Roy Gaines
Roy James Gaines (August 12, 1937 – August 11, 2021) was an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1][2][3] He wrote and recorded the song "A Hell of a Night", which was first issued on his 1982 album Gainelining. He was the younger brother of the blues musician Grady Gaines.[1]
Roy Gaines | |
|---|---|
 Gaines in 1977 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roy James Gaines |
| Born | August 12, 1937 Waskom, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 2021 (aged 83) |
| Genres | Texas blues, electric blues[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Biography
Gaines was born in Waskom, Texas on August 12, 1937,[4] and relocated with his family to Houston when he was six years old.[5] Originally a piano devotee, Gaines moved to playing the guitar in his adolescence.[1] In his teens he was acquainted with another budding guitarist, Johnny Copeland.[2] By the age of 14 he had performed onstage backing his hero, T-Bone Walker, and played in Houston nightclubs. He later moved to Los Angeles, California.[1] In 1955, Gaines played as a backing musician on recordings by Bobby Bland, Junior Parker and Big Mama Thornton.[2][5] He later backed Roy Milton and then Chuck Willis, and he worked again with Walker.[2]
He released two low-key albums in 1956 and a couple more in the 1960s for small record companies.[2] In 1966, Gaines became part of Ray Charles's backing band.[5] He was also a backing musician in sessions with the Everly Brothers, the Supremes, Bobby Darin, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.[6]
He worked primarily as a sideman, but he released a solo album, Gainelining, in 1982.[1] He also had a small part in the 1985 film The Color Purple.[6] Another album, New Frontier Lover, was released in 2000. It was followed by Tuxedo Blues, featuring a big band billed as Roy Gaines & His Orchestra, released in 2009. The album includes the song "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)," which Gaines had performed in The Color Purple. Also included is a cover version of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You." Gaines co-wrote the song "No Use Crying", which was recorded by George Jones and Ray Charles.
Gaines died on August 11, 2021, a day before his 84th birthday.[7]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Gainelining | Red Lightnin' |
| 1996 | Lucille Work for Me | Black Gold |
| 1998 | Bluesman for Life | JSP |
| 1999 | I Got the T-Bone Walker Blues | Groove Note |
| 2000 | New Frontier Lover | Severn |
| 2000 | Guitar Clashers From Gainesville, Tokyo (w/Mitsuyoshi Azuma) | P-Vine |
| 2002 | Superman | Black & Blue |
| 2002 | In the House: Live at Lucerne, Vol. 4 | CrossCut (Germany) |
| 2004 | The First TB Album | Delta Groove |
| 2005 | Rock-A-Billy Boogie Woogie Blues Man | Black Gold |
| 2005 | Going Home to See Mama | Black Gold |
| 2009 | Tuxedo Blues | Black Gold |
With the Jazz Crusaders
- Freedom Sound (Pacific Jazz, 1961)
With Les McCann
- Another Beginning (Atlantic, 1974)
References
- Ankeny, Jason. "Roy Gaines". Allmusic.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- "Roy Gaines: Biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 180. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 316. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- Govenar, Alan B. (2008). Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-58544-605-6.
- Herzhaft, Gérard; et al. (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 90. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
- "Singer/Guitar Great Roy Gaines Has Died". Americanbluesscene.com. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- "Roy Gaines: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
External links
- Roy Gaines Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2017)