Sammy Dee Morton Sammy Dee Morton has played Louisiana and Texas style Blues for 25 years. His smooth, soulful and energetic way of playing has captured many an ear. Sammy Dee developed his chops playing alongside Blues and Cajun performers such as: Kenny Neal, Debbie Davies, Tab Benoit, and Doug Kershaw. He has appeared on multiple recordings, including his latest, Business Is Business and Sammy Dee LIVE, which was recorded at the Boulder Theater while opening for Robert Cray. In 2010, Sammy Dee's song, Strat Struttin’ was released on Guitar Masters Vol. 3 & 4: Les Paul Dedication, BHP Music, Ltd. In 2005, Sammy was deemed an “Honorary Louisiana Bluesman” by the Louisiana Music Commission. In the 70's, Sammy Dee managed a recording studio and used his off hours to further develop his musical talents. His goal was to create his own style. Over the years, Sammy discovered his longing to master the Blues. In the 80's, he played 6 years in a shag band in South Carolina and this helped to develop his strong command for rhythm. Later on in his life, while touring with Doug Kershaw (the Rajin Cajun), Sammy found himself at the New Orleans Jazz Fest opening for greats like Al Green and B.B. King and at Austin Texas, Steppenwolf. Sammy Dee spent five and a half years touring with Doug in the U.S., Canada and overseas. Also, he spent a while living in Louisiana near New Orleans and played with several special musicians which added more influence to his playing style. In 2004, he released his first all original album, Redheaded Stepchild which is available worldwide. In 2005, Sammy Dee toured coast-to-coast on his Red, White & Blues Tour in support of the album. And while on tour at his show in Hammond, Louisiana, was awarded by Official Louisiana State Decree as an "Honorary Louisiana Blues- man", a rare and respected recognition. Sammy Dee Morton believes in the immortal words of the great Albert Collins, "let your influences shine through". With a life steeped in the Call (303) 502-4459 or traditions of Blues and a stunning style all his own, Sammy Dee is sure to please Blues fans young and old. e-mail [email protected] Sammy Dee Morton June 1, 2010 - Sammy Dee's song, Strat Struttin' was released on Guitar Masters Vol. 3 & 4: Les Paul Dedication, June 1st at Best Buy by BHP Music, Ltd. The other musicians are such as the memorable, Les Paul. Also, Jeff Beck, Leslie West, Steve Vai and Allen Holdsworth, Spring - Winter 2005 Billy Sheehan, Hal Lindes from Dire Straits, Andy Timmons and Brian Tarquin, just to name a few. Reef Piano Bar & Grill, Denver, CO Bourbon Street Bar & Grill, Geenwood Village, CO July 4, 2009 - Opened for Tab Benoit, Cervantis - Denver, CO Boulder Outlook Hotel, Boulder, CO The Copper Penny, Buckeye Lake, OH February 21, 2009 - Opened for Delbert McClinton, Donahue’s, Springfield, OH Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO Sundance Saloon, Columbus, OH - w/ T. Graham Brown InKahoots, Broomfield, CO February 7, 2009 – Opened for Tab Benoit, The Axis, Ft. Worth, TX - w/ Tab Benoit Oriental Theater – Denver, CO Bills Records, Dallas, TX September 29 , 2008 - Opened for Robert Cray Blues City Bar, Tulsa, OK at the Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO Ritz Grill, Colorado Springs, CO Ore House, Copperton, UT January 2009 - Hear Sammy Dee's riffs on this Delta Blues Festival, Delta, CO PBS documentary. Credited for four soundtracks Buffalo Valley Inn, Glenwood Springs, CO on a recent release, "Bayou Lafourche: The Longest Doug Kershaw’s Bayou House, Lucern CO Street in the World" Crossroads Lounge, Lafayette, CO January 2009 - "Behave Yourself" from Sammy's Business is Lazy Dog Bar & Grill, Boulder, CO Business CD was chosen by listeners as one of the 2008 top 50 Deep Ellum Blues, Dallas, TX songs which were played on Kai Turner's Strictly Blues Show. R & R Sports Bar, Friendswood, TX 103.5 KRFX Radio - Denver, CO Multiple New Orleans dates cancelled due to hurricane Pioneer Inn, Nederland, CO May 17, 2008 - Sammy Dee concert for 5,000 people at the Outlaw Saloon, Lyons, CO Erie Town Fair & Northern CO Balloon Fest, Erie CO Furniture Factory Bar & Grill, Huntsville, AL Mardi Gras 2004 - Performing with Doug Kershaw on Freemont Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Huntville, AL Street - Las Vegas, NV - w/ Billy C. Farlow (of Commander Cody) Bracken’s Pub, Urbana, OH Opened for Steppenwolf 2002 - Austin, TX The Barn, Zanesville OH - over 100,000 member audience! The Thirsty Ear, Columbus, OH Mariner’s Inn, Hammond, LA - w/ Joey Drago Hosted "World's Greated Blues Jam" 2002 with Raful and Tab Benoit’s Lagniappe Music Cafe, Houma, LA Kenny Neal - Baton Rouge, LA Phil Brady’s Blues Bar, Baton Rouge, La - w/ Oscar Davis Blues & Bones Festival 2002 - Denver, CO Bossa Nova, New Orleans, LA - w/ Smoky Greenwell Gateway Saloon, Vernal, UT Opened for B.B. King at the 2001 New Orleans Jazz Fest The Bone, Dallas, TX - over 100,000 member audience! Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, Houston, TX Route 66 Casino, Albequerque, NM 5 1/2 years touring with Doug Kershaw including dates in Osan, Main Street Pub, Rangely, CO South Korea and Prince Albert, Canada The Marquis Theatre, Denver, CO Private performance for 37 State Governors - Jackson Hole, WY Sammy Dee Morton Sammy Dee performing with Debbie Davies Oscar Blues - Lyons, CO Sammy Dee with Doug Kershaw opening for B.B. King at The New Orleans Jazzfest Sammy plays in front of 100,000+ opening for Steppenwolf Sammy shreds with Doug Kershaw - Gold Hill, CO - Austin, TX Sammy with Billy C. Farlow (of Commander Cody) Humphrey’s Bar & Grill - Huntsville, AL Tab Benoit makes a guest appearance with Sammy on his Red, White & Blues Tour Sammy jams with Oscar Davis at Phil Brady’s - Baton Rouge, LA The Axiom - Fort Worth, TX Sammy Dee Morton Raful and Kenny Neal jam with Sammy at “World’s Greatest Blues Jam” - Baton Rouge, LA Sammy Dee hanging out with Delbert McLinton backstage after opening for him and Anson Funderburgh at The Blues & Bones Festival - Denver, CO Sammy receives the prestigious Louisiana State Honorary Sammy Dee hangin’ with Bluesman Award The King - New Orleans, LA Sammy Dee jamming with Sammy Mayfield at The Oriental Theatre - Denver, CO DAVE DOTY Castle Cafe’s Next Door Bar ......................... (303) 814-2233 Visit Sammy Dee’s site for his current performance schedule, to hear Sammy DAN KING Dee’s music, and just see what’s new! Boulder Outlook Hotel ................................ (303) 443-3322 www.SammyDeeMorton.com GARY LENNOX Dog House Music Studios ........................... (303) 956-3377 GEOFF GRAY Far & Away Studios, Inc. ............................. (303) 494-6800 Sammy Dee Morton Sammy Dee, Business Is Business, 2007, independent Eight of these ten tracks are original compositions by Sammy Dee, who is joined throughout by the excellent rhythm section of Bob Tiger on bass and Steve Saviano on drums. The project was beautifully recorded and mastered by Geoff Gray at Far & Away Studios in Boulder. Sammy more than lives up to his reputation as a top-notch guitarist here; there’s never any doubt about what lies at the heart of the collection, but looking beyond the instrumentation reveals something more than just another hot guitar album. Sammy’s writing has matured, as the stories told by the lyrics attest, and I think his vocals are more "If it's feeling you need then the blues confident than on previous recordings. will proceed to pass away the pain. Because Sammy Dee delivers the cure There’s a lot to like here, not the least of which is the variations with a sound so pure that a sweet as a in style and tempo among the songs. Sammy has a fine ear for summer rain." the things that distinguish the blues of Texas (which I believe are closest to his heart) from other regional sounds (Louisiana Bernie Cyrus, 3/15/2008 is represented by “Dog Days,” a languid walk through New Orleans, and “Sittin’ in Limbo,” a very tasty rhumba related to Bernie Cyrus is a former Louisiana Music Jimmy Cliff’s reggae classic only by its title and theme; it’s my Commissioner who deemed Sammy Dee an favorite track). Other selections (in no particular order) are the "Honorary Louisiana Bluesman". Now the host opener, “Behave Yourself,” a rocking number with some interesting of a popular program of radio station WGSO, stops; Willie Dixon’s ironic, high-speed “Too Late”; “Moonshine,” New Orleans, LA. a lovely mid-tempo instrumental; the amusing Donnie Walsh composition “Bop Til I Drop”; the title cut, which takes a hard look at what happens when what is promised is not what is delivered; “Low Down Woman,” a mid-tempo shuffle; and Visit Sammy Dee’s “Strat Struttin’,” the closing instrumental, which really rocks out. site for more reviews: Business Is Business, is is currently available at shows, at Albums on The Hill in Boulder, CO, and Black & Read in Arvada, CO. www.SammyDeeMorton.com/Reviews Jim Primock CD Review from the Colorado Blues Society Holler Newsletter, March 2008.