EPK - Backtrack Blues Band | Gulf Coast Records

BACKTRACK BLUES BAND
PERFORMING ORIGINAL BLUES MUSIC SINCE 1980

Backtrack Blues Band is one of America’s longest running and most accomplished blues bands. The group is now booking world-wide festivals and concerts. A six-piece, authentic, energetic blues band with harp, guitar, B3 organ, vocals and a relentless rhythm section that will get your crowd on their feet! These guys have a Grammy Award, two Blues Music Awards, and a Keeping the Blues Alive Award among them.

Since 1980, a resume that includes concert appearances with Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Jeff Healey, Robert Cray, James Cotton, Little Milton, Johnny Winter, Delbert McClinton, Gregg Allman, Albert Collins, Dave Mason, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and many more. Backtrack Blues Band’s history of top concert appearances make them well-suited for festival and large venue appearances.

Seven albums of original blues music that have charted in the top 10 on Living Blues and Roots Music radio charts. Their 2018 album was nominated by Downbeat Magazine as one of the best blues albums of the year.

Backtrack has earned the respect of its musical peers, winning three prestigious Tampa Bay music awards for “Best Blues Band”. Backtrack has appeared at multiple, large blues festivals around the world, including appearances at the award-winning Notodden International Blues Festival, Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Utah Blues Festival, Riverfront Blues Festival, Springing The Blues, Mayaka River Blues Festival, Camping With The Blues Festival, Tremblant International Blues Festival, Trois Rivieres en Blues, Donaconna Blues Festival, Eldorado Blues Festival, Val D’Or, Canada, St John Blues Festival, USVI, Kool Jazz Festival, Color Line Blues Cruise ( Norway ), and many more.

MUSIC

Recorded live at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival on April 10, 2022, the new live album showcases the band that consists of Sonny Charles on harmonica and vocals, Kid Royal on lead guitar and vocals, Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Joe Bencomo on drums and Stick Davis on bass. On larger shows, the band is joined by Wayne Sharp on B3 organ and the Backtrack Angels on backing vocals. These seasoned musicians combined have garnered a Grammy Award, two Blues Music Awards, a Keeping the Blues Alive Award, and three Tampa Bay Music Awards for “Best Blues Band. “

MEDIA

“I have been a friend and fan of Sonny Charles for years,” says Gulf Coast Records founder Mike Zito in announcing the signing. “His band has been a staple in the Florida Blues scene for 40 years. This live album is a wonderful culmination of his great band and love for the music.” – Mike Zito

“These guys are a solid group of Sarasota musicians who can play with the best of them. They write some good original cuts and put out some great tunes!” – Steve Jones, Blues Blast

“It’s no accident that this band has been around for over 40 years; combined these musicians have garnered a Grammy, two Blues Music Awards, a Keeping The Blues Alive Award, and three Tampa Bay Music Awards for “best blues band”. It’s no secret that as a blues artist (or band) gets deeper into their career that the music itself becomes deeper and richer, and I submit A Day By The Bay as Exhibit A. Put this baby on and play it LOUD.” – John Kereiff, The Rock Doctor (Canada)

“The eight-piece Backtrack Blues Band have been fan favorites on the West Coast of Florida for 40-plus years, and they show why with this rock-steady CD, a set of straight-ahead, traditional blues recorded in front of an energetic crowd at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival last year.” – Marty Gunther, Chicago Blues Guide

“I believe that Blues music was created to be heard live, and with A Day By The Bay you have the quintessential recording of a band, Backtrack Blues Band, at their best. The nine-track recording, with eight originals tracks, is, as the band refers to the music, a blend of Chicago style Blues with a Texas influence.“ – Edward Nesta, Luxury Experience Magazine

“A record-drenched good time blues, celebrating the insolent vitality of veterans whose next generation would do well to be inspired!” – Patrick Dallongeville, Paris Move (France)

THE BAND

This five-piece unit has an upbeat, electric blues sound reminiscent of the early Chicago blues scene. The band leader, Sonny Charles, is a KBA recipient who writes most of the band’s original material and supplies great amplified harmonica and vocals.

Kid Royal, one of Canada’s top blues guitarists, adds blistering Texas-style lead guitar and vocals.

Grammy award-winning bassist, Stick Davis, brings solid bass sounds perfected from years of performing with the likes of B.B. King, Al Green, John Mayall, and others.

Co-founder, Little Johnny Walter, provides stellar rhythm guitar; and Tampa’s finest percussionist, Joe Bencomo, performs on drums.

Wayne Sharp, multiple BMA winner and former Hammond B3 keyboardist with the Michael Burks band is on B3 organ.

The band delivers its brand of original electric blues with the passion and integrity of a group that has spent decades refining its craft.

FESTIVAL QUOTES

“Backtrack Blues Band was one of the very top bands at this year’s Utah Blues Festival. They really got our crowd up and dancing. I would strongly recommend booking Backtrack at your festival - you won’t be disappointed!”

— Tripp Hopkins, Producer - Utah Blues Festival

“Backtrack Blues Band became a favorite with our audience, playing Chicago-inspired, crowd pleasing, harmonica and guitar driven classic electric blues. The band had people dancing in the aisles, with encores at every show!”
— Jostein Forsberg, Notodden International Blues Festival

“Backtrack Blues Band is a veteran band that delivers a powerful and energetic sound. From the lead guitar and harmonica sound, to its incredible rhythm section, they are a force to be reckoned with!”
— Gene Fontana, Riverfront Blues Festival, Delaware

“Backtrack Blues Band opened for John Nemeth on the main stage at the Tremblant Blues Festival in Canada. They really delivered the goods! Seasoned veterans in the blues, Backtrack went through songs from their new CD and the crowd responded enthusiastically. You will feel the heat with Backtrack Blues Band. Guaranteed!”

— Brian Slack, Festival Director, Tremblant International Blues Festival and Trois-Rivieres Blues Festival, Canada