Curley

Maple Blues Award nominee Curley Bridges was born in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, just outside Raleigh and had a busy music career in the 50's and 60's, eventually landing here when the Motley Crew moved their home base to Toronto in 1966. Later that year Bridges left Motley to form a trio called the Rounders, which mainly toured northern Ontario playing a funkier style of music. In 1981, he settled in Barrie, where he has concentrated on solo gigs, delighting area audiences with his mix of jump, jive and down-and-dirty blues. Musician Will Zaver was playing with Curley Bridges just last month and took a few moments to chat with Curley backstage. Here are his impressions:

Recently I had the privilege of backing up veteran entertainer and this year's Maple Blues Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year, Curley Bridges, at Club One located in Bracebridge, Ontario.

During a break between one of the sets, Curley sat down to talk about the release of his latest CD, Mr Rock and Soul. Recorded and mixed over three days at Liquid Recording in Toronto, the album contains unique Bridges versions of such classics as "Caledonia" and "Little Red Rooster." The title track "Rockin Soul", a Curley original, was written thirty years ago. "I wanted a song people could really groove to" Curley explained on his decision to record the song.

Curley wanted to express his gratitude to Electro Fi producer Andrew Galloway, as well as liner note writer Bill Munson and all the musicians who played on the recording.

This release is only his second solo effort in a career that has spanned five decades. His first entitled "Keep to the Blues" was released in 1999 and was very well received. Since then he has increased his appearances from solo shows to the odd club gig with a backing band. Curley informed that me there may be a third recording project in 2003 in the Swing/Jazz vein.

- Will Zaver

 

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