Alex was born in new york city in 1954, and at a young age became
immersed in the city’s legacy of jazz. Studied with guitarist George Barnes and at Berklee College of Music in boston. Early exposure to BB King, James Cotton and the Butterfield Blues Band planted seeds of a lifelong love of blues music.
Schultz moved to Los Angeles in 1979 and established himself as both a bass player and guitarist on the roots music scene, working for two and a half years with rock and roll/rhythm and blues pioneer Hank Ballard. This provided some early road experience, including playing Antone’s in Austin, Texas in 1986 and sharing stages with Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Collins and many other greats.
Beginning 1986 worked with L.A. harmonica master William Clarke: recorded the W.C. Handy award winning album “Blowing Like Hell”, played and recorded with Smokey Wilson, and made appearances on all 4 of Clarke’s releases on chicago’s Alligator label.
This period saw gigs with a who’s-who of the los angeles roots music scene, including Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Finis Tasby, Steve Samuels, Rob Rio, and countless others.
In 1988 began a seven year, five record association with Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, touring Australia, Japan, Europe and Scandinavia. Recordings included two albums on the Black Top label and “Live at BB King’s” recorded in Memphis. During this time the Flyers backed Jimmy Rogers, Lowell Fulsom, Louis Myers, Pine Top Perkins, James Cotton, Robert Ward, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Albert Collins, Larry Davis, etc. and supported the likes of Albert King, BB King, Al Green, Robert Cray, Dr. John, The Neville Bros., The Allman Bros. and more. Schultz left the group in ‘95 to pursue other projects as a free agent.
The first of these was a three year collaboration with blues rebel Lester Butler (ex- ‘Red Devils’ harmonica and vocals ) which resulted in the HighTone album “13 Featuring Lester Butler” and 4 european tours.
At the same time, Schultz appeared on two Delmark releases with old new york friend Tad Robinson, a collaboration that continues to the present day: co-producing and playing on Tad’s 2005 Handy nominated “Did You Ever Wonder” on the Severn label, numerous festival appearances in the U.S. and Europe, and playing on Tad’s upcoming (2007) release “A New Point Of View”.
A wide variety of freelance work has resulted in many recordings and tours, with artists including Italian harmonica player Egidio ‘Juke’ Ingala, Washington DC jump blues masters Big Joe & the Dynaflows, nu-swing band Royal Crown Revue, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Sugar Ray Norcia, Jimmy Morello, keyboardist Benjie Porecki, Kirk ‘Eli’ Fletcher, Mickey Champion, Frank ‘Paris Slim’ Goldwasser, Germany’s BB & the Blues Shacks, Italian guitarist Enrico Crivellaro and Austria’s Raphael Wressnig.
Finally, in october 2004, after playing on over 40 discs, Schultz’s first solo CD, “Think About It”, was released on the Severn label, bringing it all back home.
A "Sunday Morning Step" on your Myspace to say Hi ! Hope everything is doing well. Be sure I can't wait to see you again in Tournon d'Agenais soon. Here "a modest gift" from Cognac
Hello Alex, Thanks for your friendship. A real pleasure. Hope to meet up someday again. One day I'm gonna get the new recording off the ground. Till later.
Remember me??? Just wondering how you are. See your over in Europe now. I think the blues scene, from what I can tell is very big there. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Great to see you in Cognac so many times. Thanks to help me to see once again B.B. King in the eyes. Hope you'll enjoy these picture of the 1989 Peer's gig. Souvenir of "goose pimps" who had together !!!
It was so good to see you again in Cognac with Tad and Severn Soul Revue. The last time I saw you was the Bay Car Blues in the north of France 3 or 4 years ago !
So, thank you for your friendship on Myspace, hope to have the chance to have a talk with you next time for my radio show.
Musicaly Yours
Xav'
Hereby a little souvenir, other pictures on my portfolio, just check this out :
Hope all is well with you and yours. Sorry it's been so long! I've finished the '50 Pro copy called the Hook Royal. I hope you can try it someday. It's actually fairly clean and loud w/ the 15" spkr. that's in there, that is for a lower-wattage amp. It has a 150W Sammi that is pretty efficient, & the high end is definitely not lacking. The bass is full and round, but not boomy or hard. Still, I'd like to get a lower wattage vintage spec speaker in there just to hear the difference. Are you playing w/ Tad Robinson in Michigan for a couple of gigs soon? If so it'd be great to send the amp along with Tad. Take care. sincerely, Dave Jones <a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=4078
