music by BOBBY YOUNG
Text by Linda Cunningham, all photos courtesy Bobby Young
The Bobby Young Project is a collaboration of musicians whose objectives are to create music that touches the heart and soul. Their music is a mixture of “Traditional” and “Contemporary”, “Jazz”, “Blues”, “Rock” and “R&B”, all of which have historical “Tribal” origins, as do all of us. Music is known the world over as a true universal language, and through the use of this language, they hope to bring joy and happiness to people from every corner of the world. Their CD “Blues with a Twist” was nominated for “Best Traditional Blues Album” for the Grammy’s. Here is an in depth look into Bobby Young and The Bobby Young Project.
Have you always played just the guitar and do you play any other instruments? How old were you when you started out?
My Grandmother started me out on the Piano when I was three years old. From there I played clarinet in the orchestra when I was in grade school. I got my first guitar from my Grandmother for Christmas when I was nine and that’s what I’ve played ever since. I played bass for a while but now days I only play it in the studio.
Do you practice a lot?
Not as much as I would like to. My son has the ability to practice all day long, but I’ve never had that much discipline! I’ll work out a song or an idea for an hour or so, but as for just sitting down and practicing chords, scales and theory, I tend to rush through the exercises.
Where were you born, grew up, home base now?
Born, raised and live in Oakland, CA
When you are playing on stage, what are you getting the audience to feel?
I hope they’re feeling the emotion that’s in the music. It’s the worst feeling in the world to be playing your heart out and the audience is just sitting there like nothing’s happening. When I’m on stage I’m feeling the crowd’s energy and I feed off of that. Sometimes there’s enough to power the planet other times you kind of have to pull it out of them. The main thing is that the people leave with a good feeling about what they just experienced from our show.
Do you do any singing at all?
Yes, I sing, but really self-conscious about it. People tell me that they like the way I sing, but I don’t see it. There are some things we do that I will sing at the drop of a hat, but other than those tunes I’m pretty much standing away from the mic and just playing.
Who influenced you to play?
My family first and foremost. Then there was this group from England, “The Beatles”. When I saw the reaction they got from the girls I switched from piano to guitar. There was also an “Alka Seltzer” commercial with this really great tune. I have no idea what the name of the tune is or who did it, but it struck a nerve. Then in the late sixties I heard Hendrix and it was all over after that, I’ve been playing guitar ever since.
Tell us about your first recording you have ever done and so on.
The first recording I ever did was on “Finger Lickin’ Good” by Richard “Dimples” Fields. He was recording in the studio where the band I was in rehearsed and our keyboard player was the engineer on the session. It was at “Freeway Studios” in Oakland. I was in the control room during the playback of the song and I started playing along with it. Richard turned around and shouted what’s that? I thought I was in serious trouble, but he asked me if I could do it again, I said yes and played it. The next thing I knew, I was in the studio laying down the guitar track for that song. I was on almost all of Richard’s recordings before he signed with a major label. I also did something with Lenny Williams at “Fantasy” in Berkeley before he was with “Tower of Power”. I did the CD “Positive I.D.” with “James Anthony Cotton”(not the harp player) and that was re-released a couple of years ago as “Sweet Thang”. I did “Zakiya Hooker’s” first two CD’s “Another Generation of The Blues” and “Flavors of The Blues”. I also did a track with Zakiya on “From Clarksdale to Heaven – Remembering John Lee Hooker” and I did several tracks on John Lee Hooker’s “Face to Face”.
Do you have a blues guitar hero?
Well, the first person I have to mention is Jimi Hendrix, even though most people will say he didn’t play the blues. But if you really listen to his guitar work you can here the blues all day long! The big difference is that he played so loud that everybody called it rock. John Lee Hooker is another one. I got to hear some really early stuff by him and I knew where Jimi got it from. I also really like Albert Collins, Albert King, Little Jimi King, Volker Strifler and Roben Ford.
Tell us some of the bluesmen and women you have played with.
Zakiya Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Deacon Jones, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Eddy Kirkland, Johnny Johnson, Cool Papa, Lady Bianca, Lady Margaret, Taylor P. Collin, Ms. Dee, Willie G., Wylie Trass and many, many others.
Do you have any advice for a young guitar player just starting out?
Listen to EVERYTHING! Don’t get caught up in one style because you’ll get stuck there. Learn to read music if you really want to make a living playing the guitar. Try to hang out with as many of the older musicians as possible, watch everything they play and listen to everything they have to say.
Where do you think blues music is headed?
I see a strong resurgence on the wind. There are so many young musicians playing the blues these days and the state of the world is such that there are enough blues songs waiting to be created that the blues will live on forever.
How do you get ready for your shows?
I try to get to my gigs early so I can check out the place and relax. I like everything to be ready and in place so that when we hit the stage all we have to think about is making the crowd feel good.
Tell us about The Bobby Young Project.
Well, The Bobby Young Project is a collaboration of musicians whose objective is to create music that touches the heart and soul. Our music is a mixture of "Traditional" and "Contemporary", "Blues", "Rock", "R & B" and "Jazz", all of which have historical "Tribal" origins, as do all of us. Music is known world over as a true universal language, and through the use of music we hope to bring joy, peace and happiness to people from every corner of the world. I’ve been blessed to work with and be surrounded by some of the most talented and humble musicians on the face of the planet. I have several musicians for each instrument except the violin (nobody can replace Tarika Lewis). On drums we have Victor Puebla, Latrosse Harris, Tony Bledsoe and Mr. Paquettz. On bass – Gary Novak, London, John “J.B.” Brown, David Daniel and Mack Henderson.
On violin – The one and only Tarika Lewis. On keyboards – Shawnka Shepherd, “Sugar G” Robinson, Jackie Ivory, Herb Ruffin and “Funky Rob” Gordon. On vocals – Wylie Trass, Willie G, Mz. Dee and Little Willie John Jr. On sax – Ben Petry and on guitars - Nick Young (my son), Steve Gannon, Bobby Young and sometimes Levi Lloyd. We have also had Victor Puebla, Teddy Strong, Tony Bledsoe and Chapito Arias on percussion.
And the CD.
The CD “Blues With A Twist” was basically done to feature Wylie Trass, our vocalist. He’s been around a long time and like a lot of other blues folks he’s not getting the recognition he deserves. The material on the CD was chosen from the stuff we do live so it wouldn’t take us forever to get it out. We are working on the next project now which has yet to be titled but will feature more of our own material. As for the cover on the CD, I sent the photos to the company that did the CD’s and had them do the art work. The picture on the cover was to have been Wylie, not me. The band still won’t let off the hook for that one!
Does it take the band a few songs on stage to warn up?
Not really. We usually put together a set list that lets us come out smoking and we just build from there.
Do you eat before you play?
Oh yeah, before I play, during our breaks and when we’re through with the gig. I’m one of those people that eats almost all the time but I burn it up real fast. I also keep a few bottles of “Ensure” and “Gatorade” close by on every show. I found that those two drinks keep me from getting muscle cramps and becoming dehydrated. (I know that sounds like an ad for them, but I’d endorse them both if I was asked).
What do you look for at soundcheck before a show?
Clear vocals and the ability for everyone to hear each other.
What do you listen to in your monitor?
Vocals, bass, guitar and keyboards. Basically the whole band.
What do you do after a performance?
I like to be able to hang out with the crowd and have a Tequila or two. I’m usually the last person to leave.
What can we look forward to from Bobby Young?
Hopefully much more music! I’m trying to get this sound that’s in my head out to the rest of the world. We are working on a new CD that has more of our tunes on it and is not as laid back as the last one. People keep telling me that they want to hear more guitar, so I’m gonna’ give them what they want.
What accomplishment stands out in your mind that you have done in your life so far?
Getting married, having children and grandchildren comes to mind first. Playing at The Apollo when I was 18yrs old and making it to 52yrs old.
What kind of guitar do you play, amp, strings, etc?
It depends on the venue. I have a lot of guitars so I tend to use whatever is going to give me the best sound in the room. I have several Fender Stratocasters and a Telecaster, a bunch of Gibson Les Pauls, a Gibson SG, a Gibson 335, an Epiphone Les Paul and SG (both modified by my son), an Epihpone Dot, some Gibson Flying V’s and a bunch of other things that I picked up here and there. Two of my favorites are a Hohner Les Paul copy that has been heavily modified and an Alex Chase that I got on eBay and I call my “poor man’s” PRS. I use an old Yamaha 185 watt keyboard amp with a single 15” speaker in it for smaller venues, but when it’s time to get real serious I have a Marshall 100 watt Plexi that I run through either a 2x12 cabinet, a 4x10 cabinet or one or both of the 4x12 cabinets. (I’m a product of the Hendrix era) I use Gibson Brite Wires for strings, Dunlop Nylon picks, Monster Cables, Vox Wah pedals, a Uni-Vibe and sometimes a Marshall Guv’nor or an Ibanez Tube Distortion.
Do you think your sound has changed over the years?
Yes, I play with a warmer tone than I used to and since I use the Gibsons more than the Stratocaster I started with, the sound has gotten fatter also.
What kind of sound do you hear that you want to get?
That’s a hard one to describe. I want this really FAT guitar tone that is sharp enough to cut class. As for the band, I’m constantly experimenting to find something new or something that I remember from my past that people liked but have forgotten about.
Do you have to warm up before a show?
No, I usually do soundcheck, go get something to eat and smoke a cigar.
What do you think about while you are playing?
What I’m doing, the tone, the overall sound of the band, the audience and what we can do to improve on what we’re playing.
Do you have a song you especially enjoy playing?
I just really like to play period. But, I like to play this “Muddy Waters” tune, “My Love Strikes Like Lightening” because that’s what I was playing when I got the woman who became my wife to pay attention to me!
Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
“I’m a little bit shy”, (I borrowed that line from my niece) and I’m truly grateful to everyone that comes to see us or buys our music. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
The Bobby Young Project Band Members:
Wylie Trass – Vocals, Willie G. – Vocals, Mz. Dee – Vocals, Tarika Lewis – Violin, Shaunka Shepherd – Keyborads/Vocals, Gary Novak – Bass/Vocals, Latrosse Harris – Drums/Vocals, Victor Puebla – Drums/Percussion, Mr. Pockets – Drums, Nick Young – Guitar and Bobby Young – Guitar/Vocals.
You can download their music at www.digstation.com or go on to CDBABY. The Bobby Young Project: Blues With A Twist.
>>>> Linda Cunningham
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