Susan Tedeschi

Infobox musical artist
Name = Susan Tedeschi

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Img_capt = Tedeschi performing in 2007
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Susan Tedeschi
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1970|11|9|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Boston, Massachusetts
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar
Genre = Blues, Soul
Occupation = Vocalist, Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 1998-present
Label = Verve, Tone-Cool (Rounder/Mercury)
Associated_acts = Susan Tedeschi Band, The Derek Trucks Band, The Other Ones/Grateful Dead
URL = [http://www.susantedeschi.com/ SusanTedeschi.com]
Current_members =
Past_members = Tom Hambridge, Adrienne Hayes
Notable_instruments =

Susan Tedeschi (pronounced te-DES-ki) (November 9, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American blues and soul artist, who has risen to fame with multiple Grammy Award nominations, powerful singing voice, and her marriage to Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band and The Derek Trucks Band. She is also known for the "Soul Stew Revival", a conglomeration of both her band, that of The Derek Trucks Band, and assorted other personnel.

Early life

Susan Tedeschi was born on November 9, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) but was raised in Norwell, Massachusetts. Tedeschi had always been musically inclined, and made her debut public performance as a 5 year old understudy in a Broadway musical, which she enjoyed, as well as singing for family members, and listening to her father's record collection of old vinyl recordings of Mississippi John Hurt, and Lightning Hopkins. Raised as a Catholic, she found little inspiration in their chorus, and so attended predominantly African-American Baptist churches, feeling the music was "less repressed and more like a celebration of God." She's played in bands since the age of 13 and formed her first all-original group at age 18 in the nearby town of Scituate, Massachussets, called the Smokin' Section. [http://www.lilithfair.com/artists/susantedeschi/index.html Lilith Fair Biography] ] Tedeschi attended the Berklee College of Music where she sang in a Gospel choir; performing show tunes on the Spirit of Boston and received her bachelor of music in composition and performance. During that time, she began sitting in with local blues jams at venues there, and immersed herself in the Boston music scene.

Career

Early days

Tedeschi formed the Susan Tedeschi Band in 1994, featuring Tom Hambridge and Adrienne Hayes. In 1995 she began playing guitar and honed her skills and in December the band released "Better Days" to regional audiences. Record contracts were difficult to keep together; however, recording sessions from 1997 were acquired by Richard Rosenblatt, and the band was signed to indy label Tone-Cool Records and "Just Won't Burn", featuring young guitarist Sean Costello, was released in February 1998 to very positive reviews from blues publications.

1999 found Tedeschi playing several dates in the all-woman traveling festival, the Lilith Fair, organized by Sarah McLachlan. From 1998 and 1999 Susan Tedeschi toured extensively throughout the United States and her fearless stage presence and powerful voice drew larger crowds. Eventually Tedeschi was opening for John Mellencamp, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan. In 2000, "Just Won't Burn" reached Gold record status for sales of 500,000 in the United States, rare for a blues production. She recorded two tracks with Double Trouble band members Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon for their album.

By 2004, Tedeschi turned a few heads when she was listed by Peter Gammons of ESPN in his list of "all time top 20 favorite albums." She came in at a respectable #15 for her album, "Just Won't Burn". Not to be outdone, husband Derek Trucks also made the list, at #9 for "A Joyful Noise", both surprising accomplishments, given that they are both blues artists, who are often overlooked. In addition, the other musicians on the list were some of rock's elite, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Little Feat, and Jackson Browne, just to name a few. cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=gammons/040802|title=The Lyrics of Life|last=Gammons|first=Peter|date=December 17, 2004|publisher=ESPN; Page 3|accessdate=2008-08-16]

Current band members

* Susan Tedeschi- vocals
* Ron Holloway – Tenor Saxophone
* Matt Slocum - Keyboards and Hammond B-3 Organ
* Dave Yoke - Guitar
* Ted Pecchio – Bass Guitar
* Tyler Greenwell - Drums

Influences

Susan Tedeschi's voice has been described as a blend of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, though she explains this is due to sharing the same influences as the two. Her guitar playing is influenced by Buddy Guy, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and Doyle Bramhall II.

Personal life

In 2001, she married former child prodigy and Allman Brothers Band slide guitarist Derek Trucks, who is bandleader and lead guitarist of The Derek Trucks Band. Tedeschi and Trucks met when she was the opening act on the Allman Brothers Band's 1999 Summer Tour. They have two children; Charles Khalil Trucks, born in 2002, is named for saxophonist Charlie Parker, guitarist Charlie Christian, and author Khalil Gibran. Sophia Naima Trucks, born in 2004, takes her unusual middle name from the John Coltrane ballad, which was also the jazz legend's first wife's name. They reside in Jacksonville, Florida.

oul Stew Revival

Tedeschi, with her powerful vocals and Trucks on guitar complement one another, and have toured together frequently under the name "Soul Stew Revival". This includes the members of The Derek Trucks Band, the members of Susan Tedeschi's band, and other musicians who travel with them, including Trucks' younger brother, Duane Trucks. As of 2008, two other horn players have been added, so that with Ron Holloway, there is now a three piece horn section, playing with Soul Stew when on tour.

Grammy nominations

*2000 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist
*2003 Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
*2006 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for "Hope and Desire" [http://www.susantedeschi.com/ Official Website] ]

Discography

*"Better Days" (Oarfin, 1997)
*"Just Won't Burn" (Tone Cool, 1998)
*"Wait for Me" (Tone Cool, 2002)
*"Live from Austin, TX" (New West, 2004)
*"Hope and Desire" (Verve, 2005)
*"Back to the River" (Verve, 2008)

Collaborations and guest appearances

*"Joyful Noise" (2002), Derek Trucks Band
*"Bug - original motion picture soundtrack" (Various Artists, Lionsgate Records 2007) - track #5 "I Fell in Love"
*"Skin Deep" (2008), Buddy Guy

*Performances with The Derek Trucks Band and Eric Clapton, during the Crossroads Guitar Festival, July 28, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois.

References

External links

* [http://susantedeschi.com Susan Tedeschi official site]
* [http://stb.home.pipeline.com Dick Tedeschi's "fansite"]
* [http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=10884 Derek & Susan: It's a Family Thing] Article/Interview from Jambase.com
* [http://www.jambase.com/Artists/Artist.aspx?ArtistID=3774 Biography on Jam Base]