CONTACT: (312) 371 -5179 EMAIL: [email protected]
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ROB STONE &THE C•NOTES CONTACT: (312) 371 -5179 EMAIL: [email protected] www.robstone.com MANAGEMENT: Michael Frank AT Earwig Music Company TEL: (773)262-0278 EMAIL: [email protected] www.earwigmusic.com A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ROB STONE CAN TRANSPORT THE LISTENER BACK TO THE HEYDAY OF CHICAGO BLUES. Fronted by Harp-playing vocalist ROB STONE and held together by a rock-solid rhythm section, the group is comprised of seasoned professionals with well over half a century of combined blues playing experience. They’ve paid their dues in the smoky Chicago blues joints and toured coast to coast across North America and Europe, as well as the Hawaiian islands and Japan, playing countless blues festivals, club dates and television appearances. Separately, the members of the group have recorded for the respected Alligator, Evidence, Hightone, Ice House, Marquis, Appaloosa and Magnum blues labels, and received national recognition in countless blues publications. These musicians have performed with and learned from many of the greats...and it shows from the first note. They are all authentic showmen with pure abil- ity to tear up a stage, as evidenced by their prominent role in the recent Martin Scorsese-produced “Godfathers and Sons” episode of The Blues series that aired recently on PBS stations natiowide. Together they now have a brand new release on Chicago’s Earwig label. As a vocalist Rob Stone is powerful, yet relaxed and natural; as a harmonica player he evokes the sounds of greats like Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Walter Horton. This band navigates their way effortlessly through one lean arrangement after another, from a soulful slow blues to a ferocious, driving slide guitar workout recalling past greats like Elmore James, Earl Hooker, and Muddy Waters, as well as all the blues harp legends from the hey- day of Chicago blues. At times this band sounds as if they stepped directly out of a time machine dialed in to “south side of Chicago, c. 1950s”. Their knowledge and experience shows; everything is in the right place. Whether playing before an audience of seasoned blues fans, or a group of folks who’ve never been to a blues club, the energy and swing of their music pulls in the audience from the very first note. Rob Stone and the C-Notes play blues the way it is supposed to be played...with love and respect for the tradition that lies at the heartof the music. Their goal is to introduce a younger audience to the exciting music of Chicago blues. While they stay true to the tradition, Rob Stone and the C-Notes have a sound that is all their own. The result is a gen- uine, blues show unsurpassed in energy, feeling, and authenticity, presented with professionalism and a touch of class. Stone's debut cd, “NO WORRIES,” (MARQUIS) and a full set of unreleased tracks (featuring the final recordings of Chicago Blues legend Dave Myers) aroused the interest of Chicago’sprestigious Earwig Music Company (a label shared by many of the greats they learned from); their new release “JUST MY LUCK” on that label has placed Rob Stone and the C-Notes at the forefront of working blues bands today. www.robstone.com ROB STONE HARMONICA AND VOCALS CHICAGO-BASED SINGER AND HARMONICA PLAYER ROB STONE BRINGS A HARD-HITTING, FRESH ENERGY TO THE CHICAGO blues sound. Stone maintains the feel, authenticity of traditional blues, while establishing his own stylistic approach —steeped in the influence of great bluesmen of the 50s. As a young Boston-born musician, unsatisfied with his violin, piano or guitar attempts, an underage Rob Stone snuck into a blues club to hear the great harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite. It was a moment of inspiration—Stone bought his first harmonica the next day, taught himself the instrument off of classic records, and soon began studying harmonica with such masters as Jerry Portnoy (former member of Muddy Waters’ band). Within a year, Stone was performing with some of Boston’s finest blues musicians. At seventeen, Stone began a long-time musical relationship with Rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef when introduced by mutual friend, author Peter Guralnick. Stone moved to Colorado in 1990 and continued to gain experience working intermittently with local Colorado Springs blues musicians and steadily with a rock-blues band that mostly played in biker bars. In 1993, Stone met blues drummer Sam Lay who invited him to sit in with his band (then comprised of Patrick Rynn and Chris James). In the spring of 1994, the har- monica spot in Sam Lay’s band opened up, and he immediately asked Stone to join. Stone packed up, headed to Chicago, and remained with Sam Lay for the next four years, touring top blues clubs and festivals internationally. During his tenure with Lay, Stone began to develop his singing and harmonica style based on the influences of Little Walter, James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). As Stone gained a national reputation, his talent earned him a Hohner endorse- ment and a place among the best of the blues players on stage today. After leaving Sam Lay’s band in 1998, Stone recorded and released “Rob Stone & the C-Notes – No Worries” (Marquis Records), to excellent reviews. Stone continued to perform around Chicago and the midwest and quickly gained a reputation as a new generation harp player, and one of Chicago’s top live blues acts. Stone’s Chicago experiences have been an apprenticeship in every facet of blues music, style, attitude, and showman- ship. Over the years, he has shared the stage with Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Rogers, Phillip Walker, Hubert Sumlin, Henry Gray, Jody Williams, Rod Piazza, Eddie Shaw, David Myers (of the Aces), Willie Kent and the Gents, Pinetop Perkins, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tail Dragger, Bruce Willis, Katherine Davis, Corky Siegel, Jim Schwall, Johnny B. Moore, Eddie Taylor, Jr., Aaron Moore, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, and countless other top blues musicians. Fully focused on The C-Notes, Rob continues to perform and record with this ensemble. www.robstone.com ...THE ROAD, WELL TRAVELED THE C-NOTES HAVE PERFORMED IN THE FOLLOWING VENUES ON THEIR OWN AND AS A UNIT BACKING JODY WILLIAMS AND/OR SAM LAY. BLUES FESTIVALS RHYTHM ROOM • Phoenix, Arizona BLUES ON THE FOX • Aurora, Illinois THE RIALTO THEATER • Tucson, Arizona BLUES ESTAFETTE • Utrecht, The Netherlands THE WILD HARE • El Paso, Texas BERLIN JAZZ FESTIVAL • Berlin, Germany THE DINGO BAR • Albuquerque, New Mexico PARK TOWER BLUES FESTIVAL • Tokyo, Japan THE HARBOR • Big Fork, Montana SOUTHERN BLUESNIGHT • Heerlen, The Netherlands ZOO BAR • Lincoln, Nebraska MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES FESTIVAL • Davenport, Iowa GRAND EMPORIUM • Kansas City, Missouri WINTHROP RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL • Winthrop, Washington ROOSTER BLUES • Fort Smith, Arkansas POCONOS BLUES FESTIVAL • Pocono, Pennsylvania AIR DEVIL’S INN • Louisville, Kentucky BUDWEISER ILLINOIS BLUES FESTIVAL • Peoria, Illinois THE BOARDWALK CAFÉ • Nashville, Tennessee COURT AVENUE BLUES FESTIVAL • Des Moines, Iowa THE BLUES HARBOR • Atlanta, Georgia RAWA BLUES FESTIVAL • Katowice, Poland B.B. KINGS BLUES CLUB • Memphis, Tennessee LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL • Lucerne, Switzerland FAMOUS DAVE’S • Minneapolis, Minnesota HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BLUES FESTIVAL • Kona, Hawaii BLUES ON GRAND • Des Moines, Iowa RIVERFRONT ARTS FESTIVAL • Troy, New York SLIPPERY NOODLE INN • Indianapolis, Indiana BOWLFUL O’ BLUES FESTIVAL • Newton, Iowa THE RED KEY PALACE • Red Key, Indiana BIRMINGHAM JAM • Birmingham, Alabama FAT FISH BLUE • Cleveland, Ohio SILVER CITY BLUES FESTIVAL • Silver City, New Mexico WILBERTS • Cleveland, Ohio HOWLIN’ WOLF MEMORIAL BLUES FESTIVAL • West Point, Mississippi THE WAREHOUSE • Kalamazoo, Michigan KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL • Helena, Arkansas THE BLIND PIG • Champaign, Illinois THE TOLEDO ROCK, RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL HOUSE OF BLUES • Cambridge, Massachusetts ST. LOUIS BLUES HERITAGE FESTIVAL • St. Louis, Missouri C.H.I.C.A.G.O. BLUES • New York City, New York BILLTOWN BLUES FESTIVAL • Hughesville, Pennsylvania THE BIG EASY • Portland, Maine CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL • Chicago, Illinois BLUES PLUS • Rockland, Maine CAFÉ CAMPUS • Montreal, Canada BLUES CLUBS THE KING EDWARD • Calgary, Canada THE BELLY UP TAVERN • Solana Beach, California THE SILVER DOLLAR ROOM • Toronto, Canada THE BLUE CAFÉ • Long Beach, California THE YALE HOUSE • Vancouver, Canada CAFÉ BOOGALOO • Hermosa Beach, California HOUSE OF BLUES • Hollywood, California CHICAGO BLUES CLUBS THE DERBY • Hollywood, California THE KINGSTON MINES COZY’S • Sherman Oaks, California BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS BLUES BOUQUET • Boise, Idaho B.L.U.E.S. ON HALSTED DYNAMITE LOUNGE • Ketchum, Idaho ROSA’S LOUNGE THE MINT • Sun Valley, Idaho FITZGERALDS HERMAN’S HIDEAWAY • Denver, Colorado HOUSE OF BLUES www.robstone.com WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING… “This young outfit respects vintage Chicago blues deeply enough to blow the dust right off it!” – BILL DAHL • CHICAGO READER “Rob Stone is nationally recognized as a hot new generation harp player.” – KRANNERT CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS • UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS “Chris James reels off properly nasty Elmore James slide riffs… and dials up the correct shimmering tremolo to emulate Bo Diddley. …Stone’s harp style is influenced by both Little Walter and Big Walter, and his singing is clear and unaffected … solid Chicago-style blues.” – LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE “Look out for Rob Stone and the C-Notes ’cause they’re blowing the blues away and coming your way — KICKING DONKEY EVERY STEP!”– CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE • W.C. HANDY AWARD WINNER: “BEST HARMONICA INSTRUMENTALIST” “Rob Stone and the C-Notes play the real stuff. They are preserving the music we love.” – ROD PIAZZA • W.C.HANDY AWARD WINNER: “BEST HARMONICA INSTRUMENTALIST” “I’ve been in this business a long time. Rob Stone and the C-Notes put together a very good record and the band really knows how to support the harp. It sounds just like the music from when I was coming up.” – DAVE MYERS • ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE ACES AND ONE OF THE EARLY ARCHITECTS OF CHICAGO BLUES “The best show I witnessed on the Best Buy Stage was the closing performance by Rob Stone and the C-Notes.