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Sugar Ray and the Bluetones follow-up their successful 5-time BMA nominated Evening with Living Tear To Tear, a 12-song collection comprised of two immortal blues standards (Sonny Boy Williamson’s
“Ninety Nine” and Lightnin’ Slim’s devilish “Nothing But the Devil”) plus 10 originals destined to become classics
in their own right. This is genuine blues fronted by arguably the most gifted vocalist in the business today, Sugar
Ray Norcia, who also blows a mean harp. The rest of this tight-knit unit feature Monster Mike Welch on guitar,
Anthony Geraci on piano and Hammond organ, Michael Mudcat Ward on bass, and Neil Gouvin on
drums.
Living Tear To Tear earned the band seven 2015 Blues Music Awards nominations: Band of the Year; Album of the Year; Traditional Album of the Year; Best Instrumentalist—Harmonica (Sugar Ray Norcia); Best Instrumentalist—Bass (Michael “Mudcat” Ward); Traditional Male Artist of the Year for Sugar Ray Norcia; and Song of the Year for “Things Could Be Worse.”
Check out Sugar Ray & the Bluetones’ other Severn titles: Rockin’ Sugar Daddy; Sugar Ray & the Bluetones Featuring Monster Mike Welch; Hands Across the Table; and My Life, My Friends, My Music.
LINER NOTES
Thank you: The Norcia and Niedbala families; Tina Yiernkyi; Ann Ward; Peter Hi-Fi; Ember Caiden Ward; Laurie Campbell; Sandy and Melissa Simon; Andrea Miller; Jason, Todd and Mikayla Geraci; Joaquin, Jeannette, Dan and Jan Welch; Jan; Marty Richards; Lori Urso; Mark Hummel; Ronnie Earl; Donna; Pastor Debbie; Duke Robillard; Randy Chortkoff and the Mannish Boys; Doug Tackett; John Hall; John Chan; Paul Benjamin; Erkan Özdemir
and the entire Özdemir family; Sonny Jr.; Fabrice Bessouat; Michael Keegan; Peter Black; Greg Timmons; Lollar Guitars; Barber Electronics; USA Custom Guitars; David and Bridget Earl, Joan Matthews and everyone at Severn Records.
THE BLUETONES ARE
Sugar Ray Norcia: Vocals and Harmonica
Monster Mike Welch: Guitar
Anthony Geraci: Piano and Hammond Organ
Michael Mudcat Ward: Electric and Acoustic Bass
Neil Gouvin: Drums
CREDITS
Produced by Sugar Ray and the Bluetones
Recorded by David Earl at Severn Sound Studios, Annapolis, MD
Mixed by Jack Gauthier at Lakewest Studios, West Greenwich, RI
Mastered by John Mailloux, Bongo Beach Productions, Westport, MA
Photography by Michael Sparks Keegan, Kingston, MA
Graphic Design by Al Brandtner at Brandtner Design, Chicago, IL
Sugar Ray Norcia plays Hohner Marine Band harmonicas and uses Sonny Jr. Harp amps
Monster Mike Welch uses Lollar Pickups and Barber Electronics