A Fresh Start
Hey, everyone! I know it’s been forever since I last updated this site. But that’s all changed now. My web guy (and awesome bassist) Lane Baldwin and I agreed my website needed something new. Here’s the begining of a new thing for me.
The Nighthawks started off 2010 with the departure, for health reasons, of longtime drummer and my longtime pal Pete Ragusa! He was replaced in the lineup by Mark Stutso, amazing vocalist and drummer, most recently with Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers for a mere 18 years. We did the usual nearly 200 gigs including two trips to Europe. We released an all acoustic set we did @ XM/Sirius studios, at the urging of Bill Wax himself. We decided to call it “Last Train To Bluesville” to honor the XM/Sirius blues channel. It was Pete’s last recording with the Nighthawks.
Meanwhile the Thrillbillys struggled to finish their second CD while holding down their Sunset Grille Thursdays and still playing in their various other bands. Invited to open for the Nighthawks at their annual State Theatre Thanksgiving show, I rushed to finish the post production of the Thrillbilly CD in time for the show. I made it, and it is called “Where There’s A Thrill, There’s A Way”, available on CDBaby.com! Check our website for more info.
2011 started out on a sad note when we lost my beloved Mother-In-Law, Phyllis Grainger. She was a real pip, and loved to come to shows and rock out. She is sorely missed!
In early May, the Nighthawks were invited to perform at the Blues Foundation Awards Show in Memphis, TN. The band was nominated for Acoustic CD of the Year. I’m still as amazed as I was that night when the presenter said “and the winner is…The Nighthawks!” We each got a Blues Award, including Pete Ragusa, who was presented his by the ‘Hawks at the State Theatre show later in the year. Boy, the phone started ringing! We worked ourselves to a nub the remainder of the year, including some big Theatre shows doubling up with the Skip Castro Band at years end…great fun!!
Another sad note was to learn our ol’ pal Hubert Sumlin, whom we were trying to get on our newest recording for our new label, Severn Records, had passed away. We’d had a couple of gigs with him that he couldn’t make for health reasons, and just like that…gone! What a sweet Man! Always laughing and smiling. The CD had to be done without Hubert. Recorded live in studio at Severn Records in Annapolis, MD, we finished recording, dubbing and mixing in 2 weeks. The CD will be out this April and is called “Damn Good Time”!
2012 started with my getting a new right hip. I needed it and it’s done and doing well, and after 6 weeks of recovery/rehab I’m good to go and clocked to rock! Keep an eye on the Nighthawks schedule, and we’ll seeya out there!
We’re Back!
June 04, 2008
Hey everybody! Been awhile since we updated the news page. The Nighthawks have finished recording a new CD at Cue Recorders, Falls Church, VA. No title yet, but we have 13 songs to choose from, including four penned by yours truly. We hope to have it available by the end of Summer.
The ‘Hawks have a busy Spring and Summer planned with Festivals, Outdoor Concerts, Wine festivals, and more on the schedule. We have 3 dates at the end of June playing with the legendary Hubert Sumlin. Check the Nighthawks web site for the when and where’s.
After playing a number of “Rolling Thunder” events Memorial Day weekend, the ‘Hawks played for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Sunday June 1st. It was fun, the troops seemed to enjoy it, and there was excellent Barbeque supplied by my old friend Bobby Mitchell’s fantastic Catering Co. “Puttin’ On The Ritz”. Hope we can do it again for our combat veterans!
The Thrillbillys are also in the Studio working on a new CD of (so far) all original tunes. Mike Harvey’s home studio in Annandale, VA is great! He’s a delight to work with, and the stuff sounds awesome! No clue as to when it may come available, but I’ll keep ya posted.
The Thrillbillys are still doin’ Thrillbilly Thursdays at the Sunset Grille in Annandale. In mid-May I had my 16th anniversary of playing most Thursdays at “the Grille”! Yikes! Thanks to Shel and Kay for putting up with me for all of these years!
Nighthawks DVD Review
April 28, 2006
As y’all know, the new Nighthawks DVD/CD is out, and I was finally home long enough to look at it! It really looks great!
It’s a 4 camera shoot with absolutely seamless editing. The Rolling Storm production crew did a phenomenal job with little cut-ins, like Pete doing a little cymbal fill..there it is. A guitar riff? There’s Paul playing it. They didn’t miss a trick!
The band was amazed that we got anything at all, as we drove 8 hours that day from Rochester, NY to the Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. We knew we were beat, but you can’t tell from this video. Two highlights: “Blue Moon In Your Eye”, “the Sopranos” TV theme song is smoking and leads off the package. We adapted it for a four piece group and it sounds righteous! “Black Night” A sultry Blues number with some astounding displays of musicianship by Mark Wenner on chromatic harp, and Paul Bell on guitar.
Check it out! You can order online at the Nighthawks web site.
Blue Moon in Your Eye
April 17, 2006
Just want to let y’all know that the new Nighthawks CD and DVD two-disc set is now available for purchase on the Nighthawks web site.
Blue Moon is a live set recorded at The Barns at Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA) and features the new lineup, including Paul Bell on guitar and me on bass. Production was handled by the Hawks with Scott Norcross and Dan Kohlmeier.
Each disc includes thirteen tracks, including a great rave-up of the Sopranos theme song, the Carl Perkins classic Put Your Cat Clothes On, and he very cool (but obscure) Bo Diddley tune You Don’t Love Me – You Don’t Care, featuring Yours Truly on vocals.
I just got my copies of the set last Thursday as the band headed out for its Easter Weekend gigs, so I haven’t had a chance to check out the final product yet. But I’ll be doing that tonight. But I can tell you from what I saw during production that it’s a great set, filled with slammin’ music. If you’re a Hawks fan, you need to get yourself a copy!
A Quick Update
April 5, 2006
Hey, y’all! Just wanted to give you a little update on what I’ve been doing lately. Spent a weekend gigging in St. John, Virgin Islands in late March. Paradise! Got totally sunburned snorkeling. Waterproof sunscreen? Hah! Don’t believe it! The people there really seem starved for good, live American Roots music. There are a surprising number of little bars that are able to host musicians. Ran into Mitch Woods (of the Rocket 88’s- SF Bay area). He was there tickling the blue ivorys around some of the islands. Speaking of tickling the ivorys, the Nighthawks were joined by John Cleary, keyboardist for Bonnie Raitt, for a set at the Beach Bar in S.J. Man, he’s great! A british Professor Longhair! Bonnie’s doin’ some of his songs on her new CD.
Last week, I saw my old pals Eddie & Martha Adcock. They were opening for, and Eddie was performing with, the Country Gentlemen reunion at the State Theater, Falls Church, VA. It was great to see Jimmy Goodreau (mandolin) with whom I’ve played many times, and Tom Gray one of my favorite people as well as bass players. He was my mentor in Bluegrass upright bass, with his work for 4 decades with the Seldom Scene, as well as the Country Gentlemen. Randy Waller was stepping in for his Dad, Charlie Waller, who passed in ’04. Randy’s guitar playing was amazing! Charlie was great..Randy’s phenomenal!! He was playing his dads axe too which made it really sound like Charlie was still there! I had to leave before their show (gig to play) but they did about 4 songs in the dressing room, and I’ll tell you, those fans got a treat that night. Bluegrass- Finger Pickin Good!!
I did double duty Sun.4/2, at Sullys in Chantilly, VA. A Benefit for a young musician, Chris Hopson, who’s battling 2 kinds of cancer. The benefit featured the Nighthawks, Thrillbillys, Uncle Chunky, Tom Principato Band, Smylin’ Jack, Bloody Meri, and a few others. What a smashing success! The place was packed to the rafters, and it was a beautiful day so the parking lot was jammed with Harleys. All the bands rocked! Uncle Chunky’s bassist didn’t show (sick) so Damian Grasso, their drummer, picked up the bass and roared!! El Toro Gamble filled in beautifully on drums, and Damian’s brother, Tony always rocks on guitar, but I was truly impressed with Damian’s abilities. I’ve known these young fellas since they were in diapers, I felt like a proud Uncle watching them. The benfit raised dang near $10,000!!! Hope that helps Chris! Thanks to everyone who came out; I hope ya’ll had as much fun as I did!
A Very Special Show
March 19, 2006
ChrisFEST – Sunday, April 2, 2006
Folks, I need your help. I’m asking you to mark this date on your calendar and get your bad self out to this show at Sully’s in Chantilly. Chris Hopson, son of the General Manager of the Sunset Grill, needs our help to cover the costs of cancer treatment. And that’s what this benefit is all about. I’ll be there with my band The Thrillbillys and The Nighthawks. We’ll be sharing the stage with a ton of great bands, including Wild Card, Smylin’ Jack, Bloody Meri, Uncle Chunky, Tom Principato, Last Call and the Johnny Artis Band. There’s an all day buffet and great BBQ, and we’ll be doing several raffles throughout the day. Doors open at noon and the party goes on all day and night.
Click Here to download a flyer with all the info. And if you want to help out, you can print some and pass them out to your friends.
So. . . mark it down, y’all. Sunday, April 2. Noon. Ya gotta be at this one, OK?