|
|
|
 
Dicky Williams and guitarist
Ken Massey have teamed up for a new release on CDS Records
Dicky Williams & The Ken Massey Group "I'm Back Again"
about Dicky Williams
If you could pick one modern example of that earthy, downhome,
story-telling, chitlin' circuit Soul/Blues Mr. Dicky Williams would fill
the spot quite nicely. One thing's for sure he's one of the most
underrated Soul/Bluesmen of our era. Like one-time fellow labelmate
Chick Willis (Ichiban Records) Williams became known for bawdy songs
like "Come Back P***y" & "I Want You For Breakfast" but he's actually a
strong Soul singer/songwriter in the Otis Redding vein even without the
x-rated shtick. Williams claims to have written "over 200 lbs" worth of
songs- most of which have yet to be released!
Dicky's recording career dates back to the novelty 45 "Tee Na Na" in
1960 followed by scattered singles for Metro ("That's Where True Love
Began"), Backfire ("Ride The Wind"), Pledge ("Heartache Hill") & Ace
Records ("You Got A Good Thing Going On") before his first LP dropped in
1978 on Backfire Records, the highly sought after collector's item
"Triple Dynomite". After a single or two more, including "Touching You"
for Sirco in 1984, his second album, "Red Negligee', White Whiskey &
Blue Lights" was released in 1986.
His greatest success to date came after signing with Atlanta's Ichiban
Records. In 1989 he released "In Your Face", which produced the
aforementioned "Come Back P***y" and his stone classic "In The Same
Motel" (which also appeared on his "Red Negligee" record). He followed
it up with 2 more records for ichiban before releasing one obscure
record on his own in 1996. In early 2007 there are rumors he was
recording a comeback record...hope so!!!
(bio used courtesy of BluesCritic.com)
About Ken Massey
Smooth and Blue guitarist Ken Massey made his debut as a solo artist
with the release of "Autumn In Baltimore". Ken shows his maturity in
this release by taking the hard edge off of his rock chops and playing a
clean jazz guitar style. Encouraged by his friend, jazz saxophonist,
Abdoulaye Pape N’Diaye, Ken reaches back to his classical roots and uses
his nylon string guitar on Billy Dee. He explores his blues based
British Invasion influences on Oak Manor, experiments a bit by using a
steel string acoustic passed through a jazz chorus on Park Plaza and a
more straight ahead jazz style on the title track, Autumn In Baltimore.
While Autumn In Baltimore is his first solo release, Ken is no stranger
to the music business. He began his musical career in the late 1960s,
while still attending high school. After starting on violin in middle
school, he had switched to string bass and eventually electric bass. In
1968 he and a neighbor, Evelyn Kite, had formed a pop band called The
Grabbers. In 1969, managed by Evelyn’s dad, The Grabbers were playing
regular professional gigs at the Club Vista in Anne Arundel County,
Maryland.
Influenced by the music of guitarists Eric Clapton and Steve Howe, Ken
decided to take up the guitar and in 1972 began guitar lessons at the
Peabody Preparatory School in Baltimore.
After a tour of duty in the U. S. Navy, Ken became immersed in the world
of rock guitar. Playing in the band, Hare Trigger, Ken met
singer/songwriter Benny Sudano and in 1978 they laid down tracks at
Sheffield Recording Studios in Baltimore. After gigging regularly for a
few months, Ken left Hare Trigger to form the band Legacy with drummer
Russell Kulp. In 1980, Legacy evolved into the group Hurricane, a real
working rock band that played nightly in the area for several years.
Ken’s constantly evolving musical tastes and appetite for exploration
would eventually lead him into other areas. The year 1984 found him
working as a sideman with singer/songwriter Joe Warren, with whom he
recorded and toured nationally.
In 1987 Ken had developed an interest in jazz, which found him studying
guitar with local jazz guitar legend Carl Filipiak.
After stints with a number of local pop and rock groups, 1993 found Ken
reunited with Benny Sudano who wanted to record his catalog of songs.
Hare Trigger was reformed and went back to the studio, this time Motion
Sound in Baltimore, to record the CD Just Believe that was released in
1995.
While working with Hare Trigger in the studio, the engineer, Gary
Charles, invited Ken to record guitar tracks for Penguin Dilemma Music’s
3rd Annual Christmas Sampler, released in December of 1995.
Visit Album Page
|
.gif)
