Robert Johnson, Joe Turner, Memphis Minnie, Magic Sam, Howlin Wolf, Robert Nighthawk, Billie Holiday, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Bo Carter, Blind Blake, Booker White, Blind Boy Fuller, Kokomo Arnold, Big Maybelle, B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Eddie Jefferson
Sounds Like
Barrelhouse Solly with a touch of Joe Turner, Robert Nighthawk, and Son House.
What They're Saying:
Barrelhouse Solly delivers like the great shouters from Golden Age Of Rhythm & Blues--R. J. Mischo
...awesome voice and plays some good harp.--Kenny Blue Ray
This is the way I like my blues!--Steve Freund
It's good to hear anyone doing the old time blues authentically these days, and Barrelhouse Solly does just that!--Steve Edmonson
Solly's Music--What He's Trying to Do
I sing. I also play harp and some guitar. I like almost every type of blues from the 1920s right up through the twenty first century. My first love was acoustic blues but I enjoy singing with an electric band. I'm a shouter. People have compared me to Joe Turner, Eddie Vinson, and Johnny Shines. I'm flattered, but I think you should decide for yourself. I do the best I can to provide what Richard M. Jones in the spoken intro to "Dusty Bottom Blues" called "real first class music." I hope it works for you. I'm always interested in what you think, even if you think I suck. Drop me a line and don't hesitate to be honest.
Mission Statement
It's never too late to do something your parents disapprove. When that time comes Barrelhouse Solly will be there for you. He cares.
Core Values
Sloth, fornication, gluttony, substance abuse, reading to excess, biting cats.
How He Got Where He is Today
After a happy early childhood on Alpha Centauri VI Solly moved to Oakland, CA. He attended grammar school in Oakland, junior high and high school in an undisclosed Northern suburb of Chicago. In high school Solly took up the guitar. He's still trying to learn to play it.
Returning to California for college Solly quickly discovered the sheer joy of slacking off. After flunking out of a major educational institution known for its bear mascot, Solly attended various local minor league schools finally graduating in 1992. He embraced a life of debauchery and continued to sing and play guitar.
He was in several jug bands including Libby Peacock's Bizarre Novelty Orchestra and the infamous Denny and the Dynamic Dipsticks. He played in various coffee houses including Berkeley's Freight and Salvage and spent a good deal of time outdoors separating tourists from their pocket change.
In the eighties Solly worked graveyard shift in a decaying block long industrial building. While the two other employees slept Solly learned to play the harmonica while walking around the building to keep warm.
In the past few years Solly has started getting out of the house again. With any luck you'll see him in your town soon.
On New Year's Day and the whole year through, I hope the kindness you've given to others returns many times to you. May hope, love, and warmth be in your heart's possessing, and may the New Year bring you and yours many blessings.
Egad, thanks for the add! Happy holidays! Long time no see. As for bitng cats, the last time I tried that I came up with a mouthful of fur and a scratched nose.
