Jazz Articles about Roy Gaines

Roy Gaines and his Orchestra: Tuxedo Blues

by Dan Bilawsky
November 5, 2010

Blues singers and big bands used to go together like bread and butter, but somewhere along the way the singers must have become superfluous in the minds of the leaders or the public. Nowadays, large ensembles are still happy to play the blues--be they well-known warhorses or obscure gems--but husky-voiced singers are rarely seen delivering a blues sermon with them. Vocalist-guitarist Roy Gaines remembers this bygone era quite well, since he was part of it. Gaines toured on a bill ...