richard. "We wanted to give the black keys a run for their money."
Curran performed four songs in a scene in the 2008 HBO Series, True Blood, based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, which explores the co-existence of humans and vampires.
After performing a solo show in November, 2008, Curran formed the rock ‘n’ roll roots band, The Lowlifes, who were critically acclaimed and became a mainstay on Little Steven's Underground Garage, earning three "Coolest Song In The World" titles with tracks from the album, Reform School Girl. Curran was also in the Austin-based punk/rock ‘n’ roll band The Flash Boys. In 2009, Curran was diagnosed with oral cancer. As of June 2010, he had been deemed cancer free, but by April 2011 the cancer had returned and he was undergoing treatment. Curran died on October 6, 2012, at the age of 35.
Der Gitarrist und Sänger kam vom Rockabilly zum Blues, stieg zunächst in die Band seines Vaters Mike ein, tourte im Alter von nur 19 Jahren mit Ronnie Dawson und danach mit Kim Lenz, die von Medien als „texanische Rockabilly-Queen“ bezeichnet wird. Zum Blues und R&B kam Nick in Dallas und Austin, was schließlich auch zum bereits erwähnten Debütalbum unter eigenem Namen führte. Doch die Musik des extravaganten Künstlers allein auf blaue Töne zu reduzieren, wäre falsch. Zwischenzeitlich widmete er sich der Country-Musik, dem Garagen-Rock und nach seinem Ausstieg bei den T-Birds sogar klassischem Punk-Rock. Mit neuer Band und der CD „Reform School Girl“, seinem letzten Album, kehrte er zum Rockabilly, Blues und Rock’n’Roll zurück. Ende 2009 und kurz vor der ersten Europatournee von Nick Curran & The Lowlifes wurde der seltene Zungenkrebs bei Nick diagnostiziert. Ein Jahr später schien die Krankheit besiegt, doch sie kam zurück. Da übliche Behandlungsmethoden nicht anschlugen, kämpfte er mit alternativen Mitteln gegen den Krebs. Leider vergeblich, Nick Curran verstarb nur wenige Tage nach seinem 35sten Geburtstag am 6. Oktober in Austin.
12.10.2012 | Dirk Föhrs
Nick Curran (September 30, 1977 – October 6, 2012)[1][2] was an American blues/rock and roll singer and guitarist. He has been likened to T-Bone Walker, Little Richard, The Sonics, Doug Sahm, Misfits, The Dinks, and The Ramones.
Nick Curran was born in Biddeford, Maine, United States, and grew up in nearby Sanford.[citation needed]
Nick began playing drums at the age of 3, showing an amazing ability to keep time even at such a young age. It was a daily ritual for him. He would turn on his radio and play along with the music. At the age of 9, he began playing guitar. He pretty much just knew how to play it from the time he opened the box. When asked by his mother where he learned how to play without having had any formal lessons, he replied, "I've just got the feelin', Mum."
At age 15, Nick played guitar and harp in his father's band, Mike Curran and the Tremors, and at the age of 17 played drums, again along side his father, guitarist Michael Curran, in a band called The Upsetters based out of Portland, Maine. That same year, he also formed the Rockabilly band Nick Danger and the Sideburners, frequently playing at a number of clubs in the Portland, Maine area. At 18, Nick auditioned for James Montgomery.
Career
Curran began his professional career at age nineteen, leaving Maine to tour with Ronnie Dawson, "The Blonde Bomber". Although Dawson was primarily a rockabilly musician, many blues and punk fans appreciated his performances. He taught Curran not to get pigeonholed. Curran toured next with Texas rockabilly doyenne Kim Lenz, moving to Dallas to join her backup band the Jaguars for two years, and performing on Lenz’s recording, The One And Only. Curran would stay with the Jaguars for two years. He is also featured on Lenz’s next CD, It’s All True, and toured with her in the summer of 2009.[citation needed]
In 1999 the Texas Jamboree label issued Curran’s debut solo recording, Fixin' Your Head. As he would do on all future CDs, Curran used vintage recording equipment to achieve the feel and sound of old 45s and 78s, and the LPs of the 1950s. To support the recording he formed the band, Nick Curran & the Nitelifes.
From 2004 to 2007 Curran played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds appearing on their 2005 recording, Painted On. Also during that time, Curran and bassist Ronnie James started the punk band Deguello, saying that it “sounded as if Little Richard sang with The Ramones.”
In 2008 Curran formed The Attitudes with Nick, singing and playing drums standing up, and with guitarist CoffeeBoy Johnson. "This band is like when you and your buddy wanted to have a band in high school and there was no bass player. We just play what ever we wanted to," according to CoffeeBoy Johnson. Their set consisted of covers of The Misfits, The Ramones, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and Little Richard. "We wanted to give the black keys a run for their money."
Curran performed four songs in a scene in the 2008 HBO Series, True Blood, based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, which explores the co-existence of humans and vampires.
After performing a solo show in November, 2008, Curran formed the rock ‘n’ roll roots band, The Lowlifes, who were critically acclaimed and became a mainstay on Little Steven's Underground Garage, earning three "Coolest Song In The World" titles with tracks from the album, Reform School Girl. Curran was also in the Austin-based punk/rock ‘n’ roll band The Flash Boys. In 2009, Curran was diagnosed with oral cancer. As of June 2010, he had been deemed cancer free, but by April 2011 the cancer had returned and he was undergoing treatment. Curran died on October 6, 2012, at the age of 35.
▲Nick Curran and the Lowlifes - 50 minutes live - Milwaukee 50's Diner (November 2010)
