Modern blues singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi is part of a new breed of blues musician, blending R&B and gospel influences into a contemporary soulful hybrid. Drawing much of her expressive style and vocal power from the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, multiple Grammy Award nominee Tedeschi has built a fiercely loyal fan base for her barn-burning live shows with her own Susan Tedeschi Band as well as with her husband (Allman Brothers Band alumnus) Derek Trucks.

Boston-born Tedeschi was already fronting local bands by the age of 13. Inspired by her father's blues collection and singing in church, she formed her first band, called the Smokin' Section, at age 18. While Tedeschi attended the Berklee College of Music, she was also singing in a gospel choir, performing show tunes and developing her guitar playing, often sitting in with blues bands in local clubs. Upon graduation, she formed the Susan Tedeschi Band which, with steady live performances, quickly evolved into a tight rhythmic unit; she recorded her debut album, Better Days, and released it to local audiences in 1995. Her first nationally released LP, Just Won't Burn, came out in 1998 on Tone-Cool Records, and expanded her fan base beyond Boston and purely blues audiences; it contained a powerful collection of original songs that reflected her blossoming songwriting talent. Touring nonstop across the country, Tedeschi’s charismatic stage presence and distinctive vocals pulled in larger and larger audiences, while her 2002 release, Wait for Me, established her mainstream reputation and 2004’s Live from Austin TX DVD and CD further cemented it.

Tedeschi signed with the venerable Verve label for her 2005 release, Hope and Desire, and remained there for her more personal Back to the River, released in 2008.

Provenance: Boston, Massachusetts

Latest Release: Back to the River (2008)

© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.

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