Musical Influences Ray Charles, Elton John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Martin Sexton

Similar Artists Ben Folds, Billy Joel

Artist History On the eve of the release of his debut solo album, "Walk Outside Tonight", 25-year-old Sam Bigelow prepares for an upcoming show at Harper's Ferry by laying back in bed in his South Boston apartment, listening to old Otis Spann and James Booker records. "These guys are why I fell in love with music in the first place. They are just the true American artists. I almost can't listen; their passion almost kills you. It would be enough if they just played the piano. Their voices though, they tell such a story." Thursday at Harper's Ferry, Bigelow will be opening for some more contemporary heroes of his, Little Feat. Little Feat's keybordist, Bill Payne was a huge early influence for Sam. "Bill's opening piano lick on 'Hate To Lose Your Lovin'' really got me going. I was hooked after that". Bigelow is a singer/songwriter piano-man who fuses old-school blues with contemporary rock and pop to create a soulful and original sound. His voice and piano conjure up the souls of Ray Charles, Elton John, Otis Spann, Billy Joel, and Professor Longhair all at the same time. Bigelow's solo live shows prove that one man with a piano and a microphone can surpass the energy of a full band any day. "People have told me that I should assemble a band. I feel that I can offer the same energy and power without the hassle and struggle of a full band," says Bigelow. Sam grew up in the suburbs of Boston listening to the Beach Boys, Elton John, and the J. Geils Band. It wasn't until he starting listening to blues in high school that he started to really take things seriously. "When I was 16, I discovered the blues and became obsessed. In fact, I was a total purist. I wouldn't listen to or play anything other than vintage blues or soul music. A few years later, I got it together and realized that a lot of the rock and pop I grew up with was actually very cool. So, I've kind of reverted back to that a little. It has made for some very interesting original music that keeps enough of the blues edge to satisfy that side of me." For a few years during and after college, Sam tried to make it as a blues sideman and played in several pick-up bands around greater Boston, Connecticut, and New York City. He also tried his luck in a few rock bands. Even with reasonable success in clubs, he still felt that there was something more that he needed to do to make a career in music fulfilling. "I figured out that in order to get anywhere in music and to truly express myself, I was going to have to write my own songs. I spent a year at Berklee (College Of Music) learning theory and finally started writing. To my own surprise, the songs came out less bluesy and more pop-oriented," Bigelow explains. Bigelow performs both solo and with his trio. His shows can range from the very intimate to barrel-house rock'n'roll.

Group Members Sam Bigelow on piano and vocals, Kimon Kirk on bass and vocals, Robbie Soltz on drums and vocals

Albums Walk Outside Tonight

Press Reviews The Boston Globe writes that Bigelow is a "blues-rocker" that "pounds the keys with soulful abandon". -June 7th, 2002 Harper's Ferry(Allston, MA) has crowned Bigelow "Boston's blue-eyed soul brother! A very cool blend of Billy Joel and Ray Charles, Sam oozes more soul and charisma with just himself and a piano than many full bands can create."

Location Boston, MA - USA

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