Musician: Bobby Rush
Album: Porcupine Meat
Famous blues musician, Bobby Rush, is back and badder than ever,? proving that age is just a number. This 82-year-old blues rocker is getting ready to release his latest album, Porcupine Meat, due out September 16th, and has already booked an extensive live tour throughout the southern United States this fall. It is obvious that Bobby is not planning on slowing down any time soon.
This is good news for long-time Bobby Rush fans, and blues fans in general, because with an extensive 60-plus year musical career behind him, Bobby is clearly the master of contemporary blues. Bobby earned his first gold record in 1971, has been nominated for 3 Grammy awards, and has 41 nominations and 10 awards from the Blues Foundation . In 2015, Bobby was inducted into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in Clarksdale, Mississippi . Bobby has also played live concerts all over the world, including Japan and Beirut, and he even became the first blues artist to play on the Great Wall of China (http://bobbyrushbluesman.com/the-bobby-rush-bio/).
Having worked with musical legends such as Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, and Etta James, Bobby Rush has created his own unique style of blues. For those who have never heard his music before, Bobby’s sound is primarily composed of blues elements. However, there are also frequent inclusions of funk and soul beats and rhythms, and it is this feature that sets his music apart from other contemporary blues musicians.
Porcupine Meat is a fun romp with its upbeat tempos and brilliant lyrical compositions. The majority of the themes on the album are familiar and lighthearted, like “Funk O? De Funk” and “Think Your Dress Is Too Short”. But “Got Me Accused” is much more serious with its focus on racial injustice and is inspired by real life events experienced by Bobby.
The album was produced in New Orleans, and this was the first time that Bobby recorded an album in his home state. Produced by two-time Grammy winner Scott Billington, and released with the famed Rounder Records, the album was captured live in studio. Only real instruments and no synthesizers were used in the creation of the album, which is different from most of his other recent releases that were marked heavily by the use of synthesizers. The only post-production editing that was necessary for Porcupine Meat was to reduce some of the jams from their ten-minute playtime (http://bobbyrushbluesman.com/the-bobby-rush-bio/). The album also includes guest collaborations with guitar masters Vasti Jackson, Dave Alvin, Keb? Mo?, and Joe Bonamassa.
Blues fans, new and old, need to check out Porcupine Meat, if only to marvel at Bobby’s vibrant energy and musical genius. And to help put his impressive career in perspective, consider that Bobby’s first single was released on a 45, the smaller vinyl records that were used for singles, generally one track per side. Now considering that his latest album, Porcupine Meat, will be available in digital format, such as iTunes, it proves that Bobby Rush’s music is timeless. For more information about this amazing man, his past music, and upcoming tour, be sure to check out his website.
Samantha currently uses her skills as a writer to promote independent musicians and raise awareness and support for many global, environmental, and humanitarian issues. Check out her website and blog at: http://sstevenswriter.wix.com/writer
