Why Can't We Be Friends - War

Why Can't We Be Friends - War

No album epitomized the latin rock fusion sound than War's "Why Can't We Be Friends". The members of War grew up in Compton and although a culturally rich group, their roots in the Latino community were well represented in this album. It is one of my favorites albums and worth a listen if you want to expand your taste buds to a different sound. - Bluesdaddy

3 + 3 - The Isley Brothers

3 + 3 - The Isley Brothers

Some albums you just have to listen to over and over again. Albums that you remember from your past and marking a specific event in your life. 3 + 3 is one of those albums for me. I first heard "That Lady" on the radio and it has always stirred me to groove to that song. The cover of Seals and Croft's "Summer Breeze" is also as good as the original. This is a great summer album and the vocals are crisp and the band is very tight. All the band members are brothers with the exception of Chris Jasper who is a brother-in-law. If you love R&B like I do, you'll love 3 + 3. - Bluesdaddy

Anthony Gomes

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Blues / Classic Rock
Label: Ruf Records
Management: Peter Carson, Peter Carson Productions, peter@petercarsonproductions.com, Promoagogo

ARTIST BIO

Born in Toronto, Canada, to a Portuguese father and a French-Canadian mother, Gomes began playing guitar in his early teens and was drawn to the blues sounds of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. While hoing his skills in the blues bars at night, Gomes earned a Master's Degree from the University of Toronto in the 'Racial Evolution of Blues'.

He relocated to Chicago in the late '90s to learn from the blues masters and to establish himself as a musician and artist. During his brief stint as a sideman for Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Gomes put together his own group and won the first annual Buddy Guy’s Legends “Best Unsigned Blues Band” competition in 1998. Three years later, he moved to Nashville to sharpen his skills as a songwriter.

Gomes made his recording debut in 1998 with “Blues in Technicolor“. The disc introduced him as a guitar-slinger loaded with impressive firepower. Instead of following up with more of the same, Gomes boldly stepped back for an intimate acoustic offering in 2000 with the critically acclaimed "Sweet Stringin' Soul."

In 2002, he released “Unity” and proceeded to win the 2003 BluesWax Artist of the Year award. This accolade elevated Gomes to the top of the blues field, and consequently he was able to draw larger crowds to his live performances, which increased in frequency and scope. Gomes’ endless touring kept him atop the blues field, as he continued to be nominated for BluesWax Artist of the Year awards several years in a row.

“Music Is the Medicine“, released in 2006, peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. Produced by Jim Gaines (SRV,Santana), the disc featured collaborations with hit songwriters, including Jim Peterik, Mark Selby and Tom Hambridge. 2008’s “LIVE”, is Gomes’ greatest commercial success to date, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.

Gomes is currently in the final stages of recording a new studio album tentatively titled "Up 2 Zero" which is slated for a fall release.

Killer” Ray Allison

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Rhythm and Blues /Soul / Electronica
Management: Azure Music Group, Odysseus E. Johnson III M.Div.
Official Site: Killer Ray Allison

ARTIST BIO

“Killer” Ray Allison first broke into the blues during the early 1970's. Now a regular on the Chicago Blues scene for over four decades, "Killer" Ray has been an integral tour-de-force in bands by Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.

With a reputation as the hardest hitting drummer in the blues world, "Killer" has turned down gig offers from Eric Clapton, John Mayall and the late Gary Moore, so he could fully focus his energies toward leading a band. In 1998 and 2000, Ray was nominated for the W. C. Handy award as an instrumentalist.

In 1995 he appeared in the movie Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead with Andy Garcia, and in 1998 he played for Hilary Clinton’s birthday party in Chicago. From South Side holes in the wall to the Chicago Blues Fest and around the world, Ray never fails to please crowds of any age with his energetic shows, and his quick-draw staging gets audiences of kids clapping and singing along.  When he takes a guitar to school, the kids all want to try their hand at it. Killer Ray says, “Right away the kids see it takes a lot of know-how, skill and strength in your hands to play the right chords and get into the rhythms. Learning music gives them something to work on.”

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy