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West Side Strut
2008: Alligator Records
Press Release
ALLIGATOR RECORDS SIGNS EDDY '"THE CHIEF" CLEARWATER!
NEW CD EXPECTED IN SPRING 2008
Eddy Clearwater's CD release party for his new CD, WEST SIDE STRUT, will be celebrated on Saturday, March 29th at Legends Blues Club, Chicago Illinois.
You will meet some very important people in the record and blues music business, and get a chance to be one of the first to listen to Eddy and his band perform the newly written and played West Side Strut.
ALLIGATOR RECORDS PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2007
CONTACT: Marc Lipkin / Alligator Records / 773-973-7736 x235
EMAIL: publicity@allig.com
ALLIGATOR RECORDS SIGNS EDDY '"THE CHIEF" CLEARWATER!
NEW CD EXPECTED IN SPRING 2008
"Chicago's premiere blues showman."
----The Chicago Tribune
Alligator Records is pleased to announce the signing of legendary Chicago blues guitarist and songwriter Eddy '"The Chief" Clearwater. Clearwater, winner of the Blues Foundation's Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues – Male Artist Of The Year in 2001, is known worldwide as a masterful guitarist and vocalist as well as a charismatic and joyful live performer. Alligator will release Clearwater's as yet untitled label debut in Spring 2008. Ronnie Baker Brooks, son of Chicago blues legend Lonnie Brooks, produced the CD, as well as adding some of his own guitar work to the mix.
According to Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, Eddy's addition to the Alligator line-up is a perfect fit. '"It's a great honor to have an artist with Eddy's legacy and talent join the Alligator family. This is a special album; the combination of Eddy's soulful West Side guitar playing and Ronnie Baker Brooks' contemporary production and his tough, young band makes for some real fireworks. Plus, Ronnie's guitar playing really inspired Eddy to some of his very best guitar work on record ever."
Born Edward Harrington in Macon, MS on January 10, 1935, Eddy grew up listening to blues and country & western. By the time he was 13, he was playing guitar with a variety of gospel groups, including the legendary Five Blind Boys Of Alabama. By the time he came to Chicago's West Side at age 15, he was still playing gospel, but soon fell under the spell of the blues, hearing greats like Freddie King, Magic Sam, Otis Rush and others. Magic Sam became a close friend of Eddy's, and in 1953 Eddy made his move into the blues. Originally under the name of Guitar Eddy, he began working the city's South and West Side bars. After hearing Chuck Berry in 1955, Eddy immediately adopted the rock 'n' roll sound into his blues playing.
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With his personalized mix of West Side blues and Chuck Berry-style rock, Eddy was becoming more in-demand by the late 1950s. Nicknamed Eddy Clearwater (a word play on Muddy Waters) by drummer Jump Jackson, the southpaw guitarist quickly became known as a great showman with the ability to play the hardest blues, the most energetic rock, and a bit of country as well. He recorded a few singles in the early 1960s and never had to look too hard for a gig, as he worked constantly in Chicago-area nightclubs.
It took over 20 years, but by the 1970s Clearwater's star was finally rising. He toured Europe twice that decade, and appeared on England's BBC television and made a record in France. His debut U.S. album, 1980's The Chief (named for Eddy's Indian heritage and his penchant for wearing a full Indian headdress on stage) was the first release on Chicago's Rooster Blues label. After two more albums for Rooster Blues, Clearwater followed with a steady stream of recordings for Blind Pig, Rounder and Cleartone.
With his new release, Clearwater has found a perfect home on Alligator Records, the world's premiere blues label. Heavy touring, along with Alligator's promotional muscle, will bring Clearwater's music to more fans than ever before.
All CD's: $20.00 plus shipping & handling Go To Order Form
Take a listen to some of the tracks...
A Good Leavin' Alone Hypnotized Gotta Move On Walking Through The Park Do Unto Others Blue Over You Trouble, Trouble Too Old To Get Married Came Up The Hard Way They Call Me The Chief Rock-A-Blues Baby A Time For Peace
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