Washington Blues Society’s Entry in the 2017 Best Self-Produced CD Competition: Sammy Eubanks – ‘Sugar Me’

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The Washington Blues Society, the statewide affiliate of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, has chosen Sammy Eubank’s Sugar Me as its entry in the Best Self-Produced -CD competition held during the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis in 2017.

The International Blues Challenge, established in 1984, is the world’s largest gathering of blues talent. Sugar Me joins Washington Blues Society representatives Stanislove and Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method competing in the Solo/Duo and Band categories of the International Blues Challenge. Best Self-Produced CD finalists will be announced prior to IBC weekend, and the winning Solo/Duo and Band competitors will compete in the finals at the historic Orpheum Theater on February 4, 2017.

Ten-time male vocalist of the year honored by the Washington Blues Society and the Inland Empire Blues Society, Sammy Eubanks is set to storm the airways with his 5th CD, Sugar Me, released in June, 2016 on Underworld Records. An icon of the Pacific Northwest music scene, Eubanks followed his mantra of WWDD? (“What Would Delbert Do?”). He took his vaunted silver pipes and scorching guitar chops to Nashville to record his dream album. In Music City, Sammy teamed up with fellow North westerners Tim and Nancy Langford and formed a studio band he dubbed “The Club Roar Players:” Robin Eaton, Matt Hauer, Patrick Damphier, Darren Theriault, Chris Kimmerer, Bob Britt and the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn keyboardist Reese Wynans. Sugar Me is Sammy’s debut on the Underworld label, managed by Tim and Nancy.

Sugar Me opens with a Southern fried blues rock track that lays out Sammy’s life story and musical philosophy, “All Blues To Me” and the party kicks in with a sizzling take on the Skeeter Brandon & Highway 61’s “Stop That Grinnin.” Eubanks then taps his considerably diverse well of songs with a soulful interpretation of “Blues All Mornin’” honoring Native American music trailblazers, Indigenous. Sammy’s take on “I Just Want to Make Love to You” is fueled by his stinging slide guitar and Los Lobos’ “My Baby’s Gone” gets some first-class boog-a-loo treatment from The Club Roar Players.

Reese Wynans delivers brilliant honky tonk piano on the swinging “No Excuse for the Blues” and Sammy walks the line between blues and country on Mark Collie’s “Born to Love You.” Bob Britt’s slide guitar solo is sure to please fans on each side of that musical divide.

Paying homage to another one of his idols, Sammy hits the right notes on Bobby Bland’s “It’s My Life, Baby,” which features great piano parts from Wynans, too. Sugar Me’s closer, “I’m Gonna Leave You” is a raucous rocker with Sammy hitting those high notes as only he can while offering up some blistering Stratocaster licks, and it’s no wonder that this song has filled dance floors and playlists across America.

“This is by far the best record I have done, so far,” says Sammy. “I am so very thankful to my co-producer Darren J Theriault, mix master Chris Latham, and Tim “Too Slim” Langford for stepping up and releasing Sugar Me on Underworld Records. I owe a big thank-you to Betsie Brown, who’s worked her magic behind the scenes as well. Each musician that played on Sugar Me, all the fans that listen to us on the radio or see us at a show: I am blessed with Sugar Me. I cannot wait to share it with the world. I look forward to traveling to new markets, meeting new friends and making new fans with Sugar Me. Thank you for listening.”

The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is one of over 250 affiliates of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. The Washington Blues Society is a proud recipient of the 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive award from The Blues Foundation Get more info on the Washington Blues Society at the website.

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