Artist description This long time blues performer, Richard Boals, brings his unique perspective on love, life, loneliness and desperation to the listener with a driving back beat and down-home appeal. Dark themes of love gone wrong, gambling, drug abuse, and even death are mixed with the promise of sunshine on the other side. His thought-provoking vocals and distinctive guitar style convey the story and emotions to the listener. Richard reminds the listener of a mature Eric Clapton with the vocal finesse of Van Morrison, equally at home in country or city blues stylings. Currently touring the U.S.A., Boals has established himself as a guitarist/vocalist/writer of world-class quality, showing his abilities as an entertainer night after night. His 35 years of experience include performances at various venues, from intimate settings to crowds of 54,000. Recent gigs have landed him at the Soup Kitchen in Detroit, the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis, Tobacco Road in Miami, Stevie Rays in Louisville, the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach and the Treasure Coast Blues Festival in Ft. Pierce. Richard has been receiving radio airplay at stations such as WCBE Columbus, OH; WNSB Norfolk, VA; KKFI Kansas City; WMNF Tallahassee, FL; and WGLT Bloomington, IL. He also has several TV appearances to his credit. In addition to this promotion, he's gotten some great press for several benefit concerts he's performed at and for taking blues into the schools with educational talks included in his performance. His albums have also garnered strong reviews in several blues societies' newsletters. Boals maintains a site at www.bluesguru.com with biographical, mailing list and tour information, as well as a link to facilitate purchase of his CDs. He is now available on www.amazon.com as well! Fans can also access his tour schedule from www.pollstar.com or www.tourdates.com. Richards site is also linked to the sites for Hamer and Ovation guitars and Holland Amplifiers, whose gear he endorses.

Music Style blues

Musical Influences James Burton, Chuck Berry, Roger McGuinn, Steve Cropper, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and B.B. King

Similar Artists Eric Clapton, BB King, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, John Mellencamp

Artist History The band has been around in some form since the 1980's. However, with a little help and encouragement from friends and family, the current incarnation launched itself in 1997, with the Mystic City Mantras album. Since then, the band has been touring the USA and putting out additional outstanding albums. With each album and each new city they tour in, the band picks up momentum and new fans. This year, they play 200 shows. Next year, they hope to get it over 250.

Group Members Richard Boals Patrick McLaughlin Chris White Lacy Wright

Instruments tour band 2 guitars, bass and drums, recordings have keyboards, congas, sax, harmonica in addition to tour band

Albums Access Denied (coming out Oct. 1999), On a Different Path (7/99), Pieces from the Eclipse (10/98), Mystic City Mantras (10/97)

Location Carrboro, NC - USA

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