Chris Beard (singer)

Chris Beard
Also known as Prince of the Blues[1]
Born (1957-08-29) August 29, 1957
Rochester, New York, United States
Genres Electric blues[1]
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1970s–present
Labels JSP, NorthernBlues, Electro Glide,[2] Destin Records
Website chrisbeardmusic.com

Chris Beard (born August 29, 1957)[3] is an American electric blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He has released five albums to date, the first of which was nominated for a Blues Music Award. He is dubbed 'Prince of the Blues'.[1]

Life and career

Beard was born in Rochester, New York, United States, the son of Joe Beard, a local blues musician.[3] Inspired by Buddy Guy and Matt Murphy, Beard quickly graduated from learning to play the guitar to performing with a local rhythm and blues group by his mid-teens. He played alongside his father before forming his own group after his graduation.[1] Beard played in the blues clubs around his home state for almost twenty years.[3]

Beard's debut album was Barwalkin', issued by JSP in June 1997. Produced by Johnny Rawls, it garnered Beard a nomination for a Blues Music Award for 'Best New Blues Artist'.[1][4] In 1999, Blues Beat magazine gave Beard the Muddy Waters Award as the 'New Talent of the Year'.[3] A further album, Born to Play the Blues, followed in April 2001, and then Live Wire (2005). Referring to the latter, the Allmusic journalist, Chris Nickson, stated "Beard cements his stature with this record, and sets himself up to take a place among the contemporary blues guitar greats.[5]

Beard has appeared at the Boundary Waters Blues Festival.

In August 2010, Beard released Who I Am and What I Do on Electro Glide Records. The album contained three tracks Beard co-wrote with Ronnie Baker Brooks.[2][4]

Discography

Year Title Record label
1997 Barwalkin' JSP
2001 Born to Play the Blues JSP
2005 Live Wire NorthernBlues
2010 Who I Am and What I Do Electro Glide
2015 Eye of the Witch Destin Records

[4][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Richard Skelly. "Chris Beard". Allmusic. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Chris Beard and Electro Glide Records". Chicago Blues News. Chicagobluesmusicnews.blogspot.com. August 17, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Chris Beard - Bio". Northernblues.com. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Chris Beard Biography". Chrisbeard1.com. November 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  5. ↑ Chris Nickson (2005-05-17). "Live Wire - Chris Beard | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  6. ↑ "Chris Beard | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
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