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ROOMFUL OF BLUES


BIO:
"Over the years Roomful of Blues has played countless clubs and concerts and many major festivals, including The San Francisco Blues Festival, The King Biscuit Blues Festival, The Beale Street Music Festival, Blues On The Fox, Illinois Blues Festival, Kansas City Blues Festival, Monterey Blues Festival, Santa Cruz Blues Festival, and overseas at The North Sea Jazz Festival, The Stockholm Jazz Festival, The Montreux Jazz Festival, Notodden Blues Festival and the Belgian R&B Festival. They’ve gigged with stars ranging from bluesmen B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. The band has toured—as they always have—virtually non-stop, hitting cities from coast to coast, and traveling abroad to Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia. Roomful of Blues was born in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967 when guitarist Duke Robillard and keyboardist Al Copley began exploring the swinging, jumping blues, R&B and jazz of the 1940s and 1950s. They added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970. The band’s ability to ignite a sedate crowd into a dancing frenzy solidified their reputation as the best “little big band” in New England and expanded their following into New York and Washington, D.C. In 1974, they performed with Count Basie, and a few years later legendary songwriter Doc Pomus helped them land their first record deal. In 1977, Roomful of Blues’ self-titled debut album on Island Records (reissued on Hyena Records) brought them to the attention of fans and critics from coast to coast. Over the years there have been more than 50 Roomful of Blues members, each bringing his or her own unique talent and vision to the mix. Famed alumni include guitarist Ronnie Earl, vocalist Lou Ann Barton, saxist/vocalist Greg Piccolo and harpist/vocalist Sugar Ray Norcia. Recording for Rounder Records’ Bullseye Blues and Varrick labels between 1980 and 2001, the band cut nine albums that won them international fame and major rock radio airplay. Band leader Chris Vachon joined in 1990 and guided the band to a Grammy nomination with their 1995 album, Turn It On! Turn It Up!. In addition to their band recordings, Roomful of Blues often backed legendary musicians like Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy McCracklin, Roy Brown, Joe Turner, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Earl King—stars of the 1940s and 1950s blues and R&B scene, and the very people who created the music that Roomful still keeps vital and alive. Roomful recorded albums with Turner, Vinson and King during the 1980s, and all three recordings received Grammy nominations. The Roomful Horns backed many other artists as well, including rocker Pat Benatar on her 1991 album True Love, Canadian star Colin James on his album Colin James and the Little Big Band and Stevie Ray Vaughan on his 1984 Live At Carnegie Hall album. In 2011, Roomful of Blues will once again hit the road hard, bringing their horn and guitar-fueled music to fans around the world. With their non-stop touring schedule, long-time fans and new converts alike can see for themselves why The Chicago Sun-Times said, “This is a band on top of its game, sliding easily from big-band jazz-blues to guitar-drenched urban blues...let the party begin.” With Hook, Line & Sinker, the party has clearly already started."

Latest Articles


Hall of Fame Will Induct Blues Legend Duke Robillard at The Kate Photo Hall of Fame Will Induct Blues Legend Duke Robillard at The Kate
by Michael Major - June 06, 2022

He will be joining such greats as blues legends Muddy Waters, James Cotton, James Montgomery, Emmy Award Winning Brian Keane, Rock n Roll hall of Fame inductee Gene Pitney, Grammy Award Winning Paula Cole, Grammy nominated Joseph Firecrow, music pioneers The Runaways, June Millington and many others...

Curt Ramm Releases 'Rogue Island' on Rocktorium Records Photo Curt Ramm Releases 'Rogue Island' on Rocktorium Records
by TV News Desk - July 06, 2021

This instrumental soundscape is set to be the perfect Summer soundtrack, and is available now everywhere you stream music....

Curt Ramm Releases 'Surfer's End' Ahead of Album 'Rogue Island' Photo Curt Ramm Releases 'Surfer's End' Ahead of Album 'Rogue Island'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - June 22, 2021

The upbeat ska vibe of the new single is the feel good summer song we need right now! Curt Ramm caught up with Vents Magazine to talk about the new single....

Curt Ramm Announces New Album 'Rogue Island' Due Out July 2nd Photo Curt Ramm Announces New Album 'Rogue Island' Due Out July 2nd
by Sarah Jae Leiber - June 02, 2021

Four singles off of Rogue Island will be released to streamimg starting June 4th, leading up to the full length drop on July 2nd. Signed CDs and digital downloads are available now at Curtramm.com ...

Curt Ramm Announces Solo Album Photo Curt Ramm Announces Solo Album
by Sarah Jae Leiber - May 25, 2021

Curt is certainly no stranger to jazz either. From his roots in Kansas City, playing lead trumpet with the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation Jazz Orchestra, through the release of his album “Foundations” with fellow jazz luminaries Bill Cunliffe and Dan Moretti, jazz music is never far from Curt's ...

Roomful of Blues Celebrates New Release in New York on March 26 Photo Roomful of Blues Celebrates New Release in New York on March 26
by Sarah Jae Leiber - February 27, 2020

Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-powered, houserocking blues band, will celebrate the March 13th release of their new Alligator Records CD, In A Roomful Of Blues, with a live performance on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at The Iridium in New York. The Rhode Island-based group has been delightin...

New England Music Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Induction Event Photo New England Music Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Induction Event
by Kaitlin Milligan - February 11, 2020

Composer Henry Purcell once said, “If music be the food of love, play on.” Music knows no race, or gender. It is one of the most powerful forces in the world, and can both inspire and heal. Owned by New England-based business Tag Team Friendship Productions LLC, the New England Music Hall of Fame wa...

New Concert Series To Debut In Westfield, Massachussetts Photo New Concert Series To Debut In Westfield, Massachussetts
by Kaitlin Milligan - September 30, 2019

For the first time ever, national performing talent will be coming to Westfield, Massachusetts on a regularly scheduled basis. Gaslight Entertainment is proud to present 'The Westfield Concert Series,' which will be held at the unique and historic Westfield Woman's Club....

Juliana Hatfield Releases Single 'Next To You' Today Photo Juliana Hatfield Releases Single 'Next To You' Today
by Abigail Charpentier - September 27, 2019

Today, Juliana Hatfield releases “Next To You,” the second single from her forthcoming album Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police available 11/15 on American Laundromat Records....

JULIANA HATFIELD SINGS THE POLICE To Be Released This November Photo JULIANA HATFIELD SINGS THE POLICE To Be Released This November
by Tori Hartshorn - August 01, 2019

American Laundromat Records is pleased to announce the next chapter from Juliana Hatfield's covers project: Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police. The 12-song tribute continues her ongoing series, “to go deep into covering artists that were important to me in my formative years,” explains Juliana....












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