Roy Gaines
Encyclopedia
Roy Gaines is an American
Texas blues
and electric blues
guitarist, singer and songwriter. Gaines recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album
, Gaineling. He is the brother of another blues musician, Grady Gaines
.
, United States
, and relocated with his family to Houston aged six. Originally a piano devotee, Gaines moved to playing the guitar in his adolescence. In his teens he was acquainted with his fellow budding guitarist, Johnny Copeland
. By the age of 14 he had performed onstage backing his hero, T-Bone Walker
, and played in the Houston nightclub
s before his move to Los Angeles
, California
. In 1955, Gaines backing work appeared on recordings by Bobby Bland
, Junior Parker
and Big Mama Thornton
. He later backed Roy Milton
and then Chuck Willis
, and worked again with Walker.
He released two low-key albums in 1956, and a couple more in the 1960s on small record label
s. In 1966, Gaines became part of Ray Charles
' backing band. Other backing work for Gaines included sessions with The Everly Brothers
, The Supremes
, Bobby Darin
, Stevie Wonder
, and Gladys Knight
.
His primary function was as a sideman
, but he released his solo album, Gaineling in 1982. Further works followed such as New Frontier Lover (2000). Also, Gaines had a small part in the 1985 film, The Color Purple
.
Gaines' co-composed song, "No Use Crying", has been recorded by George Jones
and Ray Charles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Texas blues
Texas blues
Texas blues is a subgenre of blues. It has had various style variations but typically has been played with more swing than other blues styles....
and 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, singer and songwriter. Gaines recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Gaineling. He is the brother of another blues musician, Grady Gaines
Grady Gaines
Grady Gaines is an American electric blues, Texas blues and jazz blues tenor saxophonist, who recorded with Little Richard in the 1950s. He also backed other musicians such as Dee Clark, Little Willie John, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Tex...
.
Biography
Gaines was born in Waskom, TexasWaskom, Texas
Waskom is a city in Harrison County, Texas, United States. It lies about east of the county seat, Marshall, on U.S. Route 80. To the east is Shreveport, Louisiana...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and relocated with his family to Houston aged six. Originally a piano devotee, Gaines moved to playing the guitar in his adolescence. In his teens he was acquainted with his fellow budding guitarist, Johnny Copeland
Johnny Copeland
Johnny Copeland was an American Texas blues guitarist and singer.-Career:Born in Haynesville, Louisiana, United States, while Copeland was becoming interested in music, he also pursued boxing, mostly as an avocation, and it is from his days as a boxer that he got his nickname "Clyde." Also as a...
. By the age of 14 he had performed onstage backing his hero, T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
, and played in the Houston nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s before his move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1955, Gaines backing work appeared on recordings by Bobby Bland
Bobby Bland
Robert Calvin Bland better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland, is an American singer of blues and soul. He is an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues"...
, Junior Parker
Junior Parker
Junior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...
and Big Mama Thornton
Big Mama Thornton
Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was an American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. She was the first to record the hit song "Hound Dog" in 1952. The song was #1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks in 1953. The B-side was "They Call Me Big Mama," and the single sold almost two million...
. He later backed Roy Milton
Roy Milton
Roy Milton was an American R&B and jump blues singer, drummer and bandleader.-Career:Milton's grandmother was a Chickasaw. He was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, United States, and grew up on an Indian reservation before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma...
and then Chuck Willis
Chuck Willis
Harold "Chuck" Willis was an American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, "C. C. Rider" and "What Am I Living For" , both reached no. 1 in the Billboard R&B chart...
, and worked again with Walker.
He released two low-key albums in 1956, and a couple more in the 1960s on small 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. In 1966, Gaines became part of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' backing band. Other backing work for Gaines included sessions with The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
, The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
.
His primary function was as a sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
, but he released his solo album, Gaineling in 1982. Further works followed such as New Frontier Lover (2000). Also, Gaines had a small part in the 1985 film, The Color Purple
The Color Purple (film)
The Color Purple is a 1985 American period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It was Spielberg's eighth film as a director , and was a change from the summer blockbusters for which he had become famous...
.
Gaines' co-composed song, "No Use Crying", has been recorded by George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and Ray Charles.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Gaineling | Red Lightnin' |
| 1996 | Lucille Work for Me | Black Gold |
| 1998 | Bluesman for Life | JSP JSP Records JSP Records is a British record label, founded in 1978 by John Stedman , releasing recordings by blues musicians such as Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louisiana Red and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. The label is based in London, England.JSP now predominantly releases remastered CDs... |
| 1999 | I Got the T-Bone Walker Blues | Groove Note |
| 2000 | New Frontier Lover | Severn Severn Records Severn Records is an American independent record label that concentrates on blues music. Since its founding in 1998, Severn has issued more than 50 albums. Its motto is "Roots Music for the 21st Century".-History:... |
| 2002 | Superman | Black & Blue Black & Blue Records Black & Blue Records is a French record label specializing in swing jazz and blues.Black & Blue was founded in 1968, and in its early years concentrated on reissuing jazz that had been previously released on American labels. The label recorded Blues and Jazz musicians both in America and France and... |
| 2002 | In the House: Live at Lucerne, Vol. 4 | CrossCut CrossCut Records CrossCut Records is a German record label that was created in 1981 specializing in blues and roots music.-Background:The CrossCut Mailorder service, a division of Bear Family Records, is one of the world's leading sources for blues and related music... (Germany) |
| 2004 | The First TB Album | Delta Groove Delta Groove Productions Delta Groove Productions is a blues record label based in Van Nuys, California. The company Delta Groove Productions, Inc. was founded by Southern California-based producer, concert promoter and harmonica player Randy Chortkoff... |
| 2005 | Rock-A-Billy Boogie Woogie Blues Man | Black Gold |
| 2005 | Going Home to See Mama | Black Gold |