Rab McCullough

Rab McCullough - Belfast Breakdown - 2003 - Dixie Frog Records

Ever hear the one about the Irish Blues man, with a following in America who records on a French label, and is hoping to play gigs in the UK? Well let's hope that on the evidence of this album that Rab makes it over here very soon. A tough but intuitive blues vocalist and "feel" guitar player, Rab's album suggests a cast of thousands including such luminaries as HubertSumlin on guitar, and one time 9 Below harp player Billy Boy Miskimmen, not to mention of killer horn section. But ultimately its Rab's own mix of blues fun, boogie and the occasional down home piece such as "Dirty Black Water" that really impresses. Rab McCullough has produced the kind of blues album that van has skirted round for years. Rab has delivered it, go and search out what appears to be an import only copy. © http://www.feenstra.co.uk/

Pete Brown, Cream lyricist and one of Blue Storm Music’s advisors, says, "the thing about Rab that is quite interesting is that you give him a song and he comes up with a take on it that you might not have thought of." His album, "Belfast Blues", was dedicated to the late, great Irish blues giant, Rory Gallagher, and was awarded the Best Foreign Release of a Blues Record by the Canadian magazine, Real Blues. Rab McCullough from Northern Ireland, is not a household name to many blues fans, and amazingly, many Irish blues followers are unaware of his existence. Yet, the guy has played a vital roll in keeping the blues scene alive in Ireland for decades. This album gives a good idea of Rab's talents. The great blues guitarist was brought up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and has played the blues in Ireland for many years now. Yet he seems to be more well known in the U.S, and other parts of the world, than in his native Ireland. The 61-year-old was a major part of the Irish blues scene in the 60s, and played alongside Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison and a visiting Jimi Hendrix. For personal reasons, Rab in his earlier music days was not a big tourer, and for a long time had no recording contract. His recorded output is minimal. He did take part in the prestigious Beale Street Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, and was good enough to be noticed by musicians who had played with Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. He returned to Memphis in 2000 and competed in the International Blues Festival where his band came third out of more than 1,000 entrants. Rab has played in many other festivals. He eventually secured a record deal with Blue Storm Music, and released the seven track EP, " Belfast Blues". Many people thought the title had political connotations, especially with the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, but the album is simply a great straightforward blues rock recording. Rab played in Memphis with the great Boo Boo Williams, and other established bluesmen. Boo Boo Williams told him, ‘We get a lot of white kids trying to play the blues, but you play like us!". Rab was at Jimi Hendrix's 25th birthday party, after the guitar legend played Belfast as part of the 1968 Festival at Queens University, Belfast, and Jimi along with Rory Gallagher, has constantly been a major influence on Rab McCullough's music. Rab has stated, “They say you don't start playing the blues until you're about 50 anyway, they say you have to live a bit first, so I'm a young man in the blues, I'm snapping at their heels". "Belfast Breakdown" is an excellent blues rock album from a bluesman who really should be more familiar to blues music fans. The album has many blues styles, including country, R'n'B, soul, funk, and Latin/Santana type influences.. Check out Rab's great "Belfast Blues" album.

TRACKS

1 Traveling With Blues 4:43
2 Dont Get Your Hopes Up 4:55
3 Blues Radio 3:46
4 Dirty Black Water 4:32
5 Cant Get You Out Of My Mind 4:24
6 Red Skirt 3:00
7 A Little Rain Must Fall 3:57
8 Before The River Runs Dry 4:29
9 Voodoo Doll 4:40
10 When The Blues Come Calling 5:40
11 Jimis Story 4:32
12 Dancing Shoes 6:01
13 Mariano 2:07

All songs composed by Rab McCullough

MUSICIANS (Incomplete)

Rab McCullough - Guitar, Vocals
Hubert Sumlin - Guitar, Vocals
Nickie Scott - Bass
Tony Beard - Drums
Bill Miskimmin - Harmonica

ABOUT RAB MCCULLOUGH

Rab McCullough was an active contributor in the 60s and 70s when the blues baby came of age, sharing stage with his peers, who went on to be Rock 'n' Roll legends, including Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, ACDC and John Mayall and The Blues Breakers. Unfortunately, the violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland put an end to Rab's career and destroyed the once great music scene. Rab stopped touring and remained in war torn Belfast to support and protect his family. The wheel of time has turned from the 60s through the 90s, but in Belfast, time stood still. For Rab, these were the dark days. His soulful interpretation of the music is rooted in his hard, often painful life, while living in Belfast, a city that exists as an equally suitable home of the blues. As the 90s dawned, so did the some small rays of hope, and with it an end to troubles in Northern Ireland. Fortunately, Rab was able to turn his harsh experiences into a magic potion of hope through the blues. As his music matured and deepened, he never stopped writing, playing continually perfecting his tone. and developing his style for his re-emergence in the world of music. The tough streets of Belfast would help mould and ultimately redefine his vital style. A musician's journey of rediscovery starts with the rediscovery of himself and in 1998 Rab traveled to the home of the blues, Memphis Tennessee, where he performed at the famed Beale Street Music Festival. Rab earned immediate respect as a world class player from blues enthusiasts and musicians, including sidemen of Chuck Berry and the late great Muddy Waters. His performance in Memphis by all accounts was in of the most intense ever witnessed at the festival. This proved to be the catalyst for Rab to resume the career that he thought he had lost forever. Rab's story began another chapter with the turn of the new millennium in 2000 when he returned to Memphis to compete in the Blues Foundations, world famous International Blues Challenge. Rab took a trophy back to Belfast and left his name on the tongues of everyone that witnessed the blistering performance. The success in Memphis resulted in invitations to major blues festivals and a record contract with Eagle-Rock / Blue Storm Records. This led to Rab's release of Belfast Blues which received rave reviews in Canada and the US Real Blues Magazine voted Belfast Blues " record of the year" Blues Revue Magazine quotes "Rab McCullough is a great blues guitarist and vocalist who deserves much more attention". In 2001, Cream lyricist / producer Pete Brown approached Rab, and asked him to be part of an all star British Blues line up including such greats as John Mayall, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Peter Green and Dick Heck-stall Smith. Rab recorded 5 tracks on the record Blues and Beyond. In 2002, the record was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. Rab McCullough continues to move forward to the next chapter of his life after the signing of a record contract with Dixie Frog Records. He is set the release the album Belfast Breakdown to the world in July 0f 2003. His collaboration with artists such as Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf). Nickie Scott (Van Morrison), Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan) and Tony Beard (Jeff Beck) help make this record a masterpiece. It would have been a tragedy for this legendary player to be lost but it would have paled next to losing his family. Rab McCullough chose the noble role of a father, and his reward, and ours is the re-emergence of a great talent with his family intact. Rab McCullough is a vital new force on the scene. His irresistible combination of Irish and American blues is helping to redefine contemporary blues music. © 2008 Slim Blues. All rights reserved

MORE ABOUT RAB MCCULLOUGH

Rab McCullough was an active contributor in the 60's and 70's when the blues baby came of age, sharing stages with his peers who went on to be Rock & Roll legends including Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayall & The Blues Breakers. Unfortunately, the violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland put an end to Rab's career and destroyed the once great music scene. Rab stopped touring and remained in Belfast picking up a job as a steel scaffolder to keep his family. A musician's journey of rediscovery starts with the rediscovery of himself. In 1998 Rab traveled to Memphis, Tennessee- the home of the blues, where he performed at the famed Beale Street Music Festival. Rab earned immediate respect as a world class player from blues enthusiasts and musicians alike, including sidemen of Chuck Berry and the late great Muddy Waters. © http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=2409177910&ShowSims=Y