Artist description Blues, Funky R&B

Music Style Funky Blues, Muddy Blues, Blues Rock

Musical Influences Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughn, Josh White, Etta James, Denise LaSalle

Artist History Vala has been singing Blues and R&B since age 15, and has toured with John Lee Hooker as his lead singer since 1987. She has shared the stage (performed with) such luminaries as Ry Cooder, Elvin Bishop, Albert Collins, Coco Montoya, Charlie Musslewhite, Tommy Castro, Greg Allman, Hiram Bullock, Lydia Pense, Carlos Santana, Susan Tedeschi, Clarence 'Gatemouth" Brown, Buddy Guy, and Derrick Trucks.

Group Members Vala Cupp, The Coast to Coast Blues Band, and members of the Elvin Bishop Band, Starship, Big Brother and the Holding Co, and Hell's Kitchen.

Instruments guitar, bass, drums, B3 & keys, tenor sax

Albums One Thing On My Mind; Dali Records 1991 (V. Cupp), Cold Hearted Girl; Blue Rock'it Records 1990 (M.Osborn), A Case of the Blues ; Blue Rock'it Records 1992 (M. Osborn), Bathtub Gin 1993 (same artist), and Mad River 1999 (same artist).

Press Reviews The following was first published in October of 1991 By John Orr, San Jose Mercury News: Vala Cupp is one of the greatest living blues singers, despite not having made an awful lot of money at it. If you ever get a chance to see one of her gigs, do yourself a favor: Go see her. She is petite and slender, and people tend to be surprised by the power of her voice. It adds a lot of authority to what she sings, which (like Bessie Smith), are usually songs about women getting what they want. With John Lee Hooker she has performed at every major blues/jazz festival from New Orleans to Montreux. ***** Charles Murray published the following in November of 1999 in his book "Boogie Man": Vala Cupp, looking like a Sindy doll and sounding like Etta James, kicks off the proceedings with a scorching take on T-Bone Walker's 'Cold Cold Feeling'… It's sparked by a rich, resonant vocal by Cupp - whose voice sounds like it should emanate from someone three times her size……The duet version of 'Crawlin' King Snake' performed live with Vala Cupp literally shivers with passion… He (John Lee Hooker) and Vala are striking real sparks off each other tonight, rocking and raving, microphone to microphone.

Additional Info New song from Poon, see "DEVIL"

Location Austin, TX - USA

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