Artist description Raw,unique,original and spiritual. Where the past and the future connect in the present. Blues Revue calls Gypsy Carns "a one-man wrecking crew...hammering powerful stuff, driven by Carns' energy and rough-hewn vocals."

Music Style The Modern Day Pioneer of Christian Blues

Musical Influences Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Howlin' Wolf, The Reverend Pearly Brown, Blind Willie McTell

Artist History Gypsy Carns - The Blues Preacher played his first gig in 1957 at the tender age of 8. He was performing in bars by the time he was 13 and at 16 had his first record deal. He has had record releases in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90', 2000, 2001, 2002, and now 2003. His current spiritual solo career began in 1992 in the coffee houses of Hollywood,CA. After the major earthquake in 1994, he moved to Nashville, TN and carried on his vision of spreading the Word regarding Jesus Christ and God's Kingdom, using the delta-blues as his musical format. His first CD in this vein was recorded in '99 entitled "Prayin Blues" which received excellent reviews. Gypsy's next album "Beale Street Swing" was released in the summer of 2000 and is currently being played on radio stations in 35 countries around the world. This album too received excellent reviews in the United States and abroad. Gypsy was nominated for "Acoustic Artist of the Year" in 2000,2001, and 2002 by The Music City Blues Society. His next release, in 2001, "Revelation Blues" is currently being played on radio in the US and as far away as Peru, Spain, Indonesia, and Russia. In 2002 "G FoRcE" was released and is again receiving excellent airplay around the world and is currently being reviewed in "Cross Rhythms" magazine - the foremost Christian music magazine in Europe. In Septemeber, 2002, he ventured to Paris, France where he performed with a trio (Zizou on bass and Stephane on drums)and recorded his current live release - "Feel Good!" by Gypsy Carns The Blues Preacher. Gypsy is going back to his roots for a stripped down acoustic record. He is currently writing new material for a May studio album "RAW WORD" and an August release. His unique blend of authentic delta-blues music and Christian lyrics, along with the fact that he is a one-man-band, sets him apart from most blues musicians.

Group Members Gypsy Carns - The Blues Preacher: Dobros, Harp, Stompbox, and Vocals.

Instruments Dobros 12 & 6 string, Stompbox, Harmonica, EDS-1275, Explorer

Albums Holy War - '95 / Red White and Blused - '96 / Victoria - '97 / Y2K Jetlag - '98 / Prayin' Blues - '99 / Beale Street Swing - 2000 / Revelation Blues - 2001/ G FoRcE - 2002 / FEEL GOOD! - 2003

Press Reviews BLUES REVUE (AUG/SEPT. 03) "Carns counts Blind Willie JOhnson, Son House, and the Rev. Gary Davis among his influences. He lives in Nashville, where he's been nominated repeatedly for Acoustic Artist of the Year by the Music City Blues Society - though his newest release, the live FEEL GOOD! is anything but acoustic. Filled with blistering slide guitar and blues rock rhythms, Carns preaches music with a message. "I'm no saint, but I love the Lord and I love the blues and I've been blessed by both," he says. "I consider myself a modern-day pioneer of Christian blues." CROSS RHYTHMS - London, England: “General Gypsy Carns is a one man blues band, performing Gospel blues in authentic delta blues style. Equipped with Dobro, double-necked electric guitar, harmonica and a stomp box to create his own rhythms, he's a modern day street walking blues singer whose songs passionately express his faith. Here at Cross Rhythms we're playing catch up, firstly with his 2001 release 'Revelation Blues'. Growling out the vocals in his own inimitable gruff style, the good General mostly pens his own material, taking in a range of subjects suited to a Gospel blues singer! Faves include the opening "Prayin' To You" with its sweltering southern sound and the Willie Dixon indebted "Holy Son". I am not sure how he's achieved it but 2002's 'G Force' turns up the musical heat. GGC furiously deals with the deception of UFOs and learns a spiritual lesson on "Roswell", sings of the lordship of Christ on "Master J", "Santify'd News" reminds us that "if we repent, he will forgive" and there's a foreboding intensity captured in the spiritual picture painted in "Wailin' Wall". He may live in Nashville these days but his music is the complete antithesis of the majority of the safe, packaged and spiritually dull bright pop that emanates from the city's CCM labels. If you're looking for something radical or you're simply a Blues fan you absolutely have to check out General Gypsy Carns and his modern day Blind Willie Johnson / Howlin' Wolf approach to creating uncompromising authentic blues music. Imagine Kaiser or Mansfield with added balls and you get close to these powerfully passionate prophetic albums. (9 squares / 10 squares) Mike Rimmer - BLUES REVUE: "The General is Gypsy Carns, a one-man wrecking crew who plays a "stompbox" tambourine/kick drum combination, harp, and 12-string resonator guitar. The two artists he covers on Beale Street Swing (Nightfly Music 5340) stake the project's stylistic boundaries: Bukka White's rhythmic slide informs the General's musical turf, while Blind Willie Johnson's preaching blues prefigure the religious content of his lyrics. This is hammering, powerful stuff, driven by Carns' energy and rough-hewn vocals."THE BLUES FOUNDATION: "The General, Gypsy Carns, has anointed the United States, Japan, France, England, and Germany with his vocals, percussion, and 12 string Dobro bottleneck prowess. Carns is also known as a blues songwriter, co-penning a Koko Taylor tune that garnered a Grammy nomination."BLUES ACCESS: "Giving thanks to Jesus for his inspiration, Carns sings in a dynamic, gravelly voice, truly laying it all on the line...whatever Carns sets out to say, he does it with admirable force and integrity... the tunes range from fine and fun blues originals to spiritual and meta-physical pieces that expose Carns' zealous faith and his take on political events."TAXI: "An all-in-one blues machine. Wonderful vocal passion, lyrics have interesting twist on the usual blues fodder - while about spiritualism. The message's aren't overtly preachy - music is good. The word here is committment and conviction."BLUES ACCESS: "The General (Gypsy Carns) mixes his road-gravel voice, acoustic resonator guitar and heavy Delta blues with a born-again Christian message - a bit of a dichotomy, but the blues is about inner turmoil after all." (Nightfly)

Additional Info Gypsy's new album FEEL GOOD! has just been released on the Musark label, also check out Gypsy in the latest issue of BLUES REVUE magazine and listen for his single Searchin'

Location Nashville, TN - USA

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