SAMMIES • Red's Blues

All-time favorite song?

03.03.20

One that my mother taught me, “Summertime,” simply because of the memory of it, it’s a great song, and one I still do occasionally.

As a child growing up, music surrounds us. What type of music did you hear the most back then?

03.03.20

I heard Ledbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Billie Holliday, Peggy Lee, The Big Bopper, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton, Memphis Minnie, Irish music, Cuban music from my neighbors. Leon Russell, the Band, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Etta James.

Can you describe a moment in your career, where you felt like you truly reached somebody or made a difference?

03.03.20

I feel like we do that each time we play to our audiences. When we played a new original recently about the Camp Fire (and a couple other things), people came to me afterwards and thanked me; told me they had goosebumps. I believe that is making a difference and reaching folks. Hard question to answer. I’ve been at this for a very long time.

Do you have regular gigs around town?

03.03.20

Torch Club, Starlet Room, Powerhouse Pub, Ettore’s, Golden Era in Nevada City, Empress Theater Lounge in Vallejo, Outbreak Brewing in Placerville, and many more in other cities in the Bay Area and NorCal. Always adding new venues.

Favorite colors?

03.03.20

Various shades of green, purple, turquoise, teal, yellows, black, some reds.

Favorite guitar player?

03.03.20

Mike Keller, Austin, Texas, Anson Funderburgh, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Doug Crumpacker, Sacramento, because he totally gets Red’s Blues, he’s family, and he plays great guitar.

Favorite SAMMIES story?

03.03.20

The photoshoots are always a hoot, and Maria Ratinova always gets our collective band personality in the photos she takes.

How did it first start?

03.03.20

It started in 2012 when I complained to someone in another band I was in that I wanted to sing more. He said, so start your own band. I did just that, almost eight years ago. However, this is not the first band I’ve had. First band was in the ‘70s.

How do you describe your interviews to people?

03.03.20

Always fun. They just kind of take on a life of their own. Each interview is different, depending on if it’s a written question/answer type, or if I’m on a phone interview or sitting in a radio station. I like radio station interviews, because they are live and in person, and there is much laughter, as well as some live music.

How do you describe your music to people?

03.03.20

It is traditional blues, no rock. We don’t play rock and call it blues. I am a blues singer because I am a blues singer. I have always been a blues singer. I heard it as a child, and connected with it in my own little world of unhappy events. It sank into me and stayed there. Our original music is based in blues, but of course, since it’s mostly written in the past 20 years, it has an Americana/roots portion to it. I deeply respect and remember where the blues originated, and try never to forget that.

How do you feel about musical award competitions?

03.03.20

I don’t know. It is nice to be recognized for what we do and always nice to win, but to have to get up on a stage and compete with others, like it’s a race to the finish, I have a hard time with. I have never tried to get into the International Blues Competition, because I don’t believe blues music is a competitive thing. It’s much more visceral and inward than that. It’s not always necessarily about vocal training. It is about what we feel inside. I’m best/you’re best. That kind of competition in music can be demoralizing.

If your band was a movie, what movie would it be?

03.03.20

Thelma and Louise…..lol!

Is there a central theme to your band's music?

03.03.20

Blues, roots, Americana and all our original music has a beginning, middle and end. It tells a story, whether it’s about a cross-country trip in a Greyhound bus or being broke down on the highway.

Name a pet peeve.

03.03.20

Being ignored by talent buyers and bookers, especially when they have asked you for dates of availability. When I contact someone, I want to hear back, regardless of what they say. It is rude to ignore bands and especially as the lead singer, I book and manage our band. I send out the info they request, and then they take weeks sometimes to respond. Grrrrr. I may be booking several venues at once, and holding dates open. If someone contacts me or emails me. I respond straight away, within a day. It’s a matter of respect for the individual, and my own self-respect. I don’t like to be ignored, and so I don’t ignore others.

Tell us about how the band formed.

03.03.20

It started in 2012 when I complained to someone in another band I was in that I wanted to sing more. He said, so start your own band. I did just that, almost eight years ago. My husband, RW, and I decided there was a need for some good, obscure traditional blues in Sacramento (yes, I know there already was), but with special guests from the Bay Area. There weren’t very many Bay Area people coming to town to play. Our first special guest was Steve Freund, at the Torch Club. However, this is not the first band I’ve had. First band was in the ‘70s. Husband RW, Richard, Grigsby tours with Mark Hummel, too.

Tell us about how you first started gigging.

03.03.20

I had wanted to be a singer since my early teens. I first started out in ‘77 at the Bluebird Café, on Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara, my home town. First song I sang on stage was “Trouble in Mind,” with the Jack McVoutie Band, and my husband, RW, was the bass player, only he wasn’t my husband yet. He was also my neighbor.

Tell us about this creative project. What is it?

03.03.20

Well, our creative project right now is our third CD. It is almost done being recorded, with one obscure Joe Turner song, and 10 originals. Rockin Johnny Burgin, of Chicago, IL, plays guitar with us on seven songs. We have John Cocuzzi, on a few, Sid Morris on a few, both on piano, and Rick Estrin will join us on one tune. Kyle Rowland plays on one, too. It’s been recorded at Grub Mitchell’s Yard Dog Studio, with the exception of one, which we recorded at Larry Carr Studios a while back.

Tell us about your best gig in Sac.

03.03.20

Too many to mention. We love playing all our shows, and our home base has been The Torch Club. We used to play there every single month, for several years. Nowadays, we’re lucky to get there three times a year, but fortunately, it’s because we’re busy. We also enjoy the Starlet Room a lot, Mindy Giles’ Bourbon and Blues Wednesdays. We’ve been playing that a couple times a year since it began. Favorites: the Celebration of Life/fundraiser for Lazy Lester, who passed, and his wife, Pike, who was burned out in the Camp Fire. Also, Women Sing the Blues, put on by the Sacramento Blues Society (and there’s another one coming April 5 at Powerhouse Pub), as well as a recent benefit we did for Don Bassey at the Torch Club. Allstar cast of great musicians on that show. There are probably more that I’m not thinking of right now.

Tell us about yourself.

03.03.20

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, a freckle-faced, redheaded kid who was teased relentlessly. So I have a pretty tough hide. Nowadays, they call it bullying. Back then it was just, live with it. I’m a third generation Santa Barbara Native. Spent my growing up days on the beach and swimming in the ocean, listening to my brother’s record player a lot. Used to go to Bonnie Langley Music on Lower State Street at a kid after school and sit in the booths, listening to 45s till I had to go home. Never much liked going to school, because, well, it was pretty much relentless punk kids. In junior high it was a bit better, I had a few good friends. Was in drill team through junior high, which was 7-th-9th. High school, I became the rebel without a cause. Got through that. Life went on. I started singing in earnest in my 20s. Took a break in my late 30s-40s. Started again and never stopped. Richard and I met in ’77, and that was that, too. We’re still together and he has always been my bass player.

What are your musical goals?

03.03.20

To keep singing, writing and producing CDs, tour. I’d like to go to Canada, Europe, Cuenca, Ecuador, and tour the U.S. Like to sing on another Blues Cruise, and someday be recognized by the BMA for our collective work.

What artist or band are you a little embarrassed to love, and why?

03.03.20

Can’t think of one.

What did you want to be when you were 7?

03.03.20

A dancer and singer.

What do you sing in the shower? (Be honest.)

03.03.20

I am usually working on an original of ours, or practicing a blues tune we’re going to do at a show, or doing warmups.

What drives you to keep playing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

03.03.20

I love to sing, and I love music.

What message do you hope to give with your music?

03.03.20

That blues music is alive and well, that more young people will come along to carry forward. The blues isn’t meant to make you feel sad or bad. It’s to lift you up and make you feel good, when you already have the blues. Music is a unifier, universal language and healer.

What was the first song you learned to play?

03.03.20

"Summertime," St. Louis Blues, Goodnight Irene. Small child, I was.

What's next for the band?

03.03.20

We just keep on playing music and progressing, creating our own sound, writing songs, broadening our fan base and traveling further and further from home base.

What's next for you?

03.03.20

CD Release Party at the Starlet Lounge, June 10.

What's something most of your friends don't know about you?

03.03.20

I love cottage cheese and potato chips.

What's the best part of this experience?

03.03.20

Singing.

What's the story behind the band name?

03.03.20

My husband named us Red’s Blues because I have red hair.

What's the story behind your stage name?

03.03.20

I have red hair.

What's the worst part of this experience?

03.03.20

Trying to get bookers and talent buyers to respond timely.

What's your favorite local artist/group?

03.03.20

Well, of course I’m going to say Red’s Blues ...

What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?

03.03.20

Right now, two, “Hand’s Off,” and “Broke Down on the Highway,” both originals coming out on our new CD on June 10th.

When did you play your first gig in Sac?

03.03.20

Sitting in, in the ‘90s, I believe at the Torch Club.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

03.03.20

Good question.

Who first inspired you to play music?

03.03.20

My mother and my father. They were both great singers.

Who is your secret star crush?

03.03.20

Don’t have one.

Words to live by?

03.03.20

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Practice mindfulness, and good Karma daily.

You're given a magic wand. What do you do with it?

03.03.20

Wave it around. Suddenly, all the bookers and talent buyers are responding to my, or contacting me about all the dates they asked me about!

Red's Blues

Q & A

All-time favorite song?

As a child growing up, music surrounds us. What type of music did you hear the most back then?

Can you describe a moment in your career, where you felt like you truly reached somebody or made a difference?

Do you have regular gigs around town?

Favorite colors?

Favorite guitar player?

Favorite SAMMIES story?

How did it first start?

How do you describe your interviews to people?

How do you describe your music to people?

How do you feel about musical award competitions?

If your band was a movie, what movie would it be?

Is there a central theme to your band's music?

Name a pet peeve.

Tell us about how the band formed.

Tell us about how you first started gigging.

Tell us about this creative project. What is it?

Tell us about your best gig in Sac.

Tell us about yourself.

What are your musical goals?

What artist or band are you a little embarrassed to love, and why?

What did you want to be when you were 7?

What do you sing in the shower? (Be honest.)

What drives you to keep playing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

What message do you hope to give with your music?

What was the first song you learned to play?

What's next for the band?

What's next for you?

What's something most of your friends don't know about you?

What's the best part of this experience?

What's the story behind the band name?

What's the story behind your stage name?

What's the worst part of this experience?

What's your favorite local artist/group?

What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?

When did you play your first gig in Sac?

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Who first inspired you to play music?

Who is your secret star crush?

Words to live by?

You're given a magic wand. What do you do with it?

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