Description

Basin Street Records have teamed up with the talented, young phenom Kevin Gullage and his band of Blues Groovers to bring you Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Blues. You may recognize that inimitable smile on the front cover, as Kevin Gullage recently graced the stages of ABC’s American Idol, wowing the judges, advancing to Hollywood, and making it to the final 50 contestants. While he won’t be the next American Idol, Kevin is motoring forward with the release of his first full-length LP, several tour dates, and a residency with Disney Cruise Lines. While many were introduced to Kevin Gullage through the Idol stage, the young entertainer has a long resume, and quite the existing following in his hometown of New Orleans. A graduate of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp (whose alumni include Jon Batiste, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, and “Big Sam” Williams), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and Loyola University New Orleans—his musical education is outshined only by his practical experience growing up in the orbit of New Orleans legends such as Henry Butler and Davell Crawford, performing on stage with Blues Traveler, appearing in films with Chevy Chase & Wendell Pierce, holding a residency at B.B. King’s Blues Club New Orleans, and being welcomed as an official Hammond artist. Reflecting on his Idol experience Kevin says, “Idol wasn’t the stage meant for me. I could never argue that,” but assures his fans, “I love you all and I promise I will see you soon!” The release of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Blues is an integral step in Kevin’s musical mission to bring his music to the world.

There’s a reason the biggest word on the album cover is BLUES; this is the blues album of the year. With a professional polish featuring not only the Blues Groovers, but a large cast of special guests, and ensemble players, this album is full of juicy horn stabs, searing guitar solos, and a whole lot of soul. The apt title gives the listener an idea of what to expect, as the album explores many avenues of blues music with classics such as “Sweet Home Chicago,” which appropriately features Chicago blues-man, Ronnie Baker Brooks on guitar paying homage to the Chicago-blues legacy, and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do” representing “something old.” Gullage flexes his songwriting chops presenting “something new” with several new original works including “Movin’ On,” “So Called Friends of Mine,” and “My Baby Gave Me The Blues (feat. Norman Sylvester)” With these compositions young piano-playing singer demonstrates he has the life experience to craft great blues songs. With their bluesified version of the as-made-famous-by Amy Winehouse hit “Valerie” Kevin & the Blues Groovers show they are comfortable borrowing songs from any genre to lay down some blues. The album is rounded out with a Little Milton blues anthem performed by many blues bands the world over, and a statement anyone can get behind, “The Blues is Alright.”

Liner Notes

View/Download Digital Booklet

Track Listing

1. Shakey Ground (3:43)
   • Written by Jeffrey Bowen, Alphonso Boyd, Edward Hazel
   • Stone Diamond Music Corporation (BMI), Jobete Music Co. Inc. (ASCAP), Southfield Music Inc. (ASCAP)

2. Movin’ On (feat. Ronnie Baker Brooks) (4:08)
   • Written by Kevin Gullage
   • KPATT Publishing (BMI)

3. Sweet Home Chicago (feat. Ronnie Baker Brooks) (5:33)
   • Written by Robert Johnson
   • Standing Ovation And Encore Music (SESAC)

4. So Called Friends of Mine (4:34)
   • Written by Kevin Gullage
   • KPATT Publishing (BMI)

5. Grits Ain’t Groceries (3:35)
   • AKA “All Around the World” written by Titus Turner
   • Bro N Sis Music Inc (BMI)

6. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do (6:39)
   • Written by Porter Grainger & Everett Robbins
   • Public Domain

7. Valerie (5:02)
   • Written by Abi Harding, Boyan Chowdhury, Dave McCabe, Russ Pritchard, Sean Payne
   • EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

8. My Baby Gave Me The Blues (feat. Norman Sylvester) (5:37)
   • Written by Kevin Gullage
   • KPATT Publishing (BMI)

9. The Blues Is Alright (4:50)
   • Written by James Milton Campbell
   • Malaco Music Company (BMI), Peermusic III Ltd. (BMI)

Personnel

• Kevin Gullage – Lead vocals & piano on all tracks; Hammond melodion on track 7
• Carlton Ross – Guitar on all tracks but 7; background vocals on tracks 1, 3, 7, 9
• Tony Gullage – Bass on all tracks; background vocals on tracks 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
• Terrence Higgins – drums on all tracks but 8
• Brandon Adams – B3 organ on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9; background vocals on tracks 3, 7, 9
• Jason Parfait (504 Horns) – Alto, tenor, & bari sax on all tracks
• Ian Smith (504 Horns) – Trumpet & trombone on all tracks
• Roderick Jackson – Background vocals on all tracks
• Charis Gullage – Background vocals on tracks 1, 3, 7, 9
• Ernest Gullage – Background vocals on tracks 1, 3, 7, 9
• Ronnie Baker Brooks – Guitar on tracks 2, 3
• Terrel King – Lap steel guitar on track 4
• Andy Bourgeois – B3 organ & Rhodes piano on track 5
• Bruno Alves – Rhodes piano on track 1
• John Dandry – Guitar on tracks 1, 9
• Timothy Quinn – Guitar on track 7
• Sean Willis – B3 organ on track 7
• Michael ‘Lil Mike’ Harris – Drums on track 8
• Norman Sylvester – Guitar on track 8

Credits

• Produced by Tony Gullage
• Co-produced by Brandon Adams and Jason Parfait
• Executive Producer: Mark Samuels
• Engineered by Jason Parfait, Joe Kolb and Adam Szczepkowski
• Mixed by Jason Parfait and Tony Gullage
• Mastered by Jason Parfait
• Recorded at:
  • Jason Parfait Studio – Luling, Louisiana
  • Loyola University Studio – New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Padded Cell Studios – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Photography by Zack Tullier
• Cover Design by Braden Piper
• Design & Production Coordination by Diana Thornton
• BSR 1801-2
• UPC: 652905180129

Dedication

Dedicated to Tommy Peters.

Tommy you encouraged Kevin and the Blues Groovers and you also predicted many great things for us. We only wish that you were here to see it all happening. I’m sure you are looking down smiling and doing the “Tommy Dance.” Rest In Peace as we strive to keep the legacy of true music flowing through the atmosphere. We are forever grateful.

Thank You

Special thanks to Mark Samuels and Basin Street Records. What more could we hope for than to be a part of a great record label family. Thanks to Braden Piper; thanks for pulling this all together and making sense of it all. Thank you Eric Gales, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Norman Sylvester for putting your seals of approval on this CD by being a major part of it. Thanks to B.B. King’s Blues Club (New Orleans). Thank you John Dandry and Mike Harris; Once a Groover, Always a Groover! Thank you Keiko, Andy, Terrell, Andy J., Bruno, Charis and Ernest. The success of this record definitely is a result of everyone on it. Thanks to each and every one of you.

– Kevin and the Blues Groovers