Roomful of Blues

Roomful of Blues is a horn-driven musical band that plays jump blues. The group was formed in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967 by guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley. Since then, the band has been continually touring and recording.

Their debut album, "Roomful of Blues", known as "The first Album" on the CD version, was produced by Doc Pomus and Joel Dorn in 1978. They have toured and recorded with great blues artists such as Big Joe Turner, Eddie Vinson, Earl King and others, and the horn section has been in great demand for recordings with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pat Benatar, Colin James and Mitch Woods, to name just a few. Count Basie referred to them as "the hottest blues band I've ever known". Their album with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1983, as it did the one with Big Joe Turner, "Blues Train", in 1984. Their recording "Turn it On! Turn it Up!" 1995 was also nominated.

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 '40s 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.

Current

*Chris Vachon, guitar
*Dave Howard, vocals
*Dimitry Gorodetsky, upright bass and bass guitar
*Ephraim Lowell, drums
*Travis Colby, piano and B3 organ
*Rich Lataille, tenor and alto saxophone
*Bob Enos, trumpet 7/4/1947- 1/11/2008
* Mark Earley, baritone saxophone and tenor saxophone

Past

This is a partial list:
*Duke Robillard, vocal and guitar
*Al Basile, trumpet & cornett
*Ronnie Earl, guitar
*Al Copley, piano
*Ron Levy, piano and organ
*Porky Cohen, trombone
*Fran Christina, drums
*Larry Peduzzi, bass
*Greg Piccolo, vocal and tenor sax
*Curtis Salgado, vocal
*Lou Ann Barton, vocal
*Mac Odom, vocal
*Sugar Ray Norcia, vocal and harp
*John Rossi, drums
*Doug James a.k.a. "Mr. Low", baritone saxophone
*Preston Hubbard, bass
*Marty Ballou, bass
* Junior Brantley, keyboards
* Matt McCabe, piano
* Tommy K., guitar
* [http://bluesbone.com Carl Querfurth] , trombone and producer
* Ken "Doc" Grace, bass
* Hank Walther, piano and Hammond B-3
* Mark DuFresne, vocals and harp
* Brad Hallen, bass
* Jason Corbiere, drums
* Mark Stevens, piano and Hammond B-3
* Rory McLeod, bass
* Jimmy Wimpfheimer, bass
* Danny Motta, trumpet
* John Wolf, tenor trombone
* Albert Weisman, piano and Hammond B-3
* Kevin May, baritone sax

Discography

tudio Albums

* 2008 "Raisin' a Ruckus"
* 2005 "Standin' Room Only"
* 2003 "That's Right!"
* 2001 "Watch you when you go"
* 1998 "There goes the Neighborhood"
* 1997 "Under one roof"
* 1997 "Roomful of Christmas"
* 1995 "Turn it on! Turn it up!"
* 1995 "Rhythm & Bones" (with Porky Cohen)
* 1994 "Dance all night"
* 1986 "Glazed" (with Earl King)
* 1984 "Dressed up to get Messed Up"
* 1983 "Blues Train" (with Big Joe Turner & Dr John)
* 1982 "Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson & A Roomful of Blues"
* 1980 "Hot Little Mama"
* 1978 "Let's Have a Ball"
* 1978 "Roomful of Blues" (aka "The First Album" in CD re-release)

Live Albums

* 2002 "Live at Wolf Trap"
* 1987 "Live at Lupos"

Compilations

* "The Blues will make you Happy" (1981-1998 songs)
* "Swingin' & Jumpin' " (1970's recordings)

External links

* [http://www.roomful.com Official website]
* [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-263230-bio--Roomful-Of-Blues Roomful of Blues at Yahoo! Music]