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Sugar Ray &
The Bluetones

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Sugar Ray Norcia has been playing music professionally since the early 1970's. In 1979, he joined forces with guitar player extraordinare.. Ronnie Earl. Together they established the formidable band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones. In those earlier days of his career it was not unusual to find Ray nurturing his craft backing up blues greats such as Otis Rush, Roosevelt Sykes, J.B. Hutto, Joe Turner, and perhaps his greatest inspiration... Big Walter Horton. Sugar Ray has consistently held company with world class musicians. He is known for his sincere and genuine personality and deeply rooted love for music.

Sugar Ray is the featured singer, harmonica player, and songwriter on numerous Ronnie Earl recordings. Ray's band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, who were together for over twelve years, recorded two albums for the Rounder Record label. These were entitled "Knockout" and "Don't Stand In My Way". The Bluetones were also recorded live in concert with Big Walter Horton. ("Little Boy Blue" on J.S.P.).

In September of 1991, Sugar Ray joined the world renowned Roomful of Blues. He performed over two hundred dates a year touring the world wide. With Ray as frontman, Roomful was nominated for countless prestigious awards and also recorded four critically acclaimed albums all appearing on the Billboard Blues Charts. In 1996, Roomful's CD "Turn It On, Turn It Up" which included three of Rayís original compositions was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues category. During this hectic schedule, Ray also recorded two outstanding duets with Rounder recording artist.. Michelle Wilson and was also featured as a singer and harmonica player on two award winning CD's with Otis Grand who hails from the United Kingdom. ("Nothing Else Matters" and "Grand Union").

Sugar Ray's 1998 solo effort on the Telarc record label entitled... "SuperHarps" dramatically captured a broader range of his capabilities as a world class vocalist and harmonica player. This CD which features Sugar Ray with James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, and Billy Branch was recently nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues category (January 2001). Ray wrote three songs for this CD as well. Other recent projects include Sugar Ray as a featured harmonica player on a Pinetop Perkins release.. "Back On Top". Ray is also a guest artist on an upcoming CD by Ramblin' Dan Stevens and a guest vocalist on a new CD by baritone saxophone player Doug James.

Also keep an eye out for The Sugar Ray Norcia Big Band. Ray occasionally assembles a nine to ten piece jumping, swinging, rhythm and blues dance band featuring a world class stellar horn section. It’s an act not to be missed.

Swing | Jam | BC | Sugar Ray | Li’l Ed | Diane | Jimmy | Holmes Bros | Big Joe | Magic | Rod Piazza
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