Bon Voyage!

In a couple of weeks, I'll be on my way to France for a one-week tour with French blues guitarist Fred Chapellier. I first met Fred, yes, over the Internet. Shortly after East End Avenue was released, Fred contacted me, introduced himself, and told me he was a big fan of mine and of Roy Buchanan, with whom I sang in recorded in the 1970s. After I heard--and loved--Fred's recordings, we began talking about doing a tour together, and now that tour is only a couple of weeks away. The five gigs we're doing together are listed on my schedule on the web site. I also recorded a vocal track ("Nickel and a Nail") on Fred's new CD, Tribute to Roy Buchanan, on the DixieFrog label.

Here's a short bio of Fred, from his web site:

Fred was born in 1966 in Metz, France . He started playing drums he was 12 years old until 1981. Then, at the tender age of 15, he started playing guitar. "EUREKA" - the revelation ! Immediately, he felt the call of the blues and along the years, found himself accompanying the likes of : Don Ray Johnson, Boney Fields, Audrey Madison, Nina Van Horn, Neal Black and many other "blues" giants (in Fred's eyes). In his search for more creative freedom, he formed his own band, "The Fred Chapellier Blues Band" with Pat Machenaud, Abder Benachour & Damien Cornelis, and they recorded two albums - "Blues Devil" (2003) and "l'Oeil du Blues" (2005) ! In 2004, he was acclaimed "Best New Blues Artist of The Year" and "Best Guitar Player of The Year" by "Les Trophées France Blues."

In January 2007 Fred called upon his friend - producer, arranger, composer & keyboard Maestro Jean Alain Roussel, with whom he had struck up a solid friendship while playing on an album Jean had produced for world music artist N'Tomo in 2006, to embark on a joint-adventure, a "Tribute to Roy Buchanan" album - Fred's main "guitar hero/reference." Terms agreed, and songs chosen, Fred proceeded to record & engineer the basic tracks at his "Dream Records Studio" in Châlons en Champagne, calling upon several long-time friends & guests, including Tom Principato, Billy Price, Neal Black, Miguel M, as well as members of Fred's own "Blues Band", to perform, with Jean assuming the "Producer" role (Jean had produced & composed for Roy Buchanan, & recorded with Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, The Police, 10cc & Thin Lizzy etc). Then, off Fred went to Jean's "Shakti Studios" near Paris to complete the production under the guidance of Jean behind the recording console, after transferring the original HD recordings to computer. After several "back & forths" to re-record two original songs by Fred & Jean, they recruited Jean's right-hand man, guitar playing engineer Thomas Ottogalli to mix the album. The finished product was immediately picked up for France, by "DIXIEFROG RECORDS." The album, "Fred Chapellier & friends - A Tribute to Roy Buchanan" will be available throughout France, as of the 9th. November, 2007.They are working on a worldwide distribution deal. Fred will be playing some dates in November with Billy Price who sang with Roy Buchanan from 1973 to 1976 (www.billyprice.com). You wanna know what the blues is all about ? Then - go to see Fred on stage ! You WILL be AMAZED ! !

You can learn more about Fred and his music on his myspace page. I'm looking forward to meeting Fred and his bandmates and, I hope, making many new friends and fans over in France. I'll be posting photos and impressions from the tour when I get back, both in our email newsletter and here on my blog.

Thanks for reading, and wish me bon voyage!

Billy


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