The son of bluesman L.V. Banks, the singer/guitarist known simply as Tre carried on the traditions of his father's music, recapturing the sound and feeling of '50s-era Chicago blues with accuracy and real affection. Born in Grenada, Mississippi, he was raised on Chicago's South Side, initially playing rock and R&B; his musical allegiance moved to the blues while backing Banks between 1981 and 1987, during which time he honed a fluid, shimmering guitar style. Tre's solo debut, Delivered for Glory -- Reclaiming the Blues, appeared in 1996; the follow-up, Blues Knock'n Baby -- recorded with backing band the Blueknights -- was released a year later. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Who is this new young Blues man
With the 21st Century rapidly approaching, many of the current crop of blues acts are polyester suited, retro acts content with reliving the classic sounds of the 1950's. However, a new breed of young and upcoming Blues artists are emerging from the Chicagoland area. One such artist, Tre' has stepped out as the best of the lot. He possesses spectacular vocal performances and an outstanding guitar ability flaming on the heels of such greats as Albert King, Little Milton, Albert Collins and Jimi Hendrix.
Tre' learned to play the guitar at the tender age of five from watching his father, L.V. Banks. He worked his first professional Blues gig in 1974. Since then, he has paid his dues learning from some of the best in the business, such as Little Milton, Albert King, Albert Collins, Otis Clay, Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites and many others.
He is currently on the road to becoming a successful professional within the music industry as a songwriter, producer and recording engineer. Another goal is to bring the Blues and independent artists to light via the World Wide Web.;
His goal for the Blues and African American culture, as it stands for the heritage and the last truly creative musical experience that has overcome extinction and re-emerged, is to capture a brand new audience for its guaranteed existence into the next millennium.
Back forty or fifty years ago, it was not uncommon for blues artists to be secretive about their history and upbringing. Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, it is somewhat unusual to find an artist who remains very anonymous and prefers to let his music do the talking. One such enigmatic artist is Tre'!
Back in the summer of 1996, at the Chicago Blues Festival, I had the opportunity to see the great L.V. Banks perform at the Best Buy stage. I took the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of him performing with Tre'. I placed those pictures in the Photo Gallery. Back in June 1998, I received an e-mail message stating that some of the information was inaccurate. That message came from Tre'.
Since then, we have worked to create a set of pages which presents a member of the new breed of young and upcoming blues artists from the Chicagoland area that will usher the Blues tradition into the new millennium.
With the 21st Century rapidly approaching, many of the current crop of blues acts are polyester suited, retro acts content with reliving the classic sounds of the 1950's. However, a new breed of young and upcoming Blues artists are emerging from the Chicagoland area. One such artist, Tre' has stepped out as the best of the lot. He possesses spectacular vocal performances and an outstanding guitar ability flaming on the heels of such greats as Albert King, Little Milton, Albert Collins and Jimi Hendrix.
Tre' learned to play the guitar at the tender age of five from watching his father, L.V. Banks. He worked his first professional Blues gig in 1974. Since then, he has paid his dues learning from some of the best in the business, such as Little Milton, Albert King, Albert Collins, Otis Clay, Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites and many others.
His goal for the Blues and African American culture, as it stands for the heritage and the last truly creative musical experience that has overcome extinction and re-emerged, is to capture a brand new audience for its guaranteed existence into the next millennium.
He is currently on the road to becoming a successful professional within the music industry as a songwriter, producer and recording engineer. Another goal is to bring the Blues and independent artists to light via the World Wide Web via his company, Erth Records.
With two critically acclaimed albums released in the past two years, he is well on his way to achieving his goals!
It's been awhile since Chicago's seen a new artist capable of fusing both the funky sophistication of the classic deep-soul sound with the gritty sensuality and immediacy of Chicago blues. Tre' and his Blue Knights aren't yet in the same league as Cicero Blake, Lee "Shot" Williams or Tyrone Davis, but they're headed in the right direction. Tre' is a fiercely emotional player with an unusual feel for the sheer prettiness of music."
David Whiteis / Chicago Reader
"His guitar work is intense, sure-fingered, imaginative, and often incendiary - he's got a stinging tone, and weaves spiderish note patterns reminiscent of Buddy Guy's pre-Clapton days. His lyrics are inventive and his voice capable of soulful smoothness as well as a gutsy holler."
David Whiteis / Living Blues
Trying to keep your music in a traditional vein without being labeled retro is a tricky business, but Tre manages to walk the fine line of his ancestry (his father is L.V. Banks)....
Blues Access
"Tre's music is a meshing of classic soul and urban Chicago Blues. "
Bob Kostanczuk / Gary Post Tribune
What you don't know about Tre' is his accomplishments as a well known blues artist
he is well traveled Tre' has performed in over ten countries since his career began and he is very popular in France as we speak Tre' is tough he takes no s**t from no one he is out spoken and perceived as arrogant but he is the very opposite he is very demanding and precise about what he wants
Tre' has always taken different roads to get there but he always gets what he wants and where he wants to be in the long run
Tre's philosophies is there is always another way to get there as long as you get there
his private life is just that private his personal workings remain personal although some have a hint as to what he does for a living he tries to keep it private and away from the other side the blues side
Tre' say never mix the two let no one in and let no one out what you see is what you get and that the way it suppose to be
Tre' thinks the blues game is backwards and the few remaining old timers were programmed to just let things stay the way they are
Tre' is trying to change things there are new young blues artist and why are they shut out from the money making music industry
in country music they pick up the new young music artist and put them on as if they are the best of the best and most of them are very good and well deserving they have the grand o'l opry and the country music awards why has it taken so long for us to have a blues music awards and when are they going to hand these awards to the new young blues artist or are they still trying to catch up and dish out these awards to the one's who are left and the one's were forgotten and long gone
there should be an encouragement in blues music to carry on a tradition a culture a very dominate piece of music history bring blues back into the forefront of music as the real true african american blues man will arise again and quit trying to give it to some other color or culture these is the words of Tre' and it is time for a change.
Tre' and The BlueKnights BluesBand's Friend Space (Top 6)
Tre' and The BlueKnights BluesBand has 199 friends.
Hey brother Tre, shall see you again some time soon. That was a blastin' performance at the fest this year! You have a safe & fun-filled 4th of July weekend.
Thanks so much for the add....you all were amazing in Chicago yesterday! We drove from Wisconsin to Harvard Illinois, and took the train in to Chicago to hear you all play at the Blues Festival! Very impressive........ :) Hope you'll be back again next year, because we'll be in front and center stage!
Dans un mois (in one month) : LE DERNIER JOUR DU FESTIVAL (THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL) : Sound o Sima - Root's Blues - Fred Chapellier & Neil Black - GOSPEL SHAKERS - TRE & LADYKAT -
www.festival-du-blues.com
pré-vente à tarif réduit jusqu'au 15 juin !!!!! 03 85 55 68 99 ou clin71@club-internet.fr
pre-sale at a reduced price until June 15 !!!!! 03 85 55 68 99 or clin71@club-internet.fr
Dans 1 mois jour pour jour : Ticket Blues - The Wild Dogs - CLASSIC & TROUBLES - NINE BELOW ZERO - Dr FEELGOOD - BLUES en BOURGOGNE - Festival Du Creusot -
BLUES EN BOURGOGNE - Festival du Creusot (71) - FRANCE 25 au 28 juin 2009
CLASSIC &TROUBLES - NINE BELOW ZERO - Dr FEELGOOD - TOM PRINCIPATO - BERNIE MARSDEN - BLUES POWER BAND - LARRY CARLTON - GOSPEL SHAKERS - TRE & LADYKAT
I got more HOTsingles lined up than RHIANNA AS A CONTESTANT ON BLIND DATE!!!
MUSIC INDUSTRY CRITIQUE SCORE OFF TRAKHEADZ
Individual Score Card for song "YJ7K OBAMA 4 PRES" by "LORD_X_ODUS THE WILD ONION" Submitted by "MediaMusic360"
Name MediaMusic360 Country US City NEW YORK
Lyrics 5 Vocals 5 Musicianship 5 Arrangement 5 Mix 5 Hook 5 Originality 5 Dance Floor 5 Radio Hit 5 Club Hit 5 Avg Overall Rating 5 Comments This is perfect for today, love the message!
Hello Tre' Thank you for being a positive force in this world. Music is one of the few things left that has the power to bring people of different cultures together. Please feel free to contact me at any time. Darryl
I got more HOTsingles lined up than RHIANNA AS A CONTESTANT ON BLIND DATE!!!
MUSIC INDUSTRY CRITIQUE SCORE OFF TRAKHEADZ
Individual Score Card for song "YJ7K OBAMA 4 PRES" by "LORD_X_ODUS THE WILD ONION" Submitted by "MediaMusic360"
Name MediaMusic360 Country US City NEW YORK
Lyrics 5 Vocals 5 Musicianship 5 Arrangement 5 Mix 5 Hook 5 Originality 5 Dance Floor 5 Radio Hit 5 Club Hit 5 Avg Overall Rating 5 Comments This is perfect for today, love the message!
