ROBERT ROSS BAND
Website: www.RobertRossBand.com
Quote: "A blues icon. One of the great blues spirits." Bob Fass (Radio Un-nameable, WBAI-FM Pacifica Network).

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DECEMBER 2009 SCHEDULE
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12/4/09 Friday: ROBERT ROSS @ BIG DAVE’S FAMILY BBQ
Address: 47 West Main St., Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: 845-294-4BBQ (4227)
Website: bigdavesbbq.com
Time: Show is from 6PM to 8:30PM
No Admission
Featuring: Robert Ross on vocals, guitar, slide guitar, & harmonica.
FYI: If you like barbecue you're gonna love this place.
Directions: http://bigdavesbbq.com/location.htm
Located in the heart of Goshen, just off the 5-corner intersection.
From the Quickway (US-6/NY-17), take Exit 124.
Follow the signs into the village of Goshen
At the 5-corner stoplight, turn left onto West Main Street. Big Dave's Family BBQ is on the left.
Plenty of parking either on the street, or in the lot around back of club.
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12/23/09 Wednesday: ADAM GUSSOW & ROBERT ROSS @ CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ

This will be the only New York appearance of Adam Gussow (Satan & Adam) this year. Don't miss this amazing duo in a rare performance!!

Also on the bill: David Bennett Cohen of Country Joe & The Fish. Show Time: 10:15PM

Soul Of The Blues Festival

Presented by: Jon Sobels Sponsored by: The Downstate NY Blues Society

Address: 29 Cornelia Street (between Bleecker St. & 6th Ave.) Phone: (212) 989-9318

Show Time: 8:30pm but Adam & Robert set is at 9:15PM. Fifty minutes of soulful blues from this great duo!!

Admission: $10 cover + $6 food/drink minimum.Please tell the club you came to see Adam Gussow & Robert Ross!

Featuring: Adam Gussow on harmonica; and Robert Ross on vocals, guitar, and slide guitar.

Club's Website: www.corneliastreetcafe.com/ and http://souloftheblues.com

Adam's Website: http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/biography.html

Robert's Website: www.RobertRossBand.com

The performance space is downstairs. Fans who arrive before the performance space opens at 8:30PM can hang out at the bar. Don't forget to mention that you came to see Adam & Robert!!

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Bio

ALL MY CHILDREN 2008: Two of Ross’ original songs including,“69 Chevy”  were featured on  ABC’s daytime drama “All My Children”.

“WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?” 2004: Released on Election Day on Fountainbleu., this 4 song cd examined the 2000 election, surveillance, corporate greed, fear mongering, and the Iraq War. Tom “Bones” Malone of the CBS Orchestra, Late Show With David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and The Blues Brothers said, "Nice stuff! You're doing the right stuff. You're the new Bob Dylan! I really like that! It’s really great!"

"SLEIGHT OF HAND” 2002: Released on Fountainbleu showcasing the best material from 2 previous cds and re-mastered by Dennis Ferrante (Elvis, Aerosmith, John Lennon). Guitar World called it “an excellent new cd.” Radio stations in dozen of cities loved it leading to appearances at the Chicago Blues Festival and the Montreal Internation Jazz Festival where they blew away 10,000 fans.

"LIGHTNESS ... TO DARK” & "IT'S ALIVE” 1999: A live cd released on Brambus in Europe (Lightness To Dark), and on Blue Planet in the USA (It’s Alive). The band had 6 extended European tours from 1996 to 2000.

"DARKNESS ... TO LIGHT" 1996: Our second European release was on Brambus. The band began touring Europe extensively to packed houses. Reviews were numerous and impressive. The cd received lots of airplay too.

JOHNNY WINTER 1980 & 1994: Johnny’s version of Ross’ "Sittin' In The Jailhouse" was release on CBS (Blue Sky) in 1980 on an LP entitled "Raisin' Cain”.and on Sony (Legacy) on a “best of” cd entitled "A Rock 'n" Roll Collection”.in 1994.  Other artists who have recorded Ross’ tunes include The City Boys featuring "Blue" Lou Marini & Tom "Bones" Malone from the Blues Brothers, and rockabilly singer Johnny Seaton with the late great guitarist Danny Gatton.

"ROCKIN' THE RAILS" 1991: Released on Ross' own Blue Planet Records. Jim Coen of Guitar World wrote, "Ross sings convincingly, and is an exceptional slide player deserving a much larger audience, 3 1/2 stars!" Robert Makin of the Aquarian wrote, "If  you closed your eyes you'd swear Ray Charles was playing Buddy Guy's guitar ... one of the East Coast's best and most inventive blues men." Rafael Alvarez wrote in the Baltimore Sun, "Ross could make 'God Bless America' stand on its head and rock ... Ross fares well against Stevie Ray Vaughan."         

NY MUSIC AWARD 1989: Winning as Best Blues Artist resulted in some long overdue hometown recognition. Ross was nominated a total of 6 times over the years alongside such stars as Johnny Copeland, Taj Mahal, John Hammond Jr., and Roscoe Gordon before finally winning.

OTHER AWARDS: Robert won an East Coast Rocker Award for Best Blues Artist in 1992, and came in a very close second in the Brooklyn Brewery Blues Contest to gracious winner Michael Hill. Popa Chubby came in fourth. Robert has won 4 grants from the NY State Council of the Arts for programs that integrate music and history in Public Schools from 2004 to 2009.

"IT'S ROUGH 'N' TOUGH" 1984: Our first release in Europe was on RCA (Victoria). That Guitar World article by Rafael Alvarez read, " ... soulful, vigorous guitar playing ... agile cat quick licks." That contract was the culmination of a lot of hard work while living and performing in France for a year.

“INTRODUCING ROBERT ROSS” 1981: Robert’s first solo release placed 7th nationally in the Baltimore Sun’s 1981 Record of the Year. The 4 song disc on Baron Records got a lot of airplay in Europe and Africa, as well as in the USA. It also received some rave reviews.

RADIO & TV: Robert has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows in Europe as well as the USA including ABC’s “Alive at Five” and WB’s “Good Morning America”.

BIG JOE TURNER LP 1976: The Kansas City blues shouter’s LP entitled, "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" was released on Spivey Records owned by legendary classic blues singer Victoria Spivey  and author, discographer, producer, editor, and publisher Len Kunstadt. Famous songwriter and Big Joe’s pal Doc Pomus hired Ross on other occasions to back up the barrel chested vocalist.

SPIVEY RECORDS: The Brooklyn based label recorded The Dicey Ross Band, a band that from 1973 - 1976  featured the likes of Charles “Honeyboy” Otis, Cyrille Neville, Kenny Kovell, & George Morales on drums, Washboard Doc on percussion, Charles Neville on alto sax, Charlie Torres & Danny Counts on bass, Kyril Bromley & Eric “Uncle Boogie” Lesser on piano, and Bill Dicey on harp. This band appeared on “New York Really Has The Blues” on Spivey Records along with Sugar Blue and Paul Oscher, and on “What Is The Blues?” featuring Eunice Davis.

PLAYED WITH: Big Joe Turner, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Otis Rush, Dr. John, Memphis Slim, J.B. Hutto, Eddie Kirkland, Floyd Jones, Homesick James, Brownie McGhee, Sunnyland Slim, Bobby Lewis, Charles Ward (Ink Spots), Pinetop Perkins, Hank Ballard, Southside Johnny, Charles & Cyrille Neville, Commander Cody, Honeyboy Esdwards, Curtis Steigers, Curtis Knight, Wilbert "Kansas City" Harrison, Champion Jack Dupree, Louisiana Red, Lefthand FrankEunice Davis, John Brim, Linda Hopkins,  Big John Wrencher, S.P. Leary, and Homesick James.

OPENED FOR: Albert King, Freddie King, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells, Johnny & Edgar Winter, John Lennon, Ron Wood, Aretha Franklin, Rick Danko & Richard Manuel (The Band), Dickie Betts (Allman Brothers), Guy Clark (The Byrds), Clifton Chenier, Leon Russell, Ronnie Earl, Lonnie Mack, John Hammond, Rory Block, Johnny Copeland, Gatemouth Brown, Laverne Baker, Roomful of Blues, Son Seals, Spencer Davis, Dusty Rhodes, Papa John Creach, Jorma KaukonenDuke Robillard, Robert Gordon, The Nighthawks, Fiddler On The Roof (with Topol), Jethro Tull, Lonnie Brooks, Lazy Lester, Bobby Rush, A.C. Reed, Little Charlie & The Night Cats, Eddy “Big Chief” Clearwater, Roscoe Gordon, Mose Allsion, Willie Guy Rainey, Robert Pete Willi ams, and James Cotton. Robert has also jammed wit Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Richie Havens, Blind John Davis, Luther Guitar Johnson, Popsy Dixon (Holmes Brothers), Sonny Rhodes, Freddie Below (Little Walter), S.P. Leary (Howling Wolf), Jay McShann, Junior Wells,  Robin Williams 9comic actor), Odetta, and Art Blakey.

Quotes

"Robert Ross is a blues icon. One of the great blues spirits." Bob Fass, Radio Un-Nameable, WBAI-FM, NYC, 2007
"He's so fast, lightning would have to get on roller skates to catch him." Albert King, reported by Hank Reineke, East Coast Rocker, 1988
"HOT!!" Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, reported by Pablo Guzman, NY Daily News, 1987
"Robert Ross is a fine singer, a snappy lyricist, and an even better blues guitarist cut from the same cloth as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, or Johnny Winter. 69 Chevy ... The rain drenched pain of "White Boy Lost In The Blues" makes it a 'tour de Ross' all around and his dazzling guitar intro is one of the best I've ever heard. He saves some sizzle for the slide guitar roast "Sittin' In The Jail House". Move over George Thorogood and let Ross show you how to play that thing! Ross' guitar solos are a joy to hear, technically inventive, and packed with tortured feeling. Time after time Ross delivers the goods." Bill Carlton, NY Daily News, 1981
"The bluesman wailed, his voice rough and pliant and booming … most wonderful.” Rafael Alvarez, Baltimore Sun 1991
"It's the classic mix: the old veteran, the gunslinger, the talent everyone knows (Bo Diddley), joining the new guy (Robert Ross), the one who's still trying to get his talent out there … at the Bottom Line … the show will be particularly intriguing because Ross is one of the most impressive young blues men around-more traditional, actually, than Bo himself. In fact Ross is on the show at Diddley's invitation, because the old master liked the young guy's stuff." David Hinckley, NY Daily News, 1985
"Okay, pay attention: Robert Ross is the real thing … some of the hottest blues you're likely to hear anywhere … perpetual groove … vital and vibrant … with a mark distinctly his own ... a true showman who turns in a creative and entertaining show. He and his band throw themselves head first into their sets, taking risks, challenging each other, pushing the edge and ultimately emerging from the melee triumphant … Ross' original material is outstanding, filled with truth and humor and an individuality that shines. Imagination, speed, dexterity and flash are all words that have been used before to describe Robert's guitar playing, but … he also displays fine sensitivity, a fact that can sometimes be overlooked in the face of his more spectacular guitar work. Beautiful, ringing tones … expressive notes almost torn from his axe in his own 'White Boy Lost In The Blues' … And you can hear it in the unique, rough e dged tones of his fluid voice as well." Jennifer Shields, Musicians' Exchange, 1988
"Robert Ross is an imaginative writer with files of Twilight Zone tales accumulated in his wanderings ... soulful, vigorous guitar playing ... agile cat quick licks ... bristles with originals ... Ross scores big ... Ross sings in his fluid growl ... saucy slide ... If you're looking for fresh guitar passion in white boy roots music, this is it." Rafael Alvarez, Guitar World, 1983