Anson Funderburgh
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Anson Funderburgh
- Genres: Blues
Biography
In recent years, Dallas-based guitarist Anson Funderburgh has taken his band the Rockets out of the clubs and onto the festival stages with his critically acclaimed recordings for the BlackTop label out of New Orleans. With Jackson, MS-native Sam Myers delivering the vocals and harmonica treatments, this band mixes up a powerful gumbo of Texas jump blues and Delta blues that can't be found anywhere else. Funderburgh & His Rockets are a particularly hard working band, performing across the U.S. and Europe nearly 300 nights a year.Funderburgh was born November 15, 1954, and got hooked on the blues when he got his first guitar at age seven or eight. His first musical experiences happened in the clubs in Dallas. He developed his team approach to blues music while learning from the likes of Freddie King, Jimmy Reed, and Albert Collins when these great bluesmen were passing through Dallas-area clubs, but Funderburgh had already taught himself guitar mostly from listening to classic blues records. He never had the chance to see Muddy Waters, but he did get to play with Lightnin' Hopkins in the late '70s. Funderburgh formed the Rockets in 1978, but didn't meet Sam Myers until 1982.
Funderburgh recorded with the Fabulous Thunderbirds on their Butt Rockin' album, and went solo in 1981, when the New Orleans-based BlackTop label released Talk to You by Hand, the label's first release. Funderburgh added Myers on harmonica and lead vocals in 1986. Myers had traveled for years on the chitlin circuit, where he had the chance to accompany people like Elmore James and Robert Junior Lockwood. Funderburgh admits that adding Myers on vocals and harmonica was a turning point for the Rockets, partly because of the image they project from the stage, a big towering black man and three white guys backing him up. Funderburgh continued his association in the '90s with Black Top releasing Tell Me What I Want to Hear (1991), Live at Grand Emporium (1995), and That's What They Want (1997). After releasing nine albums on Black Top, in 1999 Funderburgh changed record labels with the release of Change in my Pocket for Bullseye Blues. At the beginning of the new millennium, Funderburgh is just coming into his prime by way of his songwriting talents, so his career deserves close watching in the coming years. The best is yet to come from this guitarist and bandleader. ~ Richard Skelly & Al Campbell, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Anson Funderburgh
| Anson Funderburgh | |
|---|---|
 Anson Funderburgh performing in 1976 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Anson Funderburgh |
| Born | November 14, 1954 Plano, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Black Top Records Bullseye Blues Records |
| Associated acts | The Rockets Sam Myers The Fabulous Thunderbirds |
| Website | Ansonandtherockets.com |
Anson Funderburgh (born James Anson Funderburgh, November 14, 1954,[1][2] Plano, Texas, United States)[3] is an American blues guitar player and bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978.[4] Their style incorporates both Chicago blues and Texas blues.
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Contents
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Career
In 1981, Funderburgh released the Rockets' debut album Talk to You By Hand from New Orleans, Louisiana's based Black Top Records. The band consisted of Anson, with Darrell Nulisch on vocals and harmonica. The album included a cover version of Earl King's song, "Come On". Talk to You By Hand was also the first ever release by the record label. The band appeared at the 1984 San Francisco Blues Festival. When Nulisch left the band in 1985, Funderburgh invited the blues harmonica player Sam Myers from Jackson, Mississippi to fill in the spot.[4] The first Rockets' recording featuring Myers was My Love Is Here To Stay which came out in 1986. He stayed with the band until his death on July 17, 2006, appearing on eight albums with them.
As well as the studio recordings, in 1990 the band played the Long Beach Blues Festival. The same year, they appeared on Show #109 of the NBC television program, Sunday Night.
In 1989 and 1990 the band's bassist was Mike Judge, future animator and creator of Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill. [5]
Their song "Can We Get Together" was also featured in the film, 21 Grams in 2003. In 2011 The Mill Block Blues CD is released. The CD features Anson Funderburgh in an exciting new role. Not only is Anson laying down more classic Texas Blues guitar licks all over this CD, but he's also lending his experience as arranger and producer to this album. And that results in a landmark album that every blues lover needs in their collection. The CD is also unique in that a portion of the sales of the album will be donated to help fellow musicians in need via the HART Fund. The HART Fund (Handy Artist Relief Trust) is a service provided by the Blues Foundation which provides for acute, chronic and preventive medical and dental care as well as funeral expenses for blues musicians. [6][7]
Discography
- 1981: Talk to You By Hand (Black Top)
- 1985: She Knocks Me Out! (Black Top)
- 1986: My Love Is Here To Stay (Black Top)
- 1987: Sins (Black Top)
- 1990: Rack 'Em Up (Black Top)
- 1991: Tell Me What I Want to Hear (Black Top)
- 1995: Live At the Grand Emporium (Black Top)
- 1997: That's What They Want (Black Top)
- 1999: Change In My Pocket (Bullseye Blues)
- 2003: Which Way Is Texas? (Bullseye Blues)
- 2011: Mill Block Blues (Ruff Kutt)[7]
See also
References
- ^ Familytreelegends.com
- ^ Veromi.net
- ^ Allmusic biography - accessed January 2008
- ^ a b Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 113. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Posted by Bman (2011-12-07). "Bman's Blues Report: What does Anson Funderburgh have to do with Beavis and Butt-Head". Bmansbluesreport.com. http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2011/12/what-does-anson-funderburgh-have-to-do.html. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ "Ruff Kutt Blues". Ruff Kutt Blues. http://www.ruffkuttblues.com/. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ a b Posted by Bman (2011-11-14). "Bman's Blues Report: New Release: Mill Block Blues - Ruff Kutt - Review". Bmansbluesreport.com. http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2011/11/new-release-mill-block-blues-ruff-kutt.html. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
External links
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Mentioned in
Black Top Blues-A-Rama, Vol. 6: Live at Tipitina's
(1992 Album by Various Artists)
Black Top Blues-A-Rama, Vol. 1
(1988 Album by Various Artists)
Ace Story, Vol. 3
(1982 Album by Various Artists)
Blues, Mistletoe & Santa's Little Helper
(1995 Album by Various Artists)
Jungle Jane
(1997 Album by Holland K. Smith)
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