Roy Gaines

Roy Gaines

Roy Gaines in 1977
Background information
Birth name Roy James Gaines
Born (1934-08-12) August 12, 1934
Waskom, Texas, United States
Genres Texas blues, electric blues, East Coast blues[1]
Occupation(s) Guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Labels Various
Associated acts T-Bone Walker, Roy Milton, Chuck Willis, Grady Gaines, Ray Charles

Roy James Gaines (born August 12, 1934[1][2] or 1937[3]) is an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[4] Gaines's recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album, Gainelining. He is the younger brother of another blues musician, Grady Gaines.[1]

Biography

Gaines was born in Waskom, Texas, United States, and relocated with his family to Houston at the age of six.[5] Originally a piano devotee, Gaines moved to playing the guitar in his adolescence.[1] In his teens he was acquainted with his fellow budding guitarist, Johnny Copeland.[2] By the age of 14 he had performed onstage backing his hero, T-Bone Walker, and played in the Houston nightclubs before his move to Los Angeles, California.[1] In 1955, Gaines backing work appeared on recordings by Bobby Bland, Junior Parker and Big Mama Thornton.[2][5] He later backed Roy Milton and then Chuck Willis, and worked again with Walker.[2]

He released two low-key albums in 1956, and a couple more in the 1960s on small record labels.[2] In 1966, Gaines became part of Ray Charles' backing band.[5] Other backing work for Gaines included sessions with The Everly Brothers, The Supremes, Bobby Darin, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.[6]

His primary function was as a sideman, but he released his solo album, Gainelining in 1982. Further works followed such as New Frontier Lover (2000).[1] Also, Gaines had a small part in the 1985 film, The Color Purple.[6] In 2009, Gaines (billed as Roy Gaines & his Orchestra) released Tuxedo Blues, featuring a full big band. Selections included "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," which Gaines originally performed in The Color Purple. Also included was a cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You."

Gaines' co-composed song, "No Use Crying", has been recorded by George Jones and Ray Charles.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label
1982 Gainelining Red Lightnin'
1996 Lucille Work for Me Black Gold
1998 Bluesman for Life JSP
1999 I Got the T-Bone Walker Blues Groove Note
2000 New Frontier Lover Severn
2002 Superman Black & Blue
2002 In the House: Live at Lucerne, Vol. 4 CrossCut (Germany)
2004 The First TB Album Delta Groove
2005 Rock-A-Billy Boogie Woogie Blues Man Black Gold
2005 Going Home to See Mama Black Gold
2009 Tuxedo Blues Black Gold

[7]

With The Jazz Crusaders

With Les McCann

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ankeny, Jason. "Roy Gaines". Allmusic. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Roy Gaines - Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  3. ↑ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 316. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  4. ↑ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 180. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  5. 1 2 3 Govenar, Alan B. (2008). Texas blues: the rise of a contemporary sound (1st ed.). Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-58544-605-6.
  6. 1 2 Herzhaft, Gérard; et al. (1997). Encyclopedia of the blues (1st ed.). Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press. p. 90. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
  7. ↑ "Roy Gaines | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
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