Career
Roomful of Blues was born in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967 when
guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley started a band that
played tough, no-holds-barred Chicago blues. They soon began exploring
the swinging, jumping blues, R&B and jazz of the 1940s and 1950s, and
added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970. They established
a devoted fan base in New England. In 1974, they performed with Count
Basie, and a few years later songwriter Doc Pomus helped them land their
first record deal, and produced their debut with co-producer Joel Dorn.
In 1977, Roomful of Blues’ self-titled debut album on Island Records
(reissued on Hyena Records as The First Album) brought them to
national attention.
Founding member Duke Robillard left the band in 1980, and guitarist
Ronnie Earl replaced him. Singer Lou Ann Barton joined the band at this
time, sharing vocals with sax man Greg Piccolo. By now the band was
touring nationally, attracting bigger and bigger crowds. Roomful
recorded the Hot Little Mama for their own Blue Flame label and
two successful albums for the Varrick label during the 1980s. In 1994,
they released Dance All Night, their first featuring guitarist
Chris Vachon (who joined the band in 1990) and harpist/vocalist Sugar
Ray Norcia. Their 1995 album, the Grammy-nominated Turn It On! Turn
It Up!, a mix of big band swing and rock 'n' roll, brought the band
its greatest radio and sales success to date. Roomful of Blues joined
Chicago-based Alligator Records with the Grammy-nominated That’s
Right! in 2003, followed by Standing Room Only in 2005 and
Raisin’ A Ruckus in 2008. Down Beat described Standing
Room Only as “bold, brassy and highly danceable jump blues with
contemporary energy and sophistication...swings with a vengeance.”
In addition to their band recordings, Roomful of Blues often backed
musicians like Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy McCracklin, Roy Brown, Joe
Turner, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Earl King—stars of the 1940s and
1950s jump blues scene. Roomful recorded albums with Turner, Vinson and
King during the 1980s, and all three recordings received Grammy
nominations. They played with rocker Pat Benatar on her 1991 album
True Love. The Roomful Horns backed many other artists as well,
including Canadian star Colin James on his double platinum album (in
Canada), Colin James and the Little Big Band, and Stevie Ray
Vaughan on his 1984 Live At Carnegie Hall album on Epic.
Over the years Roomful of Blues has played countless gigs and many major
festivals, including The San Francisco Blues Festival, The King Biscuit
Blues Festival, The Beale Street Music Festival, Blues On The Fox,
Illinois Blues Festival, Kansas City Blues Festival, Monterey Blues
Festival, Santa Cruz Blues Festival, and overseas at The North Sea Jazz
Festival, The Stockholm Jazz Festival, The Montreux Jazz Festival,
Notodden Festival and the Belgian Rhythm & Blues Festival. They’ve
gigged with blues stars ranging from B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray
Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. The band has toured
virtually non-stop, hitting cities from coast to coast, and traveling
abroad to Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and
Russia.
Members
Throughout four decades of continuous touring and recording, the
band's line-up has experienced many changes. It is said that more than
50 musicians have been playing in the band. Some of them have achieved a
successful solo career. Of note, Porky Cohen, whose career began in the
1940s and included playing in the bands of Charlie Barnet, Artie Shaw,
Lucky Millinder, Tommy Dorsey and others, was in the band. Rich Lataille,
alto and tenor saxophone, is the only remaining member from the original
line-up.
