- Roy Gaines -

Roy Gaines is one of the last surviving “first-wave Texas axe-pickers” influenced by path-makers Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and T-Bone Walker. Roy was born in Waskom, Texas, not more than twenty-five miles south of T-Bone’s birthplace. Moving to Houston in childhood, he became known as T-Bone Junior, having guested with the senior “Bone” around local night clubs. Roy then took on production work for the Peacock label and while touring with Joe Turner, he teamed up with Chuck Willis. Sessions with Chuck for Atlantic Records began in April 1956 & Roy played on “It’s Too Late” in 1956 and “C.C. rider” in 1957, among others.

Roy’s solo recording debut came about in Miami in 1955 where he laid down the unforgettable “Loud Mouth Lucy” for the Chart label. Three months later, with King Curtis on tenor sax, Roy waxed the first of two Groove Records dates in New York. February 1957 marked the cutting of “Gainesville” (a winner he has kept on his playlist ) for Deluxe Records. Roy appeared on T.V. accompanying Billie Holiday on Jazz Party.

After Chuck Willis’s death in October 1958, Roy stayed in New York and recorded with Jimmy Rushing, Coleman Hawkins and Brook Benton. He toured Texas with his brother, veteran tenor sax whiz Grady Gaines, & The Upsetters band. Roy worked with Earl Grant& then joined the Ray Charles band for the 1966 “Crying Time” album on A.B.C. Paramount. A trip to Europe in 1975 led to his first solo blues album with Milt Buckner for Black & Blue Records entitled “Roy Gaines, Superman.” In 1985 Roy was called by his old friend Quincy Jones who was producing the music for the movie “The Color Purple.” “Make Me No Never Mind ,”composed by Roy and Quincy and James Ingram was chosen for the sound track.

Roy has done it all over the past fifty-five years. He has appeared in movies, on TV, on festivals worldwide ,recording sessions and a multitude of live performances. Roy started the Black Gold Records label in L.A. recording & releasing his own CD ‘s. In addtion, The Severn Records album “New Frontier Lover” was recorded in 2001 & had been on all of the Blues & R&B Charts.

Roy Gaines is a unique talent, & showcasing this is his latest album “Tuxedo Blues where he is “fronting” a 17 piece orchestra. Roy is on the money taking it to the bank at the Central Ave Jazz Festival live in 2009 & receiving both Jazz & R&B airplay.