The band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones is in one of the moments of highest recognition of its long career. After completing 4 decades of their way of understanding Blues in 2017, for Sugar Ray & The Bluetones 2018 is a year of full enjoyment. Already in 2016 they were nominated by the Blues Foundation of Memphis as the Blues Band of the Year, and Mike Welch, Anthony Geraci and “Mudcat” Ward received a new nomination on their respective instruments, bringing a total of 26 to the Music Awards obtained by the Bluetones, as well as seven Grammy nominations awarded to its members. Few bands can hold awards size. Among other accomplishments, the band recorded two albums with Chicago harmonica giant Big Walter Horton and toured as a backing band for blues legends Otis Rush, Big Joe Turner, J.B. Hutto, Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Roosevelt Sykes, Junior Wells, and many more.
In 2012 Sugar Ray & The Bluetones were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Sugar Ray Norcia has been the driving force of the Bluetones since their inception and is considered one of the most powerful and influential blues vocalists, harmonica players, and songwriters of this generation. A three-time Grammy nominee, SRN has received 22 Music Blues Award nominations, winning two of them in 2014. He has also appeared on more than 60 CDs with musicians and bands such as Roomful of Blues (where he was a vocalist), Otis Grand or Pinetop Perkins. In 2016, he and his band released a CD on Severn Records called “Seeing Is Believing,” for which he was nominated for an unprecedented seven 2017 Music Blues Awards, including Traditional Blues Male Artist and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.
Little Charlie's bio is no less impressive and can only be succinctly summed up. In 1976, together with Rick Estrin, he formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats and supported huge artists such as Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Floyd Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Gatemouth Brown, Pee Wee Crayton, in addition to presenting their own shows in festivals across the United States. Charlie's versatility and elegance is recognized by all, which has led him to record 10 albums with Alligator, 3 albums with John Hammond in Point Blank (all 3 nominated for Grammys), and to be a guest on albums by Joe Louis Walker, Kid Ramos, Mark Hummel and others. In 2008 Baty decided to leave The Nightcats and concentrate on many other projects, such as the recording of the CD Remember Little Walter, nominated for a Grammy and which won two Blues Music Awards, for Best Blues Record of the Year and Best Traditional Record of the Year. In addition to following his interests in gypsy jazz by leading the Little Charlie Caravan, Baty continues to develop and define his style of guitar playing and his many influences have resulted in a truly unique voice in the world of music.
Bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward recorded and backed bluesmen like J. Geils, Jimmy Rogers, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and Rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef. His recording with Hubert Sumlin also included Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Levon Helm, and is part of the more than fifty recordings in which he participated. Drummer Neil Gouvin has been with Sugar Ray since they were in Jr. High School together, and has been on every Bluetones recording. He has also participated in a CD with John Hammond Jr. called Found True Love (Virgin) which was nominated for a Grammy, and has made multiple recordings with Otis Grand, Joe Houston, and other great artists.
Sugar Ray & The Bluetones are:
Sugar Ray Norcia: Harmonica and vocals
Little Charlie Baty: guitar
Michael “Mudcat” Ward – double bass
Neil Gouvin – drums
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