| Al Gamble | |
|---|---|
Al Gamble in Memphis (2008) |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Allen Gamble Jr. |
| Also known as | Al Gamble |
| Born | March 11, 1969 |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop |
| Instruments | Hammond B-3 Organ, Piano, Clavinet, Wurlitzer |
| Years active | 1987 to Present |
| Associated acts | Gamble Brothers Band, The Grip, The City Champs, John Paul Keith and the 145s, Marc Broussard |
John Allen "Al" Gamble (born March 11, 1969 in Columbus, Georgia, United States) is a Memphis, Tennessee, studio and touring musician, playing Hammond B-3 organ and keyboards. He was born in Columbus, Ga., but his family moved to his parents' home town of Tuscumbia, Alabama, in the early 1970s where he was raised. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1991 he lived in Tuscumbia, until moving to Memphis in 1994 to pursue a career in music.
Al grew up listening to his father's record collection, which included Jimmy Smith, Ray Charles, Jack McDuff and other jazz and soul artists on the Verve and Blue Note labels. He played in various bands during high school and college, and in 1992 joined the Shreveport, La.-based Bluebirds, featuring Buddy Flett on guitar. Al spent a few years in Memphis as a Beale Street musician, backing such artists as Preston Shannon and A-440. In 2001, he formed the Gamble Brothers Band with his younger brother Chad Gamble (drums), Art Edmaiston (saxophone) and Will Lowrimore (bass). The band recorded three albums from 2001 to 2007. The first album, 10 Lbs. of Hum (2001), was released independently and featured Lowrimore on bass. The last two albums, Back to the Bottom (2003) and Continuator (2006), featured Blake Rhea on bass, who joined the band in 2003. The two most recent albums were released on the Memphis-based label Archer Records.
In 2003, the Gamble Brothers Band beat out more than 1,200 other artists to win the Billboard-sponsored Independent Music World Series award.
Edmaiston joined the Jacksonville, Fla.-based touring band Mofro in 2007 and soon after that, the Gamble Brothers Band played their last live show, opening for the Black Crowes in October 2007 at Mud Island Amphitheatre in Memphis. Earlier in 2007, while on a break from touring, Edmaiston joined Memphis guitar player Joe Restivo, drummer George Sluppick and Al to form The Grip, a four-piece jazz instrumental band specializing in boogaloo music. The Grip recorded the EP Grab This Thing for Archer Records (2007).
The road took Edmaiston away again, and Al, Restivo and Sluppick continued to play as a three-piece, forming the band The City Champs. The City Champs have released two albums on Scott Bomar's Electraphonic label titled: The Safecracker (2009) and The Set Up" (2010). The City Champs tour regularly and have opened for other acts, including the North Mississippi Allstars and Huey Lewis.
The City Champs' music has been featured in the MTV series "$5 Cover" and in the Emmy Award-winning documentary film I Am A Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life.
Al has recorded on more than 50 albums and on various film scores. He currently tours with The City Champs, singer/songwriter Charlie Mars, John Paul Keith and the 145s, and soul singer Marc Broussard.
Al and his brother Chad are listed as "Music Achievers" in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.