By Mark Grove
Cadillac Zack, is a blues artist originally from Massachusetts and a now a Los Angeles, California based blues guitarist and Manager for a number of blues artists from the old guard of blues. This Blues Boy grabbed a hold of the blues at an early age but wasn’t sure what it was all about.
Zack first got the real blues itch when he was turned on to BB King's Live at Cook County Jail album. Unfortunately for Cadillac Zack he had a lot of musical road blocks in his way in making the blues his life, including Mom who wasn’t too thrilled, to guitar teachers who were more into how Zack’s playing helped them, not him.
Zack could have been a Film Maker and Actor, but lucky for blues artists’s he chased
the dream of every blues-lovin’ guitarist and chose the latter, and came to Blues Town in Chicago in 1991.
But he didn’t hit pay dirt right away with blues guitar teachers. He met Billy Flynn who was playing a gig with the Piano-Man himself—Pine Top Perkins at Chicago’s B.L.U.E.S. back in 92’.
http://www.myspace.com/cadillaczackbluesband
But it didn’t work out perfectly, but none the less did work out accidently, being taught by Steve Fruend—another Chicago Bluesman who taught Zack the real way to play blues.
Zack ended up inadvertently befriending yet another Guitar player named Chris Thompson, who really showed Zack blues guitar technique that took Zack’s Blues guitar prowess into the stratosphere as a blues technician.
In the late 90’s, Zack literally went to every blues haunt in Chicago learning at the feet of the Blues Masters. CZ took it upon himself to help blues artist’s getting them gigs and promoting and telling their blues story. Zack didn’t have to be told twice that he should start managing blues men who never had the exposure and media attention they deserved.
Being in Chicago was the perfect place for Zack to start helping his fellow blues artist, and he made the rounds of the big blues clubs and the Chitlin’ circuit clubs as well. Z even made a deal with real blues singer Barkin’ Bill Smith--booking him like a real friend of the blues would do.
Zack eventually came out to Los Angeles in 97’ where he set up shop as a manager for blues artists, starting American Blues Legends Management agency last year and promoting blues with the Southern California Blues Society. If he wasn’t already doing enough, Zack had the Cadillac Zack Blues Band going as well.
Zack felt helping and creating more value for blues artists of today and yesterday, was something he should jump on and why he started American Blues Legends Management.
Just talking to Zack about blues on the phone, I felt he has a passion for blues and music that not many players, agents, or managers alike don’t feel for music.
Zack plays the Los Angeles area mainly, with International gigs as well. Zack plays a Fat Body Gibson 330-1963. For those who are blues lovers extraordinaire—Zack will be venturing to France in July with none other than Elmore James Jr. opening for Etta James.
Zack’s Blues Band will be appearing July 23 and 24 at the Cognac Blues Passions Festival in France. On these days at 8:00 PM on the first night and 6:00 PM on
the last night.
If you really want to listen to vintage blues artists with a contemporary feel, look for The Cadillac Zack Blues Band and American Blues Legends in California, other US
States, and internationally.
To listen to Zack’s MP3’s rips and get a copy of some real blues on CD—grab Zack’s CD The Blues Do Something To Me. To learn more about the history of the greats
of blues, and listen to them and become inspired by the Blues Legends, go to:
The Blues Do Something To Me is a great blues CD that features Eddie Shaw, Detroit Jr. and Eddie Taylor Jr. Keep looking for new blues combined with the old from Zack and American Blues Legends Management artists.
http:www.myspace.com/cadillaczackbluesband
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