Eric Gales
| Eric Gales | |
|---|---|
 Eric Gales performing in the United States, 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Raw Dawg |
| Born |
October 29, 1974 Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Blues-rock, hard rock, blues |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Elektra, House of Blues, MCA, Shrapnel, Blues Bureau International |
| Website | Eric Gales Band.com |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Fender Stratocaster Magneto Sonnet Raw Dawg Xotic XS-1 St. Blues/Memphis Blindsider | |
Eric Gales (aka Raw Dawg) (born October 29, 1974, Memphis, Tennessee) is an American blues-rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. As of 2011 Gales has recorded ten albums on major record labels, and has done session and tribute work. He has also contributed vocals on several records by the Memphis rap groups, Prophet Posse and Three 6 Mafia.
Career
Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (Little Jimmy King), took to teaching him many songs and licks at a young age, in the style of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King and others. In 1985, the young Gales began to play at blues competitions with his brother Eugene backing him on bass. Although Gales plays a right-handed guitar "upside-down" (with the E-bass string on the bottom), he is not naturally left-handed; he was taught by his brother who is left-handed and never second-guessed the untraditional technique.[1]
In late 1990, Eric and Eugene Gales signed with Elektra Records, and together with drummer Hubert Crawford released 1991's The Eric Gales Band and 1993's Picture of a Thousand Faces. Guitar World magazine's Reader's Poll named Eric as "Best New Talent", in 1991. During this time he scored two rock radio hits, "Sign of the Storm" (#9 U.S. Mainstream Rock) and "Paralyzed" (#31 U.S. Mainstream Rock)[2] and had spots on television programs such as The Arsenio Hall Show.
In 1994, Gales performed with Carlos Santana at Woodstock '94.[3] In 1995, Eric Gales teamed up with both of his brothers to record an album under the band name of The Gales Brothers. Left Hand Brand was released in 1996.[4] 2001 saw Gales return with his album That's What I Am on MCA Records.
Gales has released the albums Crystal Vision, The Psychedelic Underground,The Story of my Life and Layin' Down the Blues on the Shrapnel Records label. Relentless (2010) was followed by Transformation (2011) and Live (2012).
He maintains a strong friendship with record producer Mike Varney. Gales has two daughters, Jasmine Gales (born 1992) and step daughter LaAsia Chandler (born 1996) and is married to LaDonna Gales from Greensboro, North Carolina.
In 2004, he contributed a cover of "May This Be Love" to the album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. In 2008, he, along with other guitarists, participated in the touring tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Experience Hendrix. the touring group of musicians included Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Chris Layton, Doyle Bramhall II, Brad Whitford, and was the last tour that Mitch Mitchell played on.
In the winter of 2010, Gales returned to the touring circuit in Europe with TM Stevens on bass guitar and Keith LeBlanc on drums. The tour was billed as VooDoo Chile and featured works of Jimi Hendrix as well as original material from both Gales and Stevens.
In February 2013, Magna Carta released the Mike Varney produced Pinnick Gales Pridgen, featuring Gales on guitar and vocals, dUg Pinnick on bass and vocals, and Thomas Pridgen on drums. The 13 track album featured one cover song, "Sunshine of Your Love", originally by Cream, one short instrumental based on Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" (German: [fyːʁ eːˈliːzə] (
), English: "For Elise"), and the remaining songs written by some combination of Pinnick, Gales, Pridgen and Varney.[5]
Discography
- 1991: The Eric Gales Band, Elektra Records
- 1993: Picture of a Thousand Faces, Elektra Records
- 1996: The Gales Brothers: Left Hand Brand, House of Blues Records
- 2001: That's What I Am, MCA Records
- 2006: Crystal Vision, Shrapnel Records
- 2007: The Psychedelic Underground, Shrapnel Records
- 2008: The Story of My Life, Blues Bureau International
- 2009: Layin' Down the Blues, Blues Bureau International
- 2010: Relentless, Blues Bureau International
- 2011: Transformation, Blues Bureau International
- 2012: Live
- 2013: Pinnick Gales Pridgen, Magna Carta
- 2013: Eric Gales Trio: Ghost Notes, Tone Center
Gales also appeared on the following albums:
- 2006: Billy Cox & Buddy Miles - The Band of Gypsys Return
- 2006: A Walk On The Blues Side
- 2006: Viva Carlos: Supernatural Marathon Celebration
- 2006: Wes Jeans - Forest Of The Pine
- 2005: Lottery: Diamonds-N-Da-Ruff
- 2005: Blues Interlude
- 2005: Get Down Workout
- 2005: Rock Revisited
- 2005: Show You a Good Time
- 2004: Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
- 2003: Wall of Soul: Lance Lopez
- 2003: Got Blues!
- 2003: Highway 60's 70's Blues Revisited
- 2003: Presents, Vol. 1
- 2002: A Salute to the Delta Blues Masters
- 2002: Eric Clapton: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues
- 2002: Led Zeppelin: This Ain't No Tribute Series – All Blues'd Up!
- 2001: Hellhound on My Trail: Songs of Robert Johnson
- 2000: Blue Haze: Songs of Jimi Hendrix
- 1999: Blue Power: Song of Eric Clapton, This Ain't No Tribute
- 1999: Blues Power: Songs of Eric Clapton
- 1999: This Ain't No Tribute Blues Cube
- 1999: Parker Card & The Sideman Syndicate, Parker Card, with Shawn Lane, Orchard Records
- 1999: Whole Lotta Blues: Songs of Led Zeppelin
- 1994: Hard Love: 14 Original Metal Ballads
- 1994: L.A. Blues Authority: Cream of the Crop
References
- ↑ "Eric Gales and The Gales Brothers". Personal.mco.bellsouth.net. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
- ↑ "Eric Gales - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
- ↑ "Eric Gales and Santana Live at Woodstock 94". YouTube. 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
- ↑ Skelly, Richard. "Little Jimmy King". Allmusic. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Pinnick Gales Pridgen". Magnacarta.net. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
External links
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