Curtis Salgado (USA)
Curtis Salgado has a lot to celebrate. Four years ago he was diagnosed with liver cancer and told he had eight months to live unless he got a liver transplant which would generate medical bills upwards of half a million dollars. With no health insurance and few funds, the man who is one of America's finest blues/soul singers needed a little help from his friends. When your friends and admirers include the likes of Steve Miller, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal, you've got a fighting chance. Numerous benefits were held in multiple cities including benefit concerts featuring Miller, Cray, Taj Mahal, Charlie Musselwhite and many others. Through the generosity of his friends, fellow musicians, the Legendary Blues Cruise and thousands of fans who supported him, upwards of half a million dollars were raised and Curtis got his transplant. Two years later he was able to record ‘Clean Getaway’, an album whose title has an obvious double meaning.Clean Getaway, produced by Marlon McClain & Tony Braunagel, is a wonderful seamless mix of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll all held together by the organic grooves of world class musicians and Curtis' superlative singing.
Curtis Salgado was born in Everett, Washington, in 1954. His family moved to Eugene, Oregon when he grew up there listening to jazz, blues and classical music. His ambitions coalesced when, at age 12, he saw Count Basie's band perform in Eugene. Curtis became a part of the burgeoning Northwest blues scene starting in 1972 with a band called Three-Fingered Jack. Eventually he hooked up with up-and-coming guitarist/vocalist Robert Cray, and recorded the album ‘Who's Been Talking’. In six years with Robert, the higher level of visibility enabled Curtis to sit in with the likes of Muddy Waters, Albert Collins and Bonnie Raitt. Aside from being a tremendous vocalist, Curtis is one of the finest blues harmonica players in the U.S.
In 1979, when John Belushi was in Eugene filming ‘Animal House’, he caught Curtis' act and liked what he heard and saw. Curtis took the actor under his wing and schooled him on blues and R & B history, which Belushi soaked up like a sponge, and used Curtis' show as the basis for the Blues Brothers act he and Dan Aykroyd put together. The first Blues Brothers album was dedicated to Curtis and so was the movie character played by Cab Calloway.
Curtis left the Robert Cray Band before it broke through nationally and from 1984 - 1986 he fronted Boston's Grammy- winning Roomful of Blues before returning to Portland where he formed The Stilettos, who toured nationally with such acts as Steve Miller and The Doobie Brothers. He even did a stint as lead vocalist with Santana in the 1990's. After three critically-acclaimed solo albums, ‘Clean Getaway’ may be the breakthrough that Curtis has been working toward. But the experiences of the past three years have given him a new perspective;
"I'm playing music with the most incredible people," he says, "people are supporting me and I've got nothing to complain about. To me, I've won the lottery; I've won all the Grammys. I don't need stardom to feel validated. Of course, I'd like to sell a lot of records, but on a personal level, I don't care. I'm alive! People are throwing so much love at me it's embarrassing. It makes me humble. So I'm just trying to stick to my guns, perfect my craft and make great music!"
In 2009 Curtis was nominated for no less than four awards at the Annual Blues Foundation Awards and in 2010 he won for Male Blues Soul Performer of the Year.
His band in Thailand: Rich Harper - Guitar; Danny Leoni - Bass and Chris Cooke - Drums!
Curtissalgado.com
Mason Ruffner (USA)
Rock legend Mason Ruffner from New Orleans has performed and recorded with Bob Dylan and Santana and toured with U2, Jimmy Page, Ringo Starr, Crosby, Stills & Nash and numerous other rock dignitaries. Carlos Santana has for years performed Mason’s composition ‘Angel Love’ and has had him as guest artist on several concerts. Earlier this year Santana recorded the song which received lots of world wide airplay and is enjoying strong sales. Mason Ruffner has released six albums and Rolling Stone magazine as well as members of the major press world wide have praised his music. The title song from the CD ‘Gypsy Blood’ was a Top Ten radio hit in the summer of ’87 and was also featured in the1989 movie ‘Steel Magnolias’ with Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts.
Mason has earned the respect and praise of many of the world’s best music artists and serious fans alike and he continues in his dedication to delivering his timeless music through recordings and live performances. In 2011 it is our turn right here in Paradise!
www.masonruffner.com
AkashA (Malaysia)
Springing forth from deep tradition and forever expanding into infinity, AkashA (ethereal space, bountiful space) is a vibrant band that seeks to explore beyond the boundaries of tradition and culture. AkashA is a 7-piece Malaysian band, playing music straight from the heart. Call it World Fusion Music, but it’s more than that. Like Malaysia itself, AkashA is a fusion of four cultures - Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Western. From these roots they explore all corners of the globe by experimenting in Blues, Jazz, Cuban Jazz, African, Latin, Celtic, Asian- just to name a few.
Representing Malaysia at world music festivals around the globe, their mission is to dazzle, to enthrall, to delight and to move you. One moment they’ll have you whooping with the sheer joy of life and in the next they’ll have you weeping with the tragic beauty of it. The music of this band brings out each individual's inner space of creativity.
The band played for us in the early evening of Saturday February 27, 2010, and most of you missed them - do not miss this great unique band this time at the closing of the show Friday February 25, 2011 !
www.akashamalaysia.com
Disraeli Gears (USA)
Disraeli Gears took its name from the CREAM album of the same name – CREAM’s best selling album in the 1960s. Those of us who were around then remember Cream as the world's first notable and functioning supergroup.This band does not consider themselves a ‘Tribute Band’. They assure you, however, that you will have no problem recognizing the music that astounded and thrilled audiences everywhere from 1966 to their 2005 performances at Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Gardens for the short re-union concert series.
Disraeli Gears – Cream Revival are three brilliant musicians all established with decades long recording and touring experience - together and separately – throughout the world.
One band member in particular has strong ties to our Festival..
The New Machine plays Pink Floyd (UK)
The New Machine plays Pink Floyd was formed by guitarist Mark Emery in 1999. Mark had been featuring some Pink Floyd songs in an earlier band and the response was always very strong. Mark was credited with capturing that Pink Floyd feel. The band performed at numerous venues for two years until lead vocalist Ivan had to leave the band for personal reasons.In 2006 The New Machine "came back to life". A tour of the UK followed along with many concerts throughout Europe, and 2010 saw The New Machine take on more challenges with concerts and festivals throughout the UK and Europe as well as the
‘Burapa Love Ride for Peace’ festival in Pattaya.
The band:
Mark Emery – Guitar/Vocals
Nigel Pike – Bass;
Billy Chapman - Sax/Keyboards;
Jamie Sinclair - Guitar/Vocals;
Mitch Pike – Drums, 17 years old..;
Josi Willcocks: Female Backing Vocals.
The New Machine's album is available at
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/interstellar-rockstar/id270765416
Thenewmachine.co.uk
The Prodigal Sons (Norway)
The blues rockers from Norway are back - five seasoned, colorful musicians with extensive backgrounds that know how to have a good time on stage. The band was formed during 2008 when the members met at various gigs around the country and subsequently played numerous domestic and international concerts and festivals.
The band’s backbone, The Hammond Doctor, as he calls himself, has during his 35 year career played with the likes of Eric Clapton and B.B. King.
He is already well known in Thailand for his long association with Carabao, a band he has recorded and played with for three decades. The band was here in 2010 and turned enough heads so we felt compelled to invite them back for 2011. The front man, Kai "Brian Jones" Rutherford says they have a whole new show for us in 2011 and we eagerly await. Rock and roll, baby !
Phuket All-Star Blues Band with Andy Gonzales (USA)
The Phuket All-Star Blues Band gives you Phuket's best in the blues/rock genre. Composed of band leaders Rob Davies, Colin Hill, 'Singapore Patt' and George Cordeiro, these boys and their musical associates (let's not forget Tony 'Hacksaw' Wilson..) will give you a cross section of the fine blues musicianship we have to offer on this island. There will be some guest artists as well, including local jammers Jimmy Fame and others. Andy Gonzales hails from Arizona and brings with him rough Texas blues with spicy Latin flavor. A Bassist/Vocalist extraordinaire, he captivates his audiences around the world with his unique sound and hot, bluesy tone, a mixture for those who like it spicy... Andy is also a philanthropist dedicated to help the less fortunate through churches, schools and other institutions, raising funds as well as spreading his music to many who might otherwise never experience such. Thailand is among the countries he visits as often as he can and where he with the help of like-minded individuals has established a foundation building homes for abused children.
Torgny Sandgren Blues Band (Sweden)
Torgny Sandgren is a singer/songwriter and guitarist. Together with his band they deliver electric blues and sparkling rock and roll - good music to your ears and your dancing feet. The expression is unique and original but with influences by legends like The Band, Cream, The Allman Brothers Band, Bob Dylan and others. His music also has strong roots in the Swedish tradition.Torgny has over the last decade worked with the Swedish folk singer Johan Piribauer and featured with him on numerous albums and tours, and last year he started to appear on stage with his own material and band.
“We have played clubs and festivals all over Sweden, but this will be our first gig abroad and we are really excited about it! The combination of heat, sand, sun, music and my birthday in Phuket cannot be anything but absolutely wonderful!” says Torgny.
A first for the young band and a first for the Festival – welcome, Sweden!
The band: Lars Strand, drums; Lennart Vedin, Guitar; Björn Larsson, bass; Fredrik Wallin, guitar and Ronald Wikstrom, keybords.
John Meyer's Blues Express (Australia)
John Meyer hails from Western Australia and appeared at our Festival in 2009 with KNiKi. This year he brings his own smokin’ hot band and we’re excited about this multi-award winning guitarist returning. John started playing gigs in Perth nightclubs at age 16 and later toured extensively with some of the big names in Australian music including Rose Tattoo and Chain, recording and co-producing two albums with Chain.
John recorded his first all instrumental album in 1992 and was rewarded with that year’s West Australian music industry’s ‘Outstanding Album of the Year’ award. He was also awarded ‘Guitarist of the Year’ and in 1993 received an award from the West Australian Music Industry Association in recognition of Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the State through Achievement in the Arts.
In 1999 John released an Instrumental Album ‘The Shaman’ with jazz/fusion influences to critical acclaim and in 2003 he was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry’s ‘Hall of Fame’.
November 2004 at the Bridgetown Blues Festival saw the launch of the Album ‘John Meyer’s Blues Express’ featuring Peter Oats on bass and vocals, Ric Eastman on drums and the band has since performed regularly all over Australia’s blues scene.
The band is now working on a new album which will be ready in time for the Festival.
Welcome back, John!
Presented by
Hosted by
