Robert Radcliff Ewan
Bobby Radcliff, born Robert Radcliff Ewan, is an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and painter. Radcliff, raised in Bethesda, Maryland, began playing guitar at the early age of 12, attending a variety of concerts that would come through the area (Blues, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Country, Rock, Jazz, etc.). Radcliff played in a number of bands beginning at age 13, as both a guitarist and vocalist.
He is known for his position in the band "The Yarbs" (bandleader Chris Pestalozzi) which played cover songs, standards, and originals, crossing many genres, with an emphasis on original compositions and Blues. In 1968, Radcliff also joined "The Northside Blues Band", alongside Brett Littlehales (harmonica), Guy Dorsey (keyboard), William Bowman (bass), and Van Holmead (drums).
Musical inspirations
Radcliff's spectrum of musical inspirations expanded as he continued to explore different artists. He was particularly inspired by the Butterfield Blues Band (Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Elvin Bishop), but also drew from country guitarist James Burton (from Ricky Nelson's band), Kenneth "Thumbs" Carllile (from Jimmy Dickens band), Don Rich (from Buck Owen's Band), Steve Cropper, Slim Harpo, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Ventures and many others. He was also influenced by the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and many other British Blues Bands. Radcliff met many blues musicians during this period, such as Freddy King and Buddy Guy (1968).
Early career and influences
A seminal moment in Radcliff's musical development came when he attended the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969. Not only did he meet Dick Waterman, who became a friend, but he also saw Magic Sam live for the first time. Sam's Chicago West Side Blues sound captivated Radcliff as it was unlike anything he'd ever heard. This performance inspired Radcliff to form his own band – a trio he modeled after Sam's band. Radcliff was so inspired by Magic Sam that he soon boarded a bus to Chicago, venturing to meet his newfound guitar idol. Radcliff arrived in Chicago only to learn Magic Sam had suffered a major heart attack and was in Cook County Hospital. Radcliff sat by his bedside until Sam woke up. He explained that he had seen him at the Ann Arbor Festival and Sam was receptive to young Radcliff's pilgrimage to meet him.
After Sam recovered, he invited Radcliff back to his home at 1513 South Harding Street, in the heart of Chicago's West Side. Sam introduced Radcliff to the West Side Chicago Blues scene at such venues as The Alex Club (1815 Roosevelt Road) and the L & A Lounge on Pulaski (where Sam was a part-time bartender when he couldn't get enough work as a musician). They also went to The Key Largo where Otis Rush often performed and The Flash Lounge where Sam introduced Radcliff to Eddie Clearwater.
Some of the other musicians that Sam introduced Radcliff to in Chicago included: Mighty Joe Young (guitar), Ernie Gatewood (who also sometimes played bass for Magic Sam), Otis Rush, Jimmy Dawkins, Mac Thompson (bass), and Letha Jones (pianist Johnny Jones widow) and many other musicians. Radcliff often witnessed Sam performing with the above-mentioned musicians and many others.
Over the next six months, Radcliff visited Sam a number of times – staying with Sam's family in Chicago. One of the most important messages that Sam gave to Radcliff was to listen to all kinds of music (country, jazz, pop, classics etc..) and to continue to be broadminded about the music he listened to because developing 'your own style' was important, along with continuing to grow as a musician. Sam died in December 1969 at age 32 – from a heart attack. Radcliff and Dick Waterman attended Sam's funeral together.
By this time, Radcliff's style was infused with Magic Sam's unique sound. However, the breadth of Radcliff's music drew no boundaries his own stylistic voice emerged, helping his career blossom. Writer Dave Hussong Vintage Guitar Magazine (1990) touches on Radcliff's expansive musical range as a vocalist, instrumentalist, and live performer:
"Unencumbered by style restrictions, Radcliff brings a sense of intensity and conviction, both instrumentally and vocally (the latter being an area where many 90's interpreters fall face down) that puts his, and this, live performance into a very special league of its own."
In the early 1970s, he began performing with his own band at clubs in the Washington D.C. area with a few key residencies: He performed a few nights each week at Cousin Nicks, and Sundays and Monday's at Top 'o Foolery Jazz Club. He also frequently performed at Mr. Henry's and The Childe Harold. Radcliff recorded his first 45 RPM single in 1974 on Aladdin Records with "It's Been a Long Long Day" by Amos Milburn and the B-side was "That's All I Need" which he learned from Magic Sam.
Members of his band during this time included many of the great Washington DC players; Steve Shaw, Victor Spano, Dave Walker, Dick Heintze, Robbie Magruder, Joe Bradley, TNT Tribble, Tom Slavin, and Danny Gatton.
Move to New York
In 1977, he relocated to New York where he took a day job in a bookstore. At night, he was an integral musician as part of the thriving New York music club scene. He performed most evenings and was one of the house musicians at the Lone Star Cafe and at Tramps, working with Kinky Friedman, Bernard Purdie, Otis Rush, Lowell Folson, and Big Jay McNeeley, amongst many others. Radcliff's own band played at many clubs, including CBGBs. Radcliff's band was one of the few Blues bands playing there as his songwriting and style continued to flourish.
During this time, there were many chance meetings at his shows, including when John Belushi saw Radcliff play at the Lone Star Café with Kinky Friedman in the late 1970s. John then recruited Radcliff for guitar lessons. During this time, he regularly saw Belushi. Subsequently, Belushi invited Radcliff to perform in the very first Blues Brother's show, featuring Belushi and Roomful Of Blues.
Radcliff's career continued to heat up and in 1984 he recorded "Early In the Morning", his first 33 RPM album, and by 1987 he began recording and performing full-time. Between 1989- and 1998, Radcliff released five albums on the Black Top Record label: "Dresses Too Short", "Universal Blues", "There's A Cold Grave In Your Way", "Live At The Rynborn" and "Live At Tipitina's." He toured extensively all over the world, performing at many premiere American and European festivals including the Berlin Jazz Festival,[8] The Peer Festival in Belgium, The Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia, the Warrnambool Festival in Australia, the Harvest Blues Festival in Ireland, the Lugano Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Malmitalo Festival in Finland, The Aguas Blues Festival in Aguascalieutes Mexico, the Granada Jazz and Blues Festival in Spain, the San Remo Blues Festival in Italy, and the Café Volga Festival in Japan. Radcliff performed at many other festivals, including tours with Earl King where Radcliff played under his own name and also as Earl's backing band.
In addition to the above-mentioned festivals, Radcliff toured Europe and the United States extensively with the "Blacktop Artists Tours" that included Robert Ward, Snooks Eaglin, Ronnie Earl, Anson Funderburgh, Clarence Holliman, and James "Thunderbird" Davis. In 1990, Radcliff received a New York Music Award from K-Rock radio station for "Best Blues Artist". That year, he also received a five star review from the October issue of Downbeat Magazine for "Dresses Too Short." From Downbeat Magazine: "The firebrand's Fender shudders, diters, and fulminates in a rough, deep-seated kind of ecstasy too seldom encountered in this age of superficial, smoke and verbiage blues guitar. Fitting the templates of order and creative intelligence over his crowded bursts of simultaneous leads, bass lines, and chords, the Washington D.C. native indulges his passion for Buddy Guy and Magic Sam without aping the greats. Moreover, Radcliff works up a true sweat inspiriting verse behind a stealthily incisive, stirring voice that's roughly a cross between Magic Sam's and Jimmy Johnson's."
[text lifted from Wiki]
He is known for his position in the band "The Yarbs" (bandleader Chris Pestalozzi) which played cover songs, standards, and originals, crossing many genres, with an emphasis on original compositions and Blues. In 1968, Radcliff also joined "The Northside Blues Band", alongside Brett Littlehales (harmonica), Guy Dorsey (keyboard), William Bowman (bass), and Van Holmead (drums).
Musical inspirations
Radcliff's spectrum of musical inspirations expanded as he continued to explore different artists. He was particularly inspired by the Butterfield Blues Band (Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Elvin Bishop), but also drew from country guitarist James Burton (from Ricky Nelson's band), Kenneth "Thumbs" Carllile (from Jimmy Dickens band), Don Rich (from Buck Owen's Band), Steve Cropper, Slim Harpo, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Ventures and many others. He was also influenced by the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and many other British Blues Bands. Radcliff met many blues musicians during this period, such as Freddy King and Buddy Guy (1968).
Early career and influences
A seminal moment in Radcliff's musical development came when he attended the Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969. Not only did he meet Dick Waterman, who became a friend, but he also saw Magic Sam live for the first time. Sam's Chicago West Side Blues sound captivated Radcliff as it was unlike anything he'd ever heard. This performance inspired Radcliff to form his own band – a trio he modeled after Sam's band. Radcliff was so inspired by Magic Sam that he soon boarded a bus to Chicago, venturing to meet his newfound guitar idol. Radcliff arrived in Chicago only to learn Magic Sam had suffered a major heart attack and was in Cook County Hospital. Radcliff sat by his bedside until Sam woke up. He explained that he had seen him at the Ann Arbor Festival and Sam was receptive to young Radcliff's pilgrimage to meet him.
After Sam recovered, he invited Radcliff back to his home at 1513 South Harding Street, in the heart of Chicago's West Side. Sam introduced Radcliff to the West Side Chicago Blues scene at such venues as The Alex Club (1815 Roosevelt Road) and the L & A Lounge on Pulaski (where Sam was a part-time bartender when he couldn't get enough work as a musician). They also went to The Key Largo where Otis Rush often performed and The Flash Lounge where Sam introduced Radcliff to Eddie Clearwater.
Some of the other musicians that Sam introduced Radcliff to in Chicago included: Mighty Joe Young (guitar), Ernie Gatewood (who also sometimes played bass for Magic Sam), Otis Rush, Jimmy Dawkins, Mac Thompson (bass), and Letha Jones (pianist Johnny Jones widow) and many other musicians. Radcliff often witnessed Sam performing with the above-mentioned musicians and many others.
Over the next six months, Radcliff visited Sam a number of times – staying with Sam's family in Chicago. One of the most important messages that Sam gave to Radcliff was to listen to all kinds of music (country, jazz, pop, classics etc..) and to continue to be broadminded about the music he listened to because developing 'your own style' was important, along with continuing to grow as a musician. Sam died in December 1969 at age 32 – from a heart attack. Radcliff and Dick Waterman attended Sam's funeral together.
By this time, Radcliff's style was infused with Magic Sam's unique sound. However, the breadth of Radcliff's music drew no boundaries his own stylistic voice emerged, helping his career blossom. Writer Dave Hussong Vintage Guitar Magazine (1990) touches on Radcliff's expansive musical range as a vocalist, instrumentalist, and live performer:
"Unencumbered by style restrictions, Radcliff brings a sense of intensity and conviction, both instrumentally and vocally (the latter being an area where many 90's interpreters fall face down) that puts his, and this, live performance into a very special league of its own."
In the early 1970s, he began performing with his own band at clubs in the Washington D.C. area with a few key residencies: He performed a few nights each week at Cousin Nicks, and Sundays and Monday's at Top 'o Foolery Jazz Club. He also frequently performed at Mr. Henry's and The Childe Harold. Radcliff recorded his first 45 RPM single in 1974 on Aladdin Records with "It's Been a Long Long Day" by Amos Milburn and the B-side was "That's All I Need" which he learned from Magic Sam.
Members of his band during this time included many of the great Washington DC players; Steve Shaw, Victor Spano, Dave Walker, Dick Heintze, Robbie Magruder, Joe Bradley, TNT Tribble, Tom Slavin, and Danny Gatton.
Move to New York
In 1977, he relocated to New York where he took a day job in a bookstore. At night, he was an integral musician as part of the thriving New York music club scene. He performed most evenings and was one of the house musicians at the Lone Star Cafe and at Tramps, working with Kinky Friedman, Bernard Purdie, Otis Rush, Lowell Folson, and Big Jay McNeeley, amongst many others. Radcliff's own band played at many clubs, including CBGBs. Radcliff's band was one of the few Blues bands playing there as his songwriting and style continued to flourish.
During this time, there were many chance meetings at his shows, including when John Belushi saw Radcliff play at the Lone Star Café with Kinky Friedman in the late 1970s. John then recruited Radcliff for guitar lessons. During this time, he regularly saw Belushi. Subsequently, Belushi invited Radcliff to perform in the very first Blues Brother's show, featuring Belushi and Roomful Of Blues.
Radcliff's career continued to heat up and in 1984 he recorded "Early In the Morning", his first 33 RPM album, and by 1987 he began recording and performing full-time. Between 1989- and 1998, Radcliff released five albums on the Black Top Record label: "Dresses Too Short", "Universal Blues", "There's A Cold Grave In Your Way", "Live At The Rynborn" and "Live At Tipitina's." He toured extensively all over the world, performing at many premiere American and European festivals including the Berlin Jazz Festival,[8] The Peer Festival in Belgium, The Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia, the Warrnambool Festival in Australia, the Harvest Blues Festival in Ireland, the Lugano Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Malmitalo Festival in Finland, The Aguas Blues Festival in Aguascalieutes Mexico, the Granada Jazz and Blues Festival in Spain, the San Remo Blues Festival in Italy, and the Café Volga Festival in Japan. Radcliff performed at many other festivals, including tours with Earl King where Radcliff played under his own name and also as Earl's backing band.
In addition to the above-mentioned festivals, Radcliff toured Europe and the United States extensively with the "Blacktop Artists Tours" that included Robert Ward, Snooks Eaglin, Ronnie Earl, Anson Funderburgh, Clarence Holliman, and James "Thunderbird" Davis. In 1990, Radcliff received a New York Music Award from K-Rock radio station for "Best Blues Artist". That year, he also received a five star review from the October issue of Downbeat Magazine for "Dresses Too Short." From Downbeat Magazine: "The firebrand's Fender shudders, diters, and fulminates in a rough, deep-seated kind of ecstasy too seldom encountered in this age of superficial, smoke and verbiage blues guitar. Fitting the templates of order and creative intelligence over his crowded bursts of simultaneous leads, bass lines, and chords, the Washington D.C. native indulges his passion for Buddy Guy and Magic Sam without aping the greats. Moreover, Radcliff works up a true sweat inspiriting verse behind a stealthily incisive, stirring voice that's roughly a cross between Magic Sam's and Jimmy Johnson's."
[text lifted from Wiki]