Pat Boyack
Encyclopedia
Pat Boyack is an American
electric blues
guitarist
and songwriter
. Boyack performs modern electric blues and blues rock. He has released four albums since 1994, for both the Bullseye Blues and Doc Blues record label
s.
. At the age of fifteen he had his first guitar, and listened to a college friend's Stevie Ray Vaughan
album. Inspired by contemporary Texas blues, Boyack moved to Dallas, Texas
, in 1991, and played in a number of bar
bands, including Rocket 88s. In 1993, Boyack formed the Prowlers with John Garza (bass
) and Doug Swancy (drum
s). The Prowlers added Jimmy Morello (singer/harmonica
) and secured a recording contract
with Bullseye Blues Records (part of Rounder Records
).
Pat Boyack & the Prowlers debut album Breakin' In (1994), was followed by On the Prowl (1996). By the time the third album, Super Blue & Funky, was released in 1997, a new backing band had been assembled, which took far less prominent billing. Boyack left the music industry for two years to support his wife and first child, then in 2000 Boyack's former label mate, Marcia Ball
, recruited him to her backing band.
Following a change in record label, Boyack's fourth album, Voices from the Street was released in May 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electric blues
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Boyack performs modern electric blues and blues rock. He has released four albums since 1994, for both the Bullseye Blues and Doc Blues record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s.
Biography
Boyack was born in Price, but grew up in Helper, UtahHelper, Utah
Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and northwest of the city of Price. It is also known as the "Hub of Carbon County". The population was 2,025 at the 2000 census....
. At the age of fifteen he had his first guitar, and listened to a college friend's Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
album. Inspired by contemporary Texas blues, Boyack moved to Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in 1991, and played in a number of bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
bands, including Rocket 88s. In 1993, Boyack formed the Prowlers with John Garza (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Doug Swancy (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s). The Prowlers added Jimmy Morello (singer/harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
) and secured a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Bullseye Blues Records (part of Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
).
Pat Boyack & the Prowlers debut album Breakin' In (1994), was followed by On the Prowl (1996). By the time the third album, Super Blue & Funky, was released in 1997, a new backing band had been assembled, which took far less prominent billing. Boyack left the music industry for two years to support his wife and first child, then in 2000 Boyack's former label mate, Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is an American blues singer and pianist, born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. She was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist.....
, recruited him to her backing band.
Following a change in record label, Boyack's fourth album, Voices from the Street was released in May 2004.
Albums
| Album title | Record label | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Breakin' In | Bullseye Blues Records | 1994 |
| On the Prowl | Bullseye Blues Records | 1996 |
| Super Blue & Funky | Bullseye Blues Records | 1997 |
| Voices from the Street | Doc Blues Records | 2004 |