Michael Osborn

Michael Osborn - Background In The Blues - 1996 - Blue Rock'It

This is modern Blues by a West Coast original whose seven years as John Lee Hookers lead guitar player provide him with a solid base. Michael Osborn is a real blues original. He grew up In Ukiah, Ca. along with the Ford brothers, Robben, Patrick, and Mark and was an original member of the Charles Ford Band. He went on to develop a really unique style of playing guitar that is easily recognizable as his own. Though Mike spent years playing with many West Coast blues artists it was his seven year stand with John Lee Hooker that really set him apart. It is because of Hookers appreciation of Michael's talent that John Lee chose to be on this CD. He wanted to support Michael in his solo efforts. This is a wonderful release and features Michael at his strongest. Both his guitar work and his vocals are impressive throughout and of course the tracks with John Lee on them are very special. © cdbaby.com

"There is so much to be admired about a craftsman... someone who learns his trade and his art through dedications, hard work, ingenuity and at times, the sheer gift of inspiration. You hold in your hands the latest efforts of such a man. With A Background In The Blues, Mike has produced a gem of a solo album that features such Blues Hall of Fame names as John Lee Hooker and Elvin Bishop. The contributions from Roy Rogers, Andy Just, Jimmy Pugh, and Duke Jethro also add to what is surely one of the most satisfying blues releases of the year. Along with Mike's talent as a songwriter, this recording is replete with Mike's lively vocals and consummate guitar skills, both lasting qualities of this artist who's a bluesman to the core. Meet Michael Osborn, craftsman extraordinaire. © Blue Rock'It Records 2001--2007

A great album from a wonderful songwriter, and a guitar master. Even on a straight-ahead blues track, Mike adds his own special touch, and seems to make everything an Osborn original. "Background In The Blues" will enthrall you with the blues guitar prowess of the great Michael Osborn. Check out Michael's great "Touch Tone" album @ MIOS/TT and you can find his "What Goes Around" album, with Robben Ford @ MOS/WGA

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Midnight Crawl Osborn 5:39
2 Miss Goody Two Shoes Osborn 4:00
3 I Wouldn't Have You Osborn 4:00
4 Shake It Down Hooker, Osborn 5:23
5 Little Miss Blues Hooker, Osborn 4:25
6 Delta Soul Time Osborn 4:21
7 I've Been Daydreamin' Osborn 4:07
8 Smokin' Osborn 3:05
9 Mabel Hooker 3:39
10 Slow Squeeze Osborn 4:25
11 Doctor Please Osborn 4:24
12 Puppy Dog Blues Osborn 3:40
13 The Kaley Shuffle Osborn 3:12

MUSICIANS

Michael Osborn - Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals
John Lee Hooker - Guitar, Vocals
Roy Rogers - Guitar (Rhythm), Slide Guitar
Elvin Bishop - Slide Guitar
John Mazzocco, Steve Hazlewood, Steve Ehrmann - Bass
Bruce Kaphan - Bass, Keyboards
Duke Jethro, John Burr, Jimmy Pugh - Keyboards
Ron Beck - Drums, Vocals (Background)
Patrick Ford, Brent Rampone - Drums
Andy Just - Harmonica
Garth Webber - Vocals (Background)

p/w is aoofc

BIO

During the mid-60's Michael Osborn was introduced to blues music through his friendship with Robben and Patrick Ford. Out of this association, Michael began playing bass guitar with the Ford brothers in various blues, rhythm & blues bands over a three-year period, from 1967 thiough 1969. In 1970, Michael (having switched to playing rhythm guitar, joined the first incarnation of the Charles Ford Band featuring Gary Smith on harmonica and Lou Bottoni on bass guitar. After many months of club dates, Pat and Robben left the band to join Charlie Musselwhite. (The Charles Ford Band disbanded until Pat and Robben reformed the following year as a quartet with Mark Ford on Harmonica and Stan Poplin on bass.) In the early 1970's, Michael recorded wlth the Charles Ford Band and Charlie Musselwhite. He also continued to build his guitar chops through the 70's while performing in various blues bands with Gary Smith, Mark Ford, Mixed Nuts (featuring Bonnie Raitt's brother, David Raitt) and an occasional Charles Ford Band reunion. In June of 1981 Michael became lead guitarist for the great John Lee Hooker. He toured all over North America, Europe, Japan and Brazil with John Lee for the next 13 years. During this same period, he backed such people as Robert Cray, Elvin Bishop, Brownie McGee, Willie Dixon, Jarnes Cotton and Charlie Musselwhite. He has also played on stage with such notables as Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Johnson, Albert Collins, Ry Cooder, Carlos Santana, John Hammond, Etta James, Curtis Salgado, and The Nighthawks. Michael has performed at many prestigious venues in the United States and Europe such as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, The Hammersmith Odeon in London, The Monterey blues Festival,etc. Since he left John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Blues Band, Michael fronts his own band and also performs with blues singing sensation Sista Monica. He was one of the headliners at the Mountain Winery Summer Series blues Festival '94, and has toured Europe several times, playing festivals and clubs throughout, including Djurs Bluesland Festival in Denmark. He has toured Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest and various Northern California venues (including the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Sacramento Blues Festival) with great success. © Blue Rock'It Records 2001-2007