Post by cofi on Oct 17, 2008 11:29:06 GMT
"Sherman Robertson" ... is one of the most important artists in blues".
YOU could listen to the blues for a lifetime and never move an inch in your understanding. Conversely you could be lucky enough to hear a man who not only knows how to play the blues but, more importantly, why he plays the blues.
Such a man is Sherman Robertson, described rather cryptically as 'the the new kid from the old school' he is, more accurately, a man for whom the blues is what he is, more than what he does. But he's no slavish follower of tradition, his soul-soaked songs are the future of the genre rather than a sepia-tinged portrait anchored in the past.
Born in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana he was raised in Texas and the first musician to ignite the spark in him was Hank Williams. He saw Williams perform on TV and the die was cast. He got his first guitar at the age of 13 and sooned gained a reputation as a fine musician, joining his first band Connie's Combo led by his High School music teacher. In the late 60s he spent six weeks on the road with Bobby 'Blue' Bland and also backed Junior Parker. That led to the formation of his own band, Sherman Robertson and the Crosstown Blues Band and two albums recorded for Lunar II.
In the 70s he became a 'part-time' musician, playing weekends whilst working to raise a family. Then Clifton Chenier 'The King of Zydeco' asked him to do ' a few' dates. Five years later on and Robertson joined Terrance Simien's band and went on to play with Rockin' Dopsie and Johnny Clyde Copeland. As word spread, Robertson was chosen as a guitarist for Paul Simon's seminal 80s album Graceland and soon after he was signed to Atlantic Records where he released a solo album, I'm The Man in 1993, which was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award. A second Atlantic album Here and Now was released in 1996 but Robertson felt constrained by a large label and signed for the independent AudioQuest, releasing Going Back Home in 1988 which was described as 'potent singing and sizzling guitar'.
Sherman Robertson is a working musician in every sense and still travels the world bringing his passionate blues to an ever-growing audience.
Sherman Robertson is already considered a young master of zydeco, hard-swinging Texas electric blues, R&B and swampy Louisiana blues. Robertson often surprises audiences with his ability to play R&B, zydeco and blues with a rock edge. "I use that driving, road-cooking type zydeco groove, and put blues on top of it," says Robertson. It's basically rhythm and feel." In June 2000, Robertson played at the Pioneer Valley Blues Festival in Massachusetts. Alligator president, Bruce Iglauer, was in the crowd. "He was always good,” he says, "but when I saw him in June he was on fire. He ruled the stage, had the audience in the palm of his hand, and his just plain physical showmanship reminded me of Albert Collins. As Soon as he walked of the stage I started talking about signing him. He's got that Texas energy, great guitar chops, and is a wonderful, soulful singer."
Sherman was born in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana and raised in Houston, Texas. Robertson quickly earned a local reputation as a very good guitarist. While still in high school Robertson was recruited by his music teacher, Conrad Johnson, to play in his popular group, Connie's Combo (and otherwise adult band). As a teenager in the late 1960's, he spent six weeks on the road as lead guitarist with blues superstar Bobby "Blue" Bland and also backed Junior Parker. That gave Sherman the incentive to form his own band, Sherman Robertson and the Crosstown Blues Band with whom he recorded two albums on the Lunar II label. During the 1970's, Robertson was content playing weekends while raising a family and holding down a "regular" job until Clifton Chenier, " the King Of Zydeco," asked him to do some dates with his band. Those few dates turned into 5 years, as Robertson toured Europe and U.S. with Chenier. He then joined Terrance Simien's hot, then young zydeco band, briefly playing with Rockin' Dopsie, Johnny Clyde Copeland and several other well-known artists.
The word on Robertson's talent began to spread. Paul Simon needed a guitar player to add some sounds to his Graceland album and he chose Robertson. Soon after, legendary British producer Mike Vernon (John Mayall's Bluebreakers with Eric Clapton, Freddie King, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie) signed Robertson to Atlantic Records. Robertson's first solo recording, 1993's I'm The Man (Atlantic1994), was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award.
His second Atlantic release, Here And Now, was released in 1996 to more critical acclaim. But convinced he would have more promotional support and artistic freedom from an independent label, Robertson weighed his options. In early 1998, producer Joe Harley, with the help of Robertson's manager, Catherine Bauer, assembled a first class back up band for a project for the AudioQuest label, including two charter members of Little Feat, keyboardist Bill Payne and drummer Richie Hayward. They all gathered at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood for the sessions that resorted in the album, Going Back Home. Blues Revue loved the release. " Potent singing and sizzling guitar…Robertson is unstoppable."
Here's a video of Sherman Robertson playing "Am I Losing You" at the Ingolstadt 2005.
From his Cd "I'm The Man"...
SHERMAN ROBERTSON - Am I Losing You
A video of Master Texas Bluesman performing in Southport, UK, 30th September 2006. Very favourably comparable to BB King, Robert Cray, Albert Collins etc. Hugely under-rated/appreciated!
Sherman Robertson - Tin Pan Alley
Web Site
www.movinmusic.co.uk/sherman_robertson.htm
"Movingmusic.co.uk"
www.movinmusic.co.uk/bluesmusic.htm
YOU could listen to the blues for a lifetime and never move an inch in your understanding. Conversely you could be lucky enough to hear a man who not only knows how to play the blues but, more importantly, why he plays the blues.
Such a man is Sherman Robertson, described rather cryptically as 'the the new kid from the old school' he is, more accurately, a man for whom the blues is what he is, more than what he does. But he's no slavish follower of tradition, his soul-soaked songs are the future of the genre rather than a sepia-tinged portrait anchored in the past.
Born in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana he was raised in Texas and the first musician to ignite the spark in him was Hank Williams. He saw Williams perform on TV and the die was cast. He got his first guitar at the age of 13 and sooned gained a reputation as a fine musician, joining his first band Connie's Combo led by his High School music teacher. In the late 60s he spent six weeks on the road with Bobby 'Blue' Bland and also backed Junior Parker. That led to the formation of his own band, Sherman Robertson and the Crosstown Blues Band and two albums recorded for Lunar II.
In the 70s he became a 'part-time' musician, playing weekends whilst working to raise a family. Then Clifton Chenier 'The King of Zydeco' asked him to do ' a few' dates. Five years later on and Robertson joined Terrance Simien's band and went on to play with Rockin' Dopsie and Johnny Clyde Copeland. As word spread, Robertson was chosen as a guitarist for Paul Simon's seminal 80s album Graceland and soon after he was signed to Atlantic Records where he released a solo album, I'm The Man in 1993, which was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award. A second Atlantic album Here and Now was released in 1996 but Robertson felt constrained by a large label and signed for the independent AudioQuest, releasing Going Back Home in 1988 which was described as 'potent singing and sizzling guitar'.
Sherman Robertson is a working musician in every sense and still travels the world bringing his passionate blues to an ever-growing audience.
Sherman Robertson is already considered a young master of zydeco, hard-swinging Texas electric blues, R&B and swampy Louisiana blues. Robertson often surprises audiences with his ability to play R&B, zydeco and blues with a rock edge. "I use that driving, road-cooking type zydeco groove, and put blues on top of it," says Robertson. It's basically rhythm and feel." In June 2000, Robertson played at the Pioneer Valley Blues Festival in Massachusetts. Alligator president, Bruce Iglauer, was in the crowd. "He was always good,” he says, "but when I saw him in June he was on fire. He ruled the stage, had the audience in the palm of his hand, and his just plain physical showmanship reminded me of Albert Collins. As Soon as he walked of the stage I started talking about signing him. He's got that Texas energy, great guitar chops, and is a wonderful, soulful singer."
Sherman was born in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana and raised in Houston, Texas. Robertson quickly earned a local reputation as a very good guitarist. While still in high school Robertson was recruited by his music teacher, Conrad Johnson, to play in his popular group, Connie's Combo (and otherwise adult band). As a teenager in the late 1960's, he spent six weeks on the road as lead guitarist with blues superstar Bobby "Blue" Bland and also backed Junior Parker. That gave Sherman the incentive to form his own band, Sherman Robertson and the Crosstown Blues Band with whom he recorded two albums on the Lunar II label. During the 1970's, Robertson was content playing weekends while raising a family and holding down a "regular" job until Clifton Chenier, " the King Of Zydeco," asked him to do some dates with his band. Those few dates turned into 5 years, as Robertson toured Europe and U.S. with Chenier. He then joined Terrance Simien's hot, then young zydeco band, briefly playing with Rockin' Dopsie, Johnny Clyde Copeland and several other well-known artists.
The word on Robertson's talent began to spread. Paul Simon needed a guitar player to add some sounds to his Graceland album and he chose Robertson. Soon after, legendary British producer Mike Vernon (John Mayall's Bluebreakers with Eric Clapton, Freddie King, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie) signed Robertson to Atlantic Records. Robertson's first solo recording, 1993's I'm The Man (Atlantic1994), was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award.
His second Atlantic release, Here And Now, was released in 1996 to more critical acclaim. But convinced he would have more promotional support and artistic freedom from an independent label, Robertson weighed his options. In early 1998, producer Joe Harley, with the help of Robertson's manager, Catherine Bauer, assembled a first class back up band for a project for the AudioQuest label, including two charter members of Little Feat, keyboardist Bill Payne and drummer Richie Hayward. They all gathered at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood for the sessions that resorted in the album, Going Back Home. Blues Revue loved the release. " Potent singing and sizzling guitar…Robertson is unstoppable."
Here's a video of Sherman Robertson playing "Am I Losing You" at the Ingolstadt 2005.
From his Cd "I'm The Man"...
SHERMAN ROBERTSON - Am I Losing You
A video of Master Texas Bluesman performing in Southport, UK, 30th September 2006. Very favourably comparable to BB King, Robert Cray, Albert Collins etc. Hugely under-rated/appreciated!
Sherman Robertson - Tin Pan Alley
Web Site
www.movinmusic.co.uk/sherman_robertson.htm
"Movingmusic.co.uk"
www.movinmusic.co.uk/bluesmusic.htm
