All posts by sbomar

Don Bryant Brings You His New LP, You Make Me Feel, out May 8 (Fat Possum)

Don Bryant Brings You His New LP, You Make Me Feel, out May 8 (Fat Possum)

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Hi Records Hit Man & Memphis Soul Survivor

Teams with Hi Rhythm Members & Producer Scott Bomar for Career Retrospective & New Music

 

US Tour Dates, including April 22 @ City Winery, NYC

 

                  Hear “Your Love Is to Blame”                        

 

If you turn your ears a certain way, You Make Me Feel (May 8, Fat Possum) by soul great Don Bryant can be heard as a love letter to his wife of 50 years, Ann Peebles.  That killer horn riff that kicks off the album? Think of it as a fanfare preceding the reading of a royal decree; or maybe it’s a funky version of a wedding march.  Written by Bryant and producer Scott Bomar, “Your Love Is to Blame” has the chorus of a good blues song: “Nothing in my life is the same/Your love is to blame.” But here, “blame” gets a halo. “I tried to turn this one around,” Don says with a slight grin. Then he explains, “Your love is to blame because we are together!”

 

Check out “Your Love Is to Blame,” available now.  (https://donbryant.lnk.to/youmakemefeel)

 

Produced by Scott Bomar, who recently scored Dolemite Is My Name and mixed by Matt Ross-Spang (Elvis Presley, Al Green, John Prine), You Make Me Feel continues Don’s resurgence with newly written music and a revisit to Don’s celebrated back catalog, where he’s interpreting some of his songs for the first time.  Musicians include members of the Hi Rhythm section — Howard Grimes, Archie “Hubbie” Turner and Charles Hodges, who played on his by Al Green and Ann Peebles — with members of St. Paul and the Broken Bones and The Bo-Keys.

 

“It feels good to have found my own voice,” says Don, who never stopped writing.  “Music has always been a part of me, I’ve never given up on it, never let it go. If I’m walking around, I’m humming songs. Now, I’m trying to let it all out. What I had, what I got, and what I’m gonna get.”

 

Don is nearing the age of 80, and You Make Me Feel is his third solo album. His 1969 debut Precious Soul was produced by Willie Mitchel, who planned for Bryant to be Hi Records’ next star.  Don instead took a supporting role and made a career as a Hi Records hit man, namely as the songwriter and background singer for Peebles, who topped the charts in 1974 with “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”  Ann retired from music in 2012, and Don returned to the spotlight in 2017 with his second album, Don’t Give Up on Love.

 

“I fell in love with Ann when she first came in to Hi,” he reveals. “But there was so much going on with her—recording, travel, so many around her—it wasn’t my time. And I wasn’t in no hurry—I knew I wasn’t going nowhere! We got to know each other better and better and it opened up. It was a long drawn out situation, but for me it was love at first sight.”

 

One of the many standouts on Make You Feel is the reprise of “Don’t Turn Your Back on Me,” a single Don originally released in 1965. The new version is slowed down, and as anyone who has ever pleaded—for love, for life, for time—we know that the slow petition is more effective… but so much harder to carry out.  Don recorded a new version of “99 Pounds” “to put some light on Ann,” he demurs, and there’s a punch to this new version that would make Willie Mitchell proud—classic soul with a 21st century power.  And he doesn’t shy from the darker feelings; “Is It Over” sounds like it might date to 1973, when Otis Clay recorded Bryant’s song, “I Die a Little Each Day,” also featured on the album.

 

This is the first time Don released a version of his “Cracked Up Over You,” recorded enough times to be an R&B chestnut.  (Jr. Parker gave it a fine workout.) Don released the B-side “I’ll Go Crazy” in 1968, and it it’s only song on here he didn’t write.  He related to the hook: “If you love me any better, I’ll go crazy.”  

 

“My main thing is to tell a story,” reflects Don.  “Taking an idea and making a full story out of it is a challenge to me. I go back to look at situations in my life, work the story in my head…If you can tap into things that people go through, then they want to listen.”

 

Tour Dates

Mar 13 – Memphis, TN – Hernado’s Hideaway

Apr 22 – New York, NY – City Winery

May 02 – Memphis, TN – Beale St Music Festival

May 07 – Los Angeles, CA – Grammy Museum

May 08 – Los Angeles, CA – Gold-Diggers

May 13 – Sydney, Australia  – Mary’s Underground

May 14 – Melbourne,  Australia – Spotted Mallard

May 16 – Gold Coast, Australia – Blues On Broadbeach

Jun 27 – Austin, TX – Antone’s

Jul 25 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Folk Festival

 

You Make Me Feel

  1. Your Love Is to Blame (Bomar/Bryant)
  2. 99 Pounds (Bryant)
  3. I Die a Little Each Day (Bryant)
  4. Don’t Turn Your Back on Me (Bryant)
  5. Your Love Is Too Late (Bomar/Bryant)
  6. I’ll Go Crazy (J. Cross, M. Cross, Frierson)
  7. Cracked Up over You (Bryant)
  8. A Woman’s Touch (Bomar/Bryant)
  9. Walk All Over God’s Heaven (P.D., arranged by Bomar/Bryant)

 

Preorder/Listen: https://donbryant.lnk.to/youmakemefeel

“HI ROLLER” BY THE BO-KEYS FEATURED IN NETFLIX FILM “DOLEMITE IS MY NAME” SOUNDTRACK OUT NOW!

New Netflix film, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME” features the Bo-Keys song, “Hi Roller” and an original score by The Bo-Keys bassist and bandleader, Scott Bomar.

Soundtrack available now digitally and coming soon to vinyl !

Link to a recent article from Variety about the music is below.

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/dolemite-is-my-name-music-score-rudy-ray-moore-rap-snoop-1203399726/

 

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The Bo-Keys “Heartaches By the Number” New Album Out Now !

The Bo-Keys “Heartaches By the Number” is available now on Omnivore Records (CD/DIGITAL) and Electraphonic Recording (VINYL).

Heartaches By The Number explores the intersection of country, folk and soul music, with interpretations of songs by Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Charlie Rich, Swamp Dogg and Ray Price plus a few original tunes penned by the group.

The group brought in a few guests to join them on their “country/soul” journey including legendary Hi Records Artist, Don Bryant, Hi Records and American Studios group, The Masqueraders and roots singer/songwriter & guitarist, John Paul Keith.

The Bo-Keys celebrated the new release at the Stax Museum of American in Memphis, TN on April 21st.  They will be adding more dates this Spring and Summer, stay tuned for details.

RECENT ACCLAIM:

“Heartache By The Number is surely one of the best soul albums to be released this year, and you’d be a fool to miss it.”

Funk and Soul Revue – George Haffenden

“….an outstanding set of jukebox favorites, recorded by the premier musicians of the Stax/Volt and Hi Records studios in Memphis….a heart and soul celebration of traditional southern soul music, performed by the players who do it best.

All About Jazz Reviews – James Nadal

“The Bo-Keys mix some familiar tunes with some that are more obscure, interpret them uniquely and find the right balance between listenable and danceable music. My only quibble is that there’s only 40 minutes of music. They’ve left us wanting more.”

Elmore Magazine – Jim Hynes

“The Bo-Keys play a sound on Heartaches by the Number that is a fit for honky tonk or juke joint….”

The Alternate Root

 

 

The Bo-Keys announce new album, “Heartaches By The Number” coming April 29

The Bo-Keys “Heartaches By the Number” will be released April 29th by Omnivore Records (CD/DIGITAL) and Electraphonic Recording (VINYL).

Heartaches By The Number explores the intersection of country, folk and soul music, with interpretations of songs by Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Charlie Rich, Swamp Dogg and Ray Price plus a few original tunes penned by the group.

The group brought in a few guests to join them on their “country/soul” journey including legendary Hi Records Artist, Don Bryant, Hi Records and American Studios group, The Masqueraders and roots singer/songwriter & guitarist, John Paul Keith.

The Bo-Keys will be celebrating the new release at the Stax Museum of American in Memphis, TN on April 21st.  Later in the week they will have a two night stand at famous Austin, TX blues club, Antone’s on April 29th and 30th and on May 4th they make an appearance on Nashville’s, Music City Roots.  They will be adding more dates this Spring and Summer, stay tuned for details.

 

 

 

The Bo-Keys w/ Percy Wiggins featured in the 78 Project film and soundtrack

The original soundtrack to The 78 Project Movie is now available for pre-order !

The 78 Project: Volume 2 – Original Soundtrack to The 78 Project Movie contains 15 one-of-a-kind one-take recordings cut directly to acetate disks on our 1930′s Presto disk recorder in The 78 Project Movie. These recordings are not available anywhere else, with singular performances by John DoeVictoria WilliamsThe Bo-Keys feat. Percy WigginsGaby Moreno & Adam LevyThe Reverend John WilkinsLouis Michot, Corey Ledet & Ashlee MichotJohn Reilly & Tom BrosseauJoe BussardJohn Paul KeithBen VaughnCoati MundiSea of BeesLittle WingsElla Mae Bowen and The Easy Leaves. We can’t wait for you to hear them.

Reserve your copy of The 78 Project: Volume 2 – Original Soundtrack to The 78 Project Movie by pre-ordering now! You’ll receive the limited edition vinyl in the mail along with a digital download card that gets you the songs and downloadable in-depth digital liner notes.

This album is a very limited edition, and will only be available while supplies last via The78Project.com and in select stores. (Our pressing of Volume 1 sold out within a week.)

For full tracklisting, more information, and to pre-order your copy, go to The 78 Project shop!

Magazine Home Page

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New Mini-Doc on The Bo-Keys featuring Percy Wiggins Just Released !

A behind the scenes look at The Bo-Keys at Electraphonic Recording Studio in Memphis, TN, recording a new series of 45rpm singles featuring vocalists, Percy and Spencer Wiggins.

“Writing On the Wall” B/W “I’m Still In Need”
“I Need More Than One Lifetime” B/W “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”
“The Dark End of the Street” B/W “Wind-Up Monkey”

Available Now on 45rpm vinyl and digital.

www.thebokeys.com
www.electraphonicrecording.com

Directed by Nathan Black, Unbreakable Productions

 

The Bo-Keys to Perform at Opus One Concert with John Gary Williams, Percy Wiggins and the Memphis Symphony at the Levitt Shell

Opus One at the historic Levitt Shell! 70’s Stax artist John Gary Williams, the hot rhythm section of the Bo-Keys, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; that is the recipe for a memorable evening. The Shell is part of the performance.

Join us before the Opus One concert for a very special Pre-Show Party to honor Memphis 70s soul music and raise support for the documentary film project “I See Hope” that chronicles the life story of John Gary Williams.

The concert is free but you need a ticket for this very special Pre-Show Party!

THE BO-KEYS to perform at The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter 40th Anniversary Celebration with William Bell and Percy Wiggins

THE BO-KEYS will be performing at The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter 40th Anniversary Celebration with William Bell and Percy Wiggins !

The Recording Academy Memphis Chapter will celebrate 40 years of proudly serving Memphis and the Mid-South region by hosting a variety of special events. Founded in 1973, the Memphis Chapter nourishes the region’s music scene by developing local pride in its rich musical heritage as well as creating opportunities to help independent music makers and emerging artists.

The Memphis Chapter’s 40th anniversary milestone celebration will kick off with a free concert on July 13 at 7 p.m. at Levitt Shell in downtown Memphis. Attendees will be able to explore the Chapter’s 40-year history through rarely seen video footage and special live performances. GRAMMY winners and nominees from throughout the region, heritage artists and regional favorites will come together to perform songs that shine a spotlight on the Chapter’s legacy, including music inducted into GRAMMY Hall Of Fame.

Continuing the celebration, the Memphis Chapter will team with the Stax Museum in Memphis to create a GRAMMY-themed exhibit. The exhibit will include GRAMMY memorabilia such as GRAMMY Hall Of Fame certificates, never-before-seen photographs and artifacts from various GRAMMY winners. The exhibit is set to open Oct. 17 and will run through July 31, 2014.

Additionally, the Memphis Chapter will host GRAMMY GPS: A Road Map For Today’s Music Biz at the Stax Museum on Oct. 26. The GRAMMY Professional Development Event will feature keynote speakers and industry professionals, and will explore various topics related to the business side of the music industry.

http://www.grammy.com/news/the-memphis-chapter-is-full-of-soul-at-40

THE BO-KEYS FEATURING PERCY WIGGINS “HANDWRITING ON THE WALL” EP AVAILABLE NOW ON ELECTRAPHONIC RECORDING

New 45 RPM vinyl/Digital Single available now on Electraphonic
Recording.

The Bo-Keys featuring Percy Wiggins “Handwriting on the Wall” B/W “I’m
Still In Need”

The BO-KEYS, team up with vocalist PERCY WIGGINS to bring you a double
shot of Memphis Soul and R&B.  PERCY WIGGINS, who cut classic Northern
Soul sides in the 60s for ATCO and RCA,  is featured on two original
songs penned by The BO-KEYS and WIGGINS.  The Bobby “Blue” Bland
inspired R&B of “WRITING ON THE WALL” and the Southern Soul ballad,
“I’M STILL IN NEED.”

Limited Edition of 500

Buy Your VINYL copy Today at:

www.electraphonicrecording.com/shop.html

Or DIGITAL at:

AMAZON

iTUNES

THE BO-KEYS to perform at 25th Anniversary of Porretta Soul Festival

The Bo-Keys make their first trip to Italy to perform July 20, 21 and 22 at the 25th Annual Porretta Soul Festival.

The group will be performing their own sets and backing Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, John Gary Williams and David Hudson.

Visit the Porretta site for more details.

http://www.porrettasoul.it/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LA Times Reviews The Bo-Keys and Cyndi Lauper show at Club Nokia

Her Grammy-nominated “Memphis Blues” album was produced by Scott Bomar, bandleader and bassist for the Bo-Keys, which opened the night with a fiery set that unfolded like a classic soul revue.

There were searing instrumentals, fueled by a band that included guitarist Charles “Skip” Pitts (a longtime sideman for Isaac Hayes) and trumpeter Ben Cauley, the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed Otis Redding and the rest of his band, the Bar-Kays. The sound was already full of emotion and euphoria when vocalist Percy Wiggins stepped onstage for several songs of pain and redemption. “Anybody celebrating a divorce?” he asked to scattered cheers. “Lord, have mercy.”

Musselwhite also joined them for a few moments, long enough for another scorching harp solo and to declare, as someone who knows, “We got some blues in the house tonight.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/11/pop-music-review-cyndi-lauper-just-wants-to-have-fun.html

The Bo-Keys on NPR Weekend Edition and PRI Tavis Smiley!

 

TUNE IN THIS WEEKEND: THE BO-KEYS ON NPR WEEKEND EDITION AND PRI TAVIS SMILEY

Memphis soul all-stars the Bo-Keys will be the subjects of an NPR Weekend Edition profile and a segment on Tavis Smiley’s PRI show. Meanwhile, features are on stands now in Guitar Player and Wax Poetics on the band.

The Wall Street Journal reviewed the album this morning, calling the new album, “a spring-loaded funk band that has all of the trampoline punch of its Memphis forebears.” Full review here >

USA Today said, “The Bo-Keys play the perfect hosts for these overlooked dynamos from soul’s golden era… I can’t imagine anyone disliking it.”

Electraphonic Recordings will release the tight Memphis grooves of ‘Got To Get Back!,’ the band’s first album in seven years, on June 21 on CD, LP, and download. Powerhouse guest vocalists join the band, including Stax Records hit-maker William Bell, soul/gospel great Otis Clay, classic Atlantic Records singer Percy Wiggins, and blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, who also blows some of his signature harmonica.

For more information, a CD, a download, or photos on the Bo-Keys, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at nick.losseaton@gmail.com or 718.541.1130.

The Bo-Keys ‘Got To Get Back!’ set for June 21

SOUL MUSIC LOVERS REJOICE AS THE BO-KEYS ‘GOT TO GET BACK!’ SET FOR JUNE 21 RELEASE ON ELECTRAPHONIC RECORDINGS

WILLIAM BELL, OTIS CLAY, PERCY WIGGINS, AND CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE LEND THEIR VOCALS TO HALF-INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

GROUP LINEUP NOW ENHANCED WITH KEY COGS FROM VINTAGE OTIS REDDING, BB KING, AND AL GREEN BANDS

Soul music lovers and crate diggers will eagerly await the June 21 release of ‘Got To Get Back!’ on Electraphonic Recordings from Memphis soul music standard bearers the Bo-Keys, their first in seven years. New converts to the genre via Sharon Jones and others will embrace it upon first listen. Powerhouse guest vocalists join the band, including Stax Records hit-maker William Bell, soul/gospel great Otis Clay, classic Atlantic Records singer Percy Wiggins, and blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, who also blows some of his signature harmonica.

In describing the band in a nutshell, The Memphis Flyer puts it best, “[The] Bo-Keys pair great Stax/Hi-era session players with a younger generation of local session aces.” While the band’s debut, the all-instrumental ‘The Royal Sessions’ earned them raves from NPR (“A Memphis tour-de-force [and] a fine soul stew”), the new album features a lineup with soul greats among the new additions: Trumpet master Ben Cauley was the only surviving member of the crash that killed Otis Redding and the rest of his band; Drummer Howard Grimes comes from the Hi Records rhythm section that most famously backed Al Green; and baritone sax man Floyd Newman is the only surviving member of the BB King Orchestra (the 1955 big band that King handpicked after he had his first hits) besides King himself. Founding members include Charles “Skip” Pitts, who was Isaac Hayes’ guitar man for over 35 years (including on “Theme From Shaft”), and bassist/producer Scott Bomar, who recorded ‘Got To Get Back!’ to analog equipment at his Electraphonic Recordings studio in Memphis.

Since then, the band has attained numerous accomplishments: The Bo-Keys have become a house band for the Ponderosa Stomp festival; performed at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night’s Swing; appeared on screen in the film “Soul Men,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac; backed Cyndi Lauper on her GRAMMY-nominated album as well as on the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS); and earned a rave concert review from the New York Times (“The band’s set was a marvel of discipline and dirt, keeping its dance grooves close to the ground, never overplaying or letting solos spiral beyond their tight spaces”) and a photo spread from tastemaker blog Brooklyn Vegan: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/07/the_bo-keys_the.html

Heads up, Memphians: the Bo-Keys will play a matinee on May 5 at BB King’s Blues Club and will open for Mavis Staples at Minglewood Hall on May 27. Look out for more tour dates to come.

The Bo-Keys are:

Scott Bomar – Bass and percussion

Charles “Skip” Pitts”- Guitar

Howard Grimes- Drums and percussion

Willie Hall- Drums and percussion on “Weak Spot”

Archie “Hubbie” Turner- Keyboard

Al Gamble – Keyboard

Marc Franklin- Trumpet

Ben Cauley- Trumpet

Kirk Smothers – Tenor and Baritone Sax

Derrick Williams- Tenor Sax

Floyd Newman – Baritone Sax

Jim Spake- Baritone Sax

SIDE A
1 Hi Roller
2 Got to Get Back (To My Baby) featuring Otis Clay
3 Just Chillin’
4 Catch This Teardrop featuring Percy Wiggins
5 Jack and Ginger
6 Sundown on Beale

SIDE B
1 Weak Spot featuring William Bell
2 90 Days Same As Cash
3 I’m Going Home featuring Charlie Musselwhite
4 Cauley Flower
5 Work That Sucker featuring Charles “Skip” Pitts
6 Got to Get Back (To My Baby) PT 2 featuring Otis Clay

For more information on the Bo-Keys, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at nick.losseaton@gmail.com or 718.541.1130.

Local Producer Learns trade from Stax Legends


MEMPHIS, Tenn. – From green onions to soul finger, Stax Records brought the music with soul back in the day and the same influence is being felt today.

Scott Bomar has made 100’s of trips through the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and every time he does, he finds inspiration.

“It’s just so inspirational when you see what this studio and this label produced, and the amount of the work and the quality of the work,” said Bomar.

For video and the full story, click here.  >



Press Release 3.22.2011

Coming in summer on Electraphonic Records, the new album by Memphis soul music kings The Bo-Keys gets a boost from founding member Charles “Skip” Pitts, one of the architects of soul, R&B, and funk guitar. Pitts is best known for creating two of the signature guitar riffs of all time: The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing” and the wah-wah on Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft.” In fact, he is associated so deeply with the wahwah pedal that he is interviewed in a new documentary “Cry Baby: The Pedal That RocksThe World” alongside Slash, Buddy Guy, Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammett.

Getting tips from his neighbor Bo Diddley, Pitts learned to play guitar at age 11 on the street corners of his childhood home of Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Pitts’ uncle owned a hotel next to the prestigious Howard Theater, where he met a who’s who of soul and rhythm and blues legends, including James Brown and Otis Redding. He was soon on stage himself, performing with Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, and performing and recording with the Isley Brothers and Rufus Thomas.

Pitts experienced the longest collaboration of his career with Isaac Hayes, staying with him from 1971 to 2008. After the success of “Shaft,” he appeared in the concert film “Wattstax” and started recorded with other Stax artists, holding his own with Albert King, among others.

Pitts’ accomplishments continue deep into the 21st century; alongside the Bo-Keys, he performed on Cyndi Lauper’s GRAMMY-nominated 2010 album ‘Memphis Blues’ and backed her on the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS). He has also given back to his Memphis community, teaching at-risk youth in Memphis at the Stax Music Academy.

And his music has come full circle, with his classic guitar riffs sampled by hip hop royalty such as Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg, Beastie Boys, Massive Attack, Eazy-E, and DJ Shadow with Cut Chemist.

NPR has called The Bo-Keys “a fine soul stew [and] a Memphis tour-de-force.”

For more information on the Bo-Keys, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at
publicity@electraphonicrecording.com or 718.541.1130.