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Eric Gales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused withEric Gale.
Eric Gales
Gales performing in 2011
Gales performing in 2011
Background information
Also known asRaw Dawg
Born(1974-10-29)October 29, 1974(age 49)
Memphis, Tennessee,U.S.
GenresBlues rock,hard rock,heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1990–present
LabelsCleopatra Blues (a division ofCleopatra),Elektra,House of Blues,MCA,Shrapnel,Blues Bureau International,Provogue
Spouse(s)LaDonna Gales[1]
Websiteericgalesband.com

Eric Gales(born October 29, 1974), also known asRaw Dawg,is an Americanblues rockguitarist, originally hailed as achild prodigy.As of 2022,Gales has recorded nineteen albums for major record labels and has donesessionand tribute work. He has also contributed vocals on several records by the MemphisrapgroupsProphet PosseandThree 6 Mafiaunder the namesLil EandMack E.

Career

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Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (Little Jimmy King), taught him songs and licks when he was young, in the style ofJimi Hendrix,Albert King,B.B. Kingand others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him onbass.Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the bass E string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother, who is left-handed, and never second-guessed the nontraditional technique.[2]

In late 1990, Eric and Eugene Gales signed withElektra Records,and together with the drummer Hubert Crawford releasedThe Eric Gales Band(1991) andPicture of a Thousand Faces(1993).Guitar Worldmagazine's Reader's Poll named Eric the "Best New Talent", in 1991. During this time he had two rock radio hits, "Sign of the Storm" (number 9, U.S.Mainstream Rock) and "Paralyzed" (number 31, U.S. Mainstream Rock)[3]and had spots on television programs such asThe Arsenio Hall Show.

In 1994, Gales performed withCarlos SantanaatWoodstock '94.[4]In 1995, Gales teamed up with both of his brothers to record an album,Left Hand Brand(released in 1996), as the Gales Brothers.[5]In 2001 Gales released his albumThat's What I AmonMCA Records.[6]

Gales has released the albumsCrystal Vision,The Psychedelic Underground,The Story of My LifeandLayin' Down the Blueson theShrapnel Recordslabel.Relentless(2010) was followed byTransformation(2011) andLive(2012).[7]

In 2004, he contributed a cover of "May This Be Love" to the albumPower of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.[8]In 2008, he and other guitarists participated in the touring tribute toJimi Hendrix,Experience Hendrix.[9]The touring group of musicians includedBilly Cox,Eric Johnson,Chris Layton,Doyle Bramhall II,Brad WhitfordandMitch Mitchell(it was the last tour that Mitchell played on).

In the winter of 2010, Gales returned to the touring circuit in Europe withTM Stevenson bass guitar andKeith LeBlancon drums. The tour was billed asVooDoo Chileand featured works of Jimi Hendrix as well as original material from both Gales and Stevens.

In February 2013,Magna Carta Recordsreleased the albumPinnick Gales Pridgen,produced by Mike Varney and featuring Gales on guitar and vocals,Doug Pinnickon bass and vocals, andThomas Pridgenon drums. The 13-track album featured onecoversong, "Sunshine of Your Love",originally byCream,one short instrumental based onLudwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise",and the remaining songs written by some combination of Pinnick, Gales, Pridgen and Varney.[10]The follow-up album,PGP2,was released in July 2014.[11]

In 2017, Gales released his fifteenth studio effort,Middle of the Road,featuring numerous artists, includingGary Clark Jr.,Lauryn Hilland others, as well as his own brother and mother.[12][13]The album became his first to chart onBillboard's Top Blues Album chart, peaking at No. 4, while Gales' following album,The Bookends,topped the chart at No. 1.[14]On May 9, 2019, he won theBlues Music Awardfor 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year'.[15]In his acceptance speech, he said he was celebrating three years of sobriety.[16]In May 2020, Gales won his second consecutive Blues Music Award as the 'Blues Rock Artist of the Year'.[17]

On October 21, 2021, Gales released the single "I Want My Crown," featuringJoe Bonamassa.The song serves as the lead single from his upcoming albumCrown.Produced by Bonamassa andJosh Smith,the album was released on January 28, 2022. The album highlights Gales' "struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism."[18]Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on theBillboardBlues Album chart, his second to do so.[14]It also garnered Gales his firstGrammynomination forBest Contemporary Blues Album.[19]

Discography

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Gales in 2006

Solo Albums

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  • 1991:The Eric Gales Band(Elektra Records)
  • 1993:Picture of a Thousand Faces(Elektra Records)
  • 1996: The Gales Brothers:Left Hand Brand(House of BluesRecords)
  • 2001:That's What I Am(MCA Records)
  • 2006:Crystal Vision(Shrapnel Records)
  • 2007:The Psychedelic Underground(Shrapnel Records)
  • 2008:The Story of My Life(Blues Bureau International)
  • 2009:Layin' Down the Blues(Blues Bureau International)
  • 2010:Relentless(Blues Bureau International)
  • 2011:Transformation(Blues Bureau International)
  • 2012:Live
  • 2013: Pinnick Gales Pridgen,Pinnick Gales Pridgen(Magna Carta)
  • 2013: Eric Gales Trio,Ghost Notes(Tone Center Records)
  • 2014: Pinnick Gales Pridgen,PGP2(Magna Carta)
  • 2014:Good for Sumthin(Cleopatra Records)
  • 2016:A Night on the Sunset Strip,two discs (Cleopatra Records)
  • 2017:Middle of the Road(Provogue/Mascot)
  • 2019:The Bookends(Provogue/Mascot)
  • 2022:Crown(Provogue/Mascot)

As Session Musician

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  • 1994:L.A. Blues Authority: Cream of the Crop
  • 1994:Hard Love: 14 Original Metal Ballads
  • 1999:Project Pat: Ghetty Green,uncredited verse on the song "Up There", as Lil E (Hypnotize Minds)
  • 1999:Whole Lotta Blues: Songs of Led Zeppelin
  • 1999:Parker Card & The Sideman Syndicate,Parker Card, withShawn Lane(Orchard Records)
  • 1999:This Ain't No Tribute Blues Cube
  • 1999:Blues Power: Songs of Eric Clapton
  • 1999:Blue Power: Song of Eric Clapton, This Ain't No Tribute
  • 1999:Triple 6 Mafia: Underground Vol. 2 (Club Memphis),with "Lil E – Half on a Sack or Blow" (Prophet Entertainment)
  • 2000:Blue Haze: Songs of Jimi Hendrix
  • 2000:Hypnotize Camp Posse: Three 6 Mafia Presents...Hypnotize Camp Posse,uncredited verse on the song "We Bout to Ride", as Lil E (Hypnotize Minds)
  • 2000:Triple 6 Mafia: Underground Vol. 3 (Kings of Memphis),with "Lil E – The Powder [The Higher Version]" and "Lil E – Niggaz Down 2 Make Some Endz" (Prophet Entertainment)
  • 2001:Hellhound on My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson
  • 2002:Led Zeppelin: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues'd Up!
  • 2002:Eric Clapton: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues
  • 2002:A Salute to the Delta Blues Masters
  • 2003:Presents, Vol. 1
  • 2003:Highway 60's 70's Blues Revisited
  • 2003:Got Blues!
  • 2003:Wall of Soul:Lance Lopez
  • 2004:Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
  • 2005:Show You a Good Time
  • 2005:Rock Revisited
  • 2005:Get Down Workout
  • 2005:Blues Interlude
  • 2005:Lottery: Diamonds-N-Da-Ruff
  • 2006:Wes Jeans – Forest of the Pine
  • 2006:Viva Carlos: Supernatural Marathon Celebration
  • 2006:A Walk on the Blues Side
  • 2006: Billy Cox and Buddy Miles,The Band of Gypsys Return
  • 2014:Eli Cook,Primitive Son[20]

References

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  1. ^Seah, Daniel (October 13, 2020)."Musicians rally in support of Eric Gales, who has been hit with COVID-19".Guitar.com.RetrievedFebruary 14,2024.
  2. ^"Eric Gales and the Gales Brothers".Personal.mco.bellsouth.net.Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2012.RetrievedMarch 18,2013.
  3. ^"Eric Gales – Awards".AllMusic.RetrievedMarch 18,2013.
  4. ^"Eric Gales and Santana Live at Woodstock 94".YouTube.March 1, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon February 10, 2017.RetrievedMarch 18,2013.
  5. ^Skelly, Richard."Little Jimmy King".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 19,2011.
  6. ^"ERIC GALES" That's What I Am "".The Washington Post.
  7. ^"Eric Gales".Shrapnel Label Group, Inc.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
  8. ^Rod Brakes (April 19, 2022)."Watch a 14-Year-Old Eric Gales Destroying the Competition During a Battle of the Bands Contest in 1989".Guitar Player.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
  9. ^Chinen, Nate (October 22, 2008)."Move Over, Rover. Let Jimi Take Over".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
  10. ^"Interview: Eric Gales & Doug Pinnick - Gospel Grooves & Abnormal Blues - Premier Guitar".www.premierguitar.com.RetrievedOctober 5,2023.
  11. ^"Pinnick Gales Pridgen".Magnacarta.net.Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2013.RetrievedDecember 28,2014.
  12. ^Kerzner, Barry (March 22, 2017)."Eric Gales Is Back, Making the Most of a Second Chance - American Blues Scene".Americanbluesscene.com.RetrievedJune 21,2018.
  13. ^"The return of Eric Gales, the guitarist who could be king".Louderthansound.com.February 10, 2017.RetrievedJune 21,2018.
  14. ^ab"Eric Gales: Chart History".Billboard.com.RetrievedJune 21,2018.
  15. ^"2019 Blues Music Awards Winners Announced".Antimusic.com.RetrievedMay 11,2019.
  16. ^"40TH BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED".Blues.org.January 7, 2019.RetrievedMay 11,2019.
  17. ^McKay, Robin."BLUES MUSIC AWARDS".Blues.org.RetrievedMay 4,2020.
  18. ^Owen, Matt (October 21, 2021)."Eric Gales trades guitar solo blows with Joe Bonamassa in dueling new single, I Want My Crown".Guitar World.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  19. ^Owen, Matt (November 16, 2022)."Ozzy Osbourne, Muse, Megadeth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Gales, Bonnie Raitt and Wet Leg nominated for 2023 Grammys".Guitar World.Guitar World Magazine.RetrievedNovember 16,2022.
  20. ^"Primitive Son – Eli Cook | Credits".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 4,2016.
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